Page 27 of The Temptation of Roan Island

“Yes, but to hold back your inheritance? Why⁠—”

“That’s quite enough, Lucy.” Inspector Ricin takes her arm and apologizes for the “ungrounded suggestions” of his rookie counterpart.

Jafeth cracks his knuckles.

Inspector Ricin flinches.

“What about how everyone’s guilty until proven innocent?” Lucy hisses at Ricin sarcastically, twisting out of his arm.

Needing a drink, and to ensure Miss Thaddox won’t be a problem, I cross to the bar cart near Ruby and whisper too low for humans to hear. “You can’t tell her the truth.”

Ruby follows me over. “She’s my closest friend,” she replies equally softly.

Friend. I’m not sure I even understand the word. An image of Pippa laughing over a game of Elementals last night drifts through my mind.

“I trust her,” Ruby says. “She’ll understand.”

“Are you certain about that? People prove to be untrustworthy all the time, Mrs. Roan.” I should know.

“That’s a different tune from the one you were singing a few months ago.”

She has a point. I’m the one who pushed Noah to trust Ruby. I forced his hand when it came to letting her in on our secrets. “That was out of necessity.”

“As is this.” She pours two fingers worth of scotch. “Lucy won’t stop asking questions until she’s satisfied with the answers. And believe me, she’s not.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” I whisper as I take a drink.

Ruby looks over her shoulder with a smile as she rejoins the group and invites Lucy to play a game of bridge in the drawing room with her and the other women.

“What about the party?” Kay asks. “I’d like to…” She trails off, adjusting her gloves while looking at the floor.

“I could use a… drink,” the inspector says, his neck blotchy with a red blush. “If the party’s still going.”

He knows as well as the rest of us that the party won’t be over until dawn.

“Of course, we’d love to have you join the festivities.” Noah stands, casting a look back at his wife, who just waves him off. “Kay, if you feel up for it…” He motions in front of him as if to say, be my guest. Looking a little hesitant, she follows Noah and Ricin out. Curious.

She chose to stay late at the last new moon party as well. I wonder if there’s someone in particular she’s hoping to see again.

“We’ll need a fourth for bridge,” Anna says. “Shemaiah? Jafeth?”

“No.” I down a shot of scotch, set the glass on the table with too much force, and march out of the room leaving the rest of them to contend with how they’ll spend their evening. It should be Pippa joining them for a fourth. I know she enjoys playing bridge. She shouldn’t be up in her room in bed, weak and wasting away. I growl, stalking through the house, only realizing where I’m going when I stand in front of her door. Fuck!

My teeth are out, my claws extended, my body swollen with predatory instinct.

I shouldn’t be here.

And still I knock.

“Come in.” Pippa’s voice sounds stronger. Tempting. Like a siren’s call.

With my hand on the doorknob I hesitate, not with uncertainty, but with excitement. She’s there, right on the other side of this door. The scent I’ve craved all night. The face that’s haunted me, but shouldn’t. Why am I so drawn to her? I drop my hand, but it’s back a second later as I tear the door open, the impulse to see her too strong to deny.

Pippa’s blue eyes widen at the sight of me. She straightens in her bed, pulling the sheet to her collarbone. Her hair is disheveled, eyes heavy as if she just woke up. “Shemaiah?”

Her gaze dips, taking me in, noting the differences. I’m more Mavarri right now than human. All hunger and desire.

“Are you… alright?” she whispers.