Page 45 of The Temptation of Roan Island

“She’s awake,” I interrupt. “And she’s agreed to another blood draw.”

Noah looks up from his task. I wait long enough for his eyes to meet mine, so I’m certain he’s heard me, then I leave.

“That was fast,” Pippa laughs as I rush back into her room. She sets the half empty glass back on the bedside table.

Noah and Ruby come in just behind me.

“Tell me how you’re feeling.” Noah places his medical bag on the bed and begins rummaging through it. He pulls out a bottle of alcohol and hands it to Ruby, who stands at his side.

“It really isn’t that bad. I’m just a bit more fatigued than yesterday.”

My brother holds a stethoscope to Pippa’s chest, and I fight a strange urge to bat his hand away. Ruby opens the curtains, letting in light so Noah can work.

“Your heartbeat is very fast,” Noah says after a minute of listening.

“Is that bad?” I sit on the side of the bed and take Pippa’s hand, letting out a slow breath to calm myself.

“What does that mean?” Pippa asks.

“Your body is working very hard to circulate your blood.” He pulls out a syringe while Ruby rubs alcohol over the joint of Pippa’s elbow.

Pippa squeezes my hand. There’s a light sheen of sweat on her brow, and her eyes are a little glassy.

“Hey, look at me,” I say. “It’ll be over soon. Just relax and think of something happy.” At her quizzical look, I suggest, “Think of your son.”

Her eyes flutter closed, but her breathing gets quicker.

“One, two,” Noah counts. Before he can say three, Pippa’s body jerks, and her eyes fly open, catching mine.

“Breathe.” I pet her hair back from her face. “It’s alright.”

“All done,” Ruby says, wrapping Pippa’s elbow in gauze.

My nostrils flare from the strong scent of blood. The coppery tang with the slightly acid scent of verbena hits me like a runaway steam locomotive. The scent of illness lingers like smoke. Despite that, my mouth waters, my throat convulsing with desire rather than revulsion. The sensation confuses me.

Noah holds the vial up to the light. The liquid glistens like the crimson waters of Lake Nettor. I lick my lips. He turns it one direction, then the other, so it coats the glass, thick and delectable. Thicker than any blood I’ve ever seen. A sinking feeling drags away the temptation. It shouldn’t be that thick.

“Have you been staying hydrated?” Noah asks.

“I’ve made sure of it,” I answer before Pippa can.

She chuckles. “He’s been like an obnoxious mother hen with how often he shoves water at me.”

I want to tease her back, but the worried expression my brother wears robs all the levity from the room. “Is something wrong?”

Ruby’s eyes dart between us. She misses nothing, which unnerves me for some reason.

“I’m not sure yet.” Noah and Ruby share a look I can’t decipher. “I’m going to see if the other women will let me take some samples for comparison.”

With that, he and Ruby leave.

I move toward the door, then step back. Open my mouth, then close it. I don’t want to go, but there really isn’t any reason for me to stay.

“Read to me?” Pippa asks.

Relieved at not having to leave or feign an excuse to stay, I sit in the chair at her bedside. “Nothing would please me more.”

20