Half-Blood Seduced: Magic Moonrise Series, #2

By Jesse Darkling

I've got a secret… and if I'm not careful, it could get me killed.

 

I fought for my life and made it through initiation, but everything is more complicated than ever. My secret is safe... for now. Add to that I've got an arranged marriage to get out of.

 

Not to mention my new power seems to be going haywire and I may not last the semester. Because if the warring regime finds out about my ability, they will use me as a weapon. If I refuse, they'll eliminate the threat…me.

 

Time is running out. I must decide if I want to join the rebels who've been labeled as terrorists or sacrifice everything, even my own heart, to keep the façade of peace.

No matter what I do, I feel like I'm hanging over an abyss. I just hope I can keep my secrets a little longer before more people end up dead.

 

If you like the magic of Sailor Moon, the bones of Sci-Fi, and the heart of Paranormal Academy, then you'll devour Jesse Darkling's sexy, imaginative series.

 

Half-Blood Seduced is the second book in the Magic Moonrise Academy series, a medium-burn reverse harem, enemies to lovers romance featuring a kick-ass heroine with sass and three powerful gorgeous men who insist she belongs to them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rowan Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201188788

Book preview

1

Serena

Ascream strangled from my throat and startled me awake. I jerked my arms up to fight, but no one was there. My hands were bound in heavy metal casings. Everything came rushing back. Damien shooting Mryvin so he and Jax could take me on their terrorist ship. They had been the ones who attacked the peace talks, who had hurt my dad. And this whole time they fooled me by getting close to me, kissing me, making me believe… I wanted to be sick that I’d been so dumb.

Rage rose up in my chest, the crackling power inside me surging forward, but the restraints on my hands merely glowed like it was absorbing the lightning.

I swung my legs over the bed, suddenly feeling lightheaded. I had to get the hell out of here. The small room was pristine white with only the bed and a door. Were Damien and the others going to use me as ransom against my dad? Anger flared again, my hands buzzing inside the metal casings. I ignored the room starting to tilt and made my way to the door.

There was no handle or panel to open it, but I was willing to bet there was a guard or someone on the other side.

Hey, open the door. I smacked the metal mitten against the frame. When I got these restraints off me, I was going to fry anyone who got in my way. Wait. What if they were taking me to Garrus? A surge of burning bile hit the back of my throat. He had money. Rebels could get enough payment for my safe return to buy a fleet of war cruisers. And I would be forced to marry Garrus. Was this his plan all along? Now I was really going to be sick.

Nope, not happening. Not while I had breath in my body. I’d rather rot in a prison ward than be stuck with that vile reptile. He had enough wives already...why did he even want to bother with me?

Because he likes breaking females. I sucked in a shuddering breath and banged again on the door.

Open the fucking door!

The panel slid open and Damien strode inside, his shoulders tense as he brushed past me and because I’d been gaping at him instead of running, my escape swished closed.

What in the nine rings of Urbon do you think you’re doing? I clenched my fists inside the heavy bindings. Let me go or I’ll—

You’ll what? He raked a hand through his dark hair, a pained expression in his sapphire eyes.

Oh, I’ll find a way to bring down this ship with all of us in it. I stayed where I was, not daring to get too close to him, I didn’t want the temptation of his nearness or his delicious scent to fog my mind. Why was I attracted to him even now after everything? I hated him. Hated what he’d done to me. The lies and betrayal.

I’m tempted to sit back and watch you try to do that.

You cocky bastard, I spat, daring him to deny it. You’re part of the rebellion. I lifted my chin, staring him down as he sat on the edge of the bed. The ship you brought me here on was on the news. You attacked the conference and nearly killed my dad.

That was...unfortunate. He rubbed his hands down his thighs and my gaze followed his movement before I snapped my attention back to his face. You need to understand that the media twists the truth. The rulers and military reward them for painting us as villains.

Yeah everyone is against you, I shook my head, because you’re hurting and killing innocent people. Who the fuck are you really anyway and why are you doing this?

His face flushed red and he was on his feet before I could respond. He grasped my throat with a hand, and drove me backward, slamming my back into the wall, my arms pinned between our chests.

Inches from my face, he growled, What I do is for the good of all. His breath fanned my face and smelled of sweet mint. This war has been raging since before you were born, Serena, and it will only get worse unless we end it.

I pushed against him, but he didn’t budge. He was like a wall of muscle and power and damn it if he didn’t make my heartbeat speed up.

You attacked a conference with leaders from around the galaxy who were meeting for peace! I shoved him hard, but he only glared down at me. Maybe if you stopped forcing us to fight, the wars would end.

The muscle in his jaw twitched. It’s not that simple. You don’t get it, do you? Our enemy wants us ignorant of their plans. By the time you and your father and half the universe wakes up, it’ll be too late. They want us bound. Chained. Slaves forever who don’t meet their criteria.

Enemy? Who are you to say who is an enemy? I arched an eyebrow. So was beating me up for fun part of your grand scheme to stop the war? You’re a real piece of work you know. 

This time when I pushed against him, he stepped back of his own accord, but still didn’t release me from his arms. He dragged me with him, his hand falling to my arm, my feet stumbling after him.

I did what I had to do. His voice was low and held a razor-sharp edge to it. There was no other way to get you to unlock your power.

My brain wasn’t working fast enough to make sense of what he suggested right away. What are you talking about?

Had he known all along about my dormant powers that came out unexpectedly? How? I had thought the incident with the Hedgelin and Trekkar was a fluke and would have never connected the pieces unless Damien and his group hadn’t forced me to fight for my life without my weapons and pushed me to the breaking point. But no way was I going to admit any of that to him.

And what if you were wrong? My voice was a harsh whisper. What if you had pushed too hard and I died?

His eyes flashed something I couldn’t read and he moved away from me, turning his back. And I saw the truth there.

You bastard. You took that risk even if it meant I might die? Were you the one responsible for the other missing Draxxes?

He spun, grasping my forearm and jerking me to the door. It whooshed open and he shoved me out into a hallway. Two guards stood at attention, dressed in black and ready to jump me given the order. Damien kept leading me past doors and multiple hallways.

You wanna push me, Serena? Don’t think that I won’t do whatever it takes to reach my goals. Even if that means sacrifices. Even if that means cutting my heart out to do what is right.

He slammed a hand to the sensor on the wall and a door sliced open before us. With a shove to my back, I stumbled inside. 

Jax sat at a table with papers scattered across the surface. Cabinets lined either side of the room with a food replica machine, sink and fridge on one side. A huge screen lined the back wall. When he saw me, he stood and gave Damien a questioning look.

Show her the footage.

The screen flicked on and the image of the Xjonica building flashed up where Damien’s spaceship had attacked the building my dad and other leaders had gathered for peace talks. Irritation heated my skin and I clenched my fists inside the metal cuffs over my hands. Save it, I’ve already seen this on the news.

Just watch, Damien snapped.

His spaceship came into view with its yellowish lights of the landing gear, the warped metal on one side. A battlecruiser appeared to the left of Damien’s ship. Light blasted from the approaching ship, ripping into the concrete and steel structure.

Wait, that’s not what happened. I glanced at both Jax and Damien who didn’t answer me and my attention snapped back at the screen. More cruisers sped into view. Damien’s ship dodging blasts and firing back on the newcomers. Then he flew low, hovering for a moment before taking off.

We wanted to stay and help the survivors, but there were too many enemies for us to do so safely. Jax’s voice was low. And the longer we remained, the more chance of those in the building received more blasts.

I-I don’t understand. I swallowed, glancing away from the image of the smoking rubble. My dad had been inside there—he’d nearly died. Many others weren’t so lucky. The news only showed you attacking.

Damien chuckled ruthfully. And you think our small warcraft could do that kind of damage with one blast?

If you upgraded your weapons...sure. I crossed my arms, the metal restraints heavy and cold against the fabric of my uniform.

You’re just like everyone else. Damien scowled, waving a hand at the screen. The truth is right in front of you, but you can’t see it. Our enemy doesn’t want peace. We had been invited there to negotiate. But it was a trap. They doctored the footage so that we’d be blamed. We are not your enemy, Serena.

Even if what Damien said was true, my pride refused to allow me to admit it to him. I couldn’t stay here. Couldn’t forgive what he’d done to me. Besides, what if Garrus found us? He could force me to marry him and I wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing about it.

Could’ve fooled me. I lifted my chin, not breaking away from his stare. You kidnapped me, forced me to fight, and now I’m your prisoner.

Damien stalked forward until he was a breath away from me. His intoxicating scent flowing over me, making my knees weak. 

I am not your enemy, Serena. We don’t take prisoners or slaves, unlike other fractions vying for power.

I held up my hands, daring him to take them off. Oh?

His eyes shifted to a lighter blue, almost white, and my breath hitched. Was he Eridanix and feeding of my energy? Drop Mrs. Starling wherever she wishes.

But Damien— Jax sputtered.

Now!

I flinched at his yell, but instead of his gaze softening, he narrowed his eyes and pushed past me, the door swishing behind him. And I wasn’t sure how to feel, yet my stomach clenched like I’d done some seriously wrong.

2

Serena

Ignoring me, Jax raced after Damien and bumped into Titus. Watch her, I’ve gotta talk to Damien.

Titus nodded, then turned to me. Hungry?

I didn’t want to admit needing anything from these three, but I was starving. Yeah.

We’re a bit limited up here right now. He moved to the fridge. The replicator is on the fritz. We’ve got leftover space lasagna or a mooncheese sandwich.

Lasagna’s great. I plopped down in one of the chairs, my mind whirling with what I’d just seen. Damien had been trying to fight off the attackers… so who were they and why attack the council? And why was Damien fighting when it should have been the army up there battling the attackers? 

Titus popped the food container in the heater, setting the timer.

I leaned forward, squinting at the papers scattered over the table. Each of them had a symbol on them. A triangle inside a square with half a dozen stars over them. There was a map of the Academy with X’s placed over various spots. One was the library. That’s where one of the tunnel entrances had been. Another X was near the dormitory, but I couldn’t tell exactly where the spot was marked. Wait. Was that were me and my friends had found the body of the dead girl? My heartbeat sped up.

Had Damien been responsible for her death? But why? Was she his enemy?

Let me get these out of your way. Titus gathered up the papers, moving them to an empty chair across the table from me. Then he pushed the lasagna and a spoon in front of me. 

Steam wafted up from the dish smothered in cheese. The scent of tomatoes and pasta made my mouth water.

Um...can you get these things off me? I asked, holding up my gloved hands.

Sorry, but you’re too dangerous with that power of yours.

Right. How am I supposed to eat then? Sarcasm lined my tone.

I’ll help you. He sat across from me, cutting a portion of the lasagna with the spoon, blowing on it to cool it before holding it out for me to eat.

When his leg brushed mine, a shiver raced through me. I shouldn’t be attracted to him, or Jax, or especially Damien. Yet here I was. My body craving