Page 18 of The Temptation of Roan Island

Step.

Breath.

The room blurs. Tilts. And I fall.

10

SHEMAIAH

After leaving Mrs. Darning, I go straight to the library to find Pippa. She likes to spend the afternoons there, but today she isn’t in her usual seat.

“Pippa?” My voice rings hollow, robbed from the air the moment it hits the insulating rug and shelf after shelf of books. The room, and the chair she stole from me, are empty. A clock ticks on the mantel, disturbingly loud. Her scent is faint, as if the last time she was in the room was the day before, which makes my hearts beat an uneven rhythm. It’s not unusual for it to be difficult to find someone in a house like this, but Pippa likes to keep a predictable schedule. Unease burrows into my spine, using me like a host.

She’s probably just napping, but still my pulse spikes.

After checking her bedroom and finding it empty, I track her scent. Even worried, my instincts delight in the hunt, especially this close to the new moon. My sight sharpens, my muscles flood and expand, adrenaline snaps at the possibility of cornering prey.

Following the lingering hint of her, my claws unsheathe. My fangs lengthen.

Kay comes around the corner and squeaks at the sight of me, pushing herself against a wall. “Shemaiah?”

I ignore her and keep going, quick footsteps receding behind me as if she’s running away.

Pippa’s got to be here somewhere. She likes to explore the house. We talked about it yesterday.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she replied. “Maybe I want answers to a mystery.” But she didn’t elaborate.

I hadn’t thought much of her roaming until now, when finding her consumes my focus.

After traversing to the north wing, I find her scent stronger, but different. It’s flooded with… petrichor, as if a deluge of spring rain hit hot earth. Combined with the bitterness of the illness, I know it isn’t right. Something’s wrong.

“Pippa!” I yell, springing after the scent to the tapestry gallery.

They’ve brought in flowers from the greenhouse, and someone has sprayed everything down with perfume to cover the musty scent of the tapestries. So many fragrances. So many places to hide. Who the hell thought it was a good idea to have a new moon party in here?

Pippa’s scent is subtle, too subtle, but I could pick it out anywhere. She’s close. I just need to find where. Tearing through the room, I wrench tapestries from their hangings and upend preparations.

“Pippa!”

A soft moan sets my blood running cold. Dashing to the back of the room, I find Pippa in a heap on the floor. My hearts stop, breath searing my burning lungs. I scoop her up like a rag doll. She’s so frail, so fragile. Has she always been this breakable?

“Pippa,” I say, holding her in my arms like a babe. She blinks, and I think she might answer, but her eyes roll back with another moan of pain that lances straight from one heart to the other. Fuck!

I need to get her out of here. I run one way down the hall, then spin back, realizing the only thing in that direction is the greenhouse. Why can’t I think straight?

Bed. She needs a bed. I rush up the stairs.

Ruby runs out of Anna’s room at the sound of me kicking in Pippa’s door. “What happened?”

Ignoring her, I lay Pippa in the center of the four-poster bed. Anna and Kay huddle close to each other just behind Ruby.

“Get Noah,” I bark, voice unusually scratchy. My brother will know what to do. He’s the one with medical training. Right now, everything I know feels useless. Ruby nods before using her Mavarri speed to sprint out of the room.

“Move.” Anna squeezes her way between me and the bed so she can get to Pippa. “Get some water.” Her voice is different, deeper and authoritative, as opposed to her usual flirty, high-pitched tone.

Kay darts for the pitcher.