Chapter 2 Diamonds and Emeralds

The silence in my bedroom was suffocating. I had spent the last thirty minutes pacing the floorboards, unable to shake the restless energy that had settled under my skin since yesterday. When my phone finally buzzed against the nightstand, the sound cracked through the quiet like a gunshot.

6:00 PM.

"Liam?" I answered, my grip on the phone tighter than necessary.

"Ready, Princess?"

His voice was a deep rumble that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Don't call me that. It's gross," I laughed, though the sound was breathless.

"I'll be there in fifteen. Bring a jacket," he commanded, the authority in his tone effortless.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I retorted, hanging up before my heart could betray me further.

I turned to the full-length mirror in the corner. My reflection stared back; shoulder-length brown hair tousled in a way I hoped looked intentional. Zara always said I was 'okay' looking, but tonight, my eyes seemed different. That strange blue-green mix, a legacy from a great-grandmother I never knew, seemed to be glowing with an inner light.

I didn't look like them. Not really. Mum, Dad, Liam, they fit together like a perfect puzzle. I was the piece that had been jammed in to fit. Only the hair color linked us.

I smoothed down my white t-shirt, emblazoned with The Strokes logo, a band Liam loved, so naturally, I loved them too. Paired with black leggings, it was casual. Safe. This was just dinner with my brother. Not a date.

Definitely not a date.

I grabbed my leather jacket and headed downstairs. My parents and Liam were huddled in the kitchen, their voices a hushed, urgent whisper that died the moment my foot hit the bottom step.

"Liam?"

He turned, and the air left my lungs.

Gone were the jeans and t-shirt. He was dressed in a black semi-formal suit, the white shirt crisp against his tan skin, the top button undone to reveal the hollow of his throat. His dark hair was swept back, revealing the sharp angles of his face.

He looked devastating. And he was looking at me.

"What's up?" he asked, a crooked grin playing on his lips.

My cheeks burned. Luna, stop staring. He is your brother.

"I feel... significantly underdressed," I managed to say, tugging self-consciously at my hem.

"No," he said softly, his gaze sweeping over me. "You look perfect."

He turned to Mum and Dad. "We're heading out." He kissed Mum's cheek, but the atmosphere in the room shifted. Mum looked at us, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She looked like she was saying goodbye.

"Mum? You okay?"

"Just... allergies," she lied, her voice thick. "Have fun, sweetheart." Dad wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, his expression unreadable.

I forced a smile and followed Liam out to the driveway. He opened the passenger door for me, a gesture he usually saved for Mum.

"Thank you," I murmured, sliding into the leather seat.

He didn't reply, just smirked in a way that made my pulse jump. Stop it, Luna. Stop it right now.

He slid into the driver's seat, and the car instantly felt too small. The scent of him; clean rain, pine needles, and a sharp hint of mint filled the space, overwhelming my senses. It wasn't just a smell; it was a presence.

"What's with the frown?" Liam asked, reaching into the backseat. "You're thinking too hard."

"Just... stuff."

"Happy Birthday, Luna Rossi."

He turned back, holding a bouquet of roses so red they looked almost black, and a small, black velvet box.

I stared at him, stunned. If he were any other guy... if we weren't related...

I shoved the thought into a dark corner of my mind. "Liam, you gave me flowers yesterday."

"Open the box." His voice was low, demanding.

My fingers trembled slightly as I pulled the red ribbon. Inside lay a delicate gold chain holding a single, teardrop-shaped emerald. It caught the streetlight, shimmering with a deep, hypnotic green.

"Wow... Liam..."

"I thought it would match your eyes," he said simply, watching my reaction closely.

"This is too much," I whispered, touching the cool stone. "You should be giving this to a girlfriend. Not your little sister."

The car went silent. The air grew heavy.

"I don't have a girlfriend," he said, his gaze intense, pinning me to the seat.

I frowned. "How is that even possible? You're..." I gestured vaguely at him. "You."

"I'm waiting for the right one."

"Oh. Right." I looked away, trying to ignore the irrational wave of relief that washed over me. "Are you... you know...?"

"Luna! I'm straight," he snapped, looking offended.

I laughed, the tension breaking slightly. "Just checking! You never know."

"Want me to put it on you?"

"Sure."

I gathered my hair, lifting it off my neck and turning away from him.

I felt his presence shift closer. His fingers brushed the nape of my neck, cool and electrifying. He didn't touch me more than necessary, but the heat radiating from him was palpable. I held my breath, afraid that the erratic thumping of my heart was audible in the quiet car.

The scent of pine intensified, clouding my judgment. For a second, just a second, I leaned back, wanting to be closer.

He is your brother, Luna. The mantra repeated in my head, a desperate warning.

"Done," he whispered, his breath ghosting over my sensitive skin.

I turned back, thankful for the shadows hiding my flushed face. Liam was looking at me, his eyes dark, unreadable.

"Perfect," he murmured.

He started the car before I could respond, the engine purring to life. We drove in silence, the city lights fading behind us as we headed toward the outskirts.

I hit play on the stereo to fill the quiet. Taylor Swift's All Too Well began to drift through the speakers.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow.

"It's your playlist," he said defensively. "And for the record, her songwriting is solid. It makes me want to cry."

"Liar," I scoffed.

"It reminds me of you," he said, his voice dropping the sarcasm.

I bit my lip, fighting a smile. We were driving into the darkness now, the streetlights replaced by the silvery glow of the moon.

"I didn't know there were any restaurants out this way," I ventured, looking out at the looming trees. We were heading straight for Black Hill National Forest.

Liam remained silent, his eyes fixed on the winding road.

"You're not taking me into the woods to murder me, are you?" I joked, though a tiny sliver of unease pricked at me.

"I would never hurt you, Luna," he said. The gravity in his voice was terrifying.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I turned to look out the window, watching the trees blur past, trying to silence the voice in my head that whispered that everything. absolutely everything was about to change.