Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (best large ereader .TXT) 📕

but I do remember reading about it someplace, and it was a rare occurrence. That’s why I grabbed—” he leaned over and picked a book from the table, “this.” He held up a book with the title Lunar Anomalies. “It just happened to be sitting next to the book on the Kanna Stone, and I don’t believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason.” He first checked the table of contents, then flipped to the index. “Here we are. Page seventy-seven.” He thumbed back to the middle of the book until he found what he was looking for and began reading aloud. “Silver Moons occur every 1,212 years on the twelfth day of all twelve months during that year. Hmph. That’s interesting.”

“What? Is there more?”

“Well, there is, but just that itself is interesting. Don’t ya think?”

“Aye, ‘tis. But what else does it say?”

“There’s something about reflections of the moon. Oh, and there’s a notation with some kind of equation here . . . and some coordinates. Seriously, someone actually wrote it all in the margins.”

“Sounds complex. I mean, if it only happens every 1,212 years, that can’t be what this note is even talkin’ about, right? I mean, sounds like this guy is wantin’ me t’ do math. I like words. Give me a dead language or a riddle about an artifact and we can talk. Don’t ask me t’ do equations or you’ll be sorely disappointed.”

Cian offered an amused eyeroll. “Well, good thing for you, I can math, eh?”

“Knock y’self out. Let me know what ya come up with.”

We settled into a comfortable silence, Cian working on the Silver Moon calculations, me reading through the files Kara and Lazlo had sent over. There were only three files, and each of them offered a different, but equally strange, origin story for the Tartaros Blade. The more I read, the tighter my chest constricted, knowing I needed to find something tangible about this weapon. I glanced over and felt the magic tingling in my core at just the thought of his kiss on my forehead. I couldn’t allow that blade to take the life of the man sitting next to me. I tried to refocus.

“Ha!” Cian proclaimed loudly.

I crooked my head in his direction and raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a math thing. I figured out the math thing.” He seemed pleased with himself.

“Well, please do share with the class.”

“If my calculations are correct . . . I’ve always wanted to say that.”

I chuckled at his enthusiasm.

“Anyway, if my calculations are correct, there have already been nine Silver Moons this year. This is the year. And there will not be another full year of Silver Moons for another 1,212 years,” Cian explained.

“I’m not even going to bother asking how you calculated that. I like my brain not hurting. So, wait . . . if there have been nine Silver Moons, why haven't we seen them, or have we? What are we supposed to be looking for? Does that book give you that information?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions,” he joked. “Let’s see.” He returned to reading the book. “Okay . . . so, according to whoever wrote this, it seems that a Silver Moon is simply a reflection of the moon itself. But it doesn’t really explain how that happens. I wonder if these coordinates have something to do with it. Maybe someone smarter than us figured it out. I’ll check the web.” He picked up his phone from the table and did a quick search. “So . . . these coordinates are only a couple of hours north of here. In the White Mountains.”

“And this is supposed to happen on the twelfth?”

He nodded.

“Cian, that’s Monday. . .” I looked at the clock. It was just after ten. “Yeah, if it’s a midnight thing, that’s about forty-eight hours from now.”

“Hmm . . . Sounds like a field trip,” he proposed.

“Why couldn’t the Silver Moon be the name of some weird Supernatural Bar?”

“Tell ya what, I happen to know a good bar. We can pretend,” he suggested.

“Can’t say I’ve ever been much of the bar type, but I would like to see Rocky’s. I’ll even let ya buy me a drink.”

“I think I can arrange that. Me and the owner are pretty tight.” He held two fingers up and twisted them together.

“Question. Bit off topic. Other than a Mimic, who or what might be able to take on the form of someone else?”

He contemplated a moment. “You’re referring to my unauthorized doppelgänger, right?”

“I am.”

“Well, without an artifact, it would have to be a Mimic. There's really no other explanation.”

“That’s what I thought. I suppose we need to do a search and figure out what artifacts impart that ability on a person.”

“Tomorrow is going to be a full day of research at the library, isn’t it?” Cian stated the question more than asked it.

“I’ll add artifact search to the list.”

“You and your lists,” he mocked.

“Don’t mock the lists. You’re on one . . . maybe two.” I gave a flirtatious eyebrow wiggle and winked. “Now, get back to work. We have a lot to go over before we can call it a night.”

Bantering with Cian was effortless and playful, but it also sent stabs of torment through my heart. Before I could even enjoy finding something comfortable that felt like more than a passing phase, I had to face the visions of losing it . . . and him.

Distress weighed heavy on my heart as I looked at him. He caught my gaze and reached a hand over to grab mine.

“What’s on your mind, lass?

“I was thinking about the visions you gave me.”

“Aye. What about them?”

“Had you seen those before you—? I mean, I know ya must’ve had them in your own head t’ be able to share them, but ya hadn’t seen the last one. So, I’m wonderin’ if you had seen the war? The destruction The Saiad can inflict if they get the Kanna Stone before we can. Had you seen that