Page 2 of The Temptation of Roan Island

Shemaiah’s dark eyes snap to meet mine then linger for a heartbeat as if he’s measuring me. The chill that traces my spine is colder than the instruments the doctors use, but not as unpleasant. Strange and unsettling.

“It means you might live.” Jafeth smiles. “Isn’t that all you need to know?”

I exchange glances with Celeste sitting next to me. Her eyebrows arch over light eyes.

“A possibility isn’t a guarantee,” Fiona says. “You’re gonna have to tell us more than that.”

“We can’t tell you more until you agree to come with us.” Shemaiah crosses his arms over his chest, demonstrating his stalwart stance.

“What thrill would there be if we gave away all our secrets?” Jafeth winks as if this is all fun and games.

Kay, another girl from my floor, but much younger so we haven’t spent a lot of time together, clears her throat. “Come with you where?”

“To our estate.” Jafeth wiggles his eyebrows.

“I’m out, then.” Fiona stands and crosses her arms as if she’s trying to call their bluff.

Neither of the two men blink.

Fiona huffs, walks to the door, and pauses, looking at me as if waiting for me to join her. I probably should. There’s something about this whole thing that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. These men are too handsome, too debonair to be here in a sanatorium full of sick women. It doesn’t add up. But then I think about Tobias. Any chance to raise him is better than no chance.

I set my jaw and stay put.

The door snaps shut behind Fiona like the impatient click of Shemaiah’s pocket watch.

“So, you can’t guarantee that we’ll live. What can you guarantee?” Anna asks.

“Leaving this place,” Jafeth answers. “And death, just like you’re already facing, yes?”

Shemaiah sighs and dips his head toward his chest. “That could have used a bit more finesse, Jafeth.”

“You know I’m about as tactful as a pack of wild beasts on the plains.” He grins again, pushing away from the wall to stand up straight. “Lovely accommodations. Delicious food. Is that enough to entice you?”

Shemaiah pinches the bridge of his nose again and shakes his head.

“Let’s not waste these lovely ladies’ time.” Jafeth’s dark eyes skim over each of us, the look weighted with something more than observation. “Are you coming or not?”

“You have a choice,” Shemaiah adds. “If you come, there’s a good chance you’ll die sooner than if you stay. But there’s also a small chance you could live. Completely free of your disease.”

A cure. Freedom. A life with Tobias. I don’t want to hope. I’ve had my hopes shattered before. But I can’t help the way my heart stutters to a stop, then starts up stronger.

“How do we know you aren’t planning to torture us or something?” Celeste asks.

I shudder.

Jafeth lets out a dark laugh. “Don’t worry. I can think of a variety of ways to torture a woman, and all of them involve pleasure.”

“Jafeth,” Shemaiah snaps.

“What?”

Shemaiah gives him a dark, serious look.

“Do we have to be… sex slaves?” Kay can barely say the word.

Shemaiah’s scowl creases his perfect face in a way that shouldn’t look as attractive as it does.

“Only if you want to be.” Jafeth leans close and twirls a lock of her hair between his fingers. Her cheeks turn a youthful pink.