Page 49 of The Temptation of Roan Island

“You’ll have the perfect chance to find out at the new moon party tomorrow.” There’s something dark in Noah’s grin, and I almost worry that he might try to lock me up with Pippa the way I locked him up with Ruby during her first new moon on the island.

“You’ll explain it to her, though?” I ask again. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.

“Yes,” Noah says.

“I’ll talk to her, too,” Ruby adds. “I’ll need to help her pick out something to wear.”

There goes my plan for explaining Pippa’s absence from the party. No one will believe she’s staying away for health reasons when her health might be improved by her attendance. Fuck, she’s really not going to like this.

21

PIPPA

“You’re telling me I need to be bitten?” I stare at Noah and Ruby standing in the sitting room of my suite. They both arrived several minutes prior and shared Noah’s hypothesis. A gentle golden light filters through the tall windows, and I’m struck again by how gorgeous they are, both individually, but also side by side as a pair.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Noah says, glancing at Ruby.

She smiles, a soft blush brightening her complexion. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Noah puts his hand into his pocket, a casual stance, like he can sense my hesitance and is trying to set me at ease. “Think of it as a kind of prescription. I strongly believe it’ll have a medicinal effect. I haven’t been able to test the theory yet. But I’ll collect more blood after you’ve been bitten, and we can see.”

I sink down into a seat, overly tired even though it’s only midday. “So I need to attend the party?”

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t have to be at the party.” Ruby looks at Noah. “Though that might be the safest place.”

“Safest?” I ask. “I thought you said it doesn’t hurt.”

“That’s not—” Ruby stops when Noah puts his hand on her arm.

“It doesn’t have to be at the new moon party, but when a Mavarri has strong feelings for who they bite—as Shemaiah does for you—they can sometimes lose control. At the party, I’ll be there. As well as Ruby and my other siblings.” He glances at his wife, then back at me. “I think wherever it takes place, it’ll only benefit you.”

“In more ways than one.” Ruby smiles as if we’re sharing a secret.

Noah gives her a small smirk before turning his attention back to me. “Shemaiah told us of your plans to leave, and I think this is a way to help you survive the journey, Miss Willoughby. To prolong⁠—”

“—the inevitable.” I look down at my hands in my lap. My life is waning, and the time left is ticking away. I wish things could be different. I wasted so many moments thinking there would be more of them. If I only had one more night, would I want to waste it on fear? I picture Shemaiah, imagining the feel of his mouth on me, his bite. My skin tightens with a pleasurable tingle. It’ll be fine. We both know what this is. And what it isn’t.

I stand. “Fine. I’ll go. Is Shemaiah… does he know?” I haven’t seen him today. Surprising him with this and facing his rejection might prove more than I can handle.

“Yes,” Noah answers. “I spoke with him last night.”

“And he agreed?”

“He asked us to explain it to you.”

Ruby tilts her head to look at me, assessing, always capturing and measuring information. “You don’t need to worry about him not wanting to bite you. It’s in his nature—even more so with someone he cares about. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked to do so already.”

“Oh, um, I think he just hasn’t wanted to make me worse. I’ve got to live until the Summer Solstice, afterall.” I try to laugh, but it doesn’t land right.

Ruby nods, knowing that’s the only time Shemaiah will be able to transform someone he loves into a Mavarri. Until this moment, I hadn’t thought about how we’ll get out of our lie when the Solstice actually comes. I assumed I wouldn’t make it that long. Maybe he did too.

Noah tilts his head and furrows his brow. “Well, it appears there’s no need to deny yourselves.”

Right. Because we’re in love. And we should want to be together in every way. I take a deep breath and hold it, rubbing a hand over my heart. I can do this.

Later, I face the mirror as a new maid buttons up the back of the emerald green gown Ruby lent me. The off-the-shoulder neckline drops low, barely concealing my breasts, revealing my shoulder, my collarbones, my neck. What will Shemaiah think of this dress? Will he like it?

I raise my chin and shake out my hands. It doesn’t matter if he likes it or not. We’re just friends. Yes, he’s about to bite me, but only for medicinal purposes. It means nothing.