Page 66 of The Temptation of Roan Island

I raise my eyebrows, glancing at him. “Mrs. Roan? I’ve been upgraded again.”

He turns serious, eyes darting away. “It was easier with the shared room. You know how people can be. You saw the cruise director.”

“You’d rather have them gossip about your sudden marriage than a brief interlude sharing a room with an unmarried woman?” I’m somewhat surprised. Shemaiah doesn’t seem to be one to do things for propriety's sake.

He leans in and brings his lips to my ear. “Who said anything about it being brief?”

Gooseflesh pebbles the skin at my neck and sends a shiver down my spine. I turn my head to look at him, finding him far too close. My breath sputters. “It can’t be anything but brief.”

His eyes darken almost to black as he frowns, but he doesn’t argue. There’s no argument to be made. We both know I’m dying. He could bite me on Solstice, but he’d have to love me. I might have to love him, too, in order for it to work. Noah isn’t clear yet on whether both parties need to be in love or just the Mavarri. Not enough data. Either way, we’re not there yet. I doubt Shemaiah ever will be. He’s made it clear a Solstice bite isn’t something he’ll ever offer again. Not after watching someone he cared about die from one.

“Would you like me to escort you to your room, Mr. and Mrs. Roan?” the porter interrupts, cracking the tension between us. “Or would you like to observe liftoff first?”

Shemaiah raises a single brow, allowing me to decide. The choice isn’t really between the observation deck and our room, but rather what might happen if we go to the room, and if I’m brave enough to pursue it. Do I want a moment of bliss to take with me into the afterlife? And at what cost? We were able to make it through last night’s bite, but that doesn’t mean another bite, and what might follow, won’t change things. Could we manage to stay friends? What will happen to Tobias if Shemaiah and I have a falling out?

I can’t risk my son’s future.

“I’d like to watch the liftoff,” I say, avoiding the possible entanglement that would only confuse things further.

Turning away, I follow the porter without looking back to see if Shemaiah follows.

28

SHEMAIAH

The moment she enters the observation deck, Pippa gasps, stopping so abruptly I bump into her. My hands wrap around her waist to keep her from falling forward, pulling her against my chest.

“It’s a stunning view, isn’t it?” I whisper.

The ship sits on a hill with a view of the landscape beyond the city. The grassy moors dressed with black crags and boulders are breathtaking. Black and white trees dressed in purple, white, and yellow accessorize the background like jewels. But it pales compared to the woman I’m holding steady.

I press my nose against the back of her head just to inhale her scent, needing it as if she’s my own personal drug.

The airship vibrates as the engine whines to life. It’s loud, even though the interior is insulated. Over the noise, we’re unable to talk, and I want to. I want to chase her thoughts about sharing the room, about claiming she’s my wife. Something monstrous in me likes it and wants to possess her completely. I wish I knew what’s going on in her head.

I’m both deeply hungry for her and unnerved by that in equal measure. Vivienne’s duplicity broke me open, unmoored me, and I vowed to never allow another so close, but somehow Pippa has fitted herself into those dark spaces and filled them with light. Her companionship, her friendship, her support, and willingness to help me without the strings of a romantic entanglement—it’s all like a balm to my soul. This journey, I suppose, is the least I can do for her. It seems so small compared to the way her friendship has brought me back to life.

Though calling it friendship feels wrong. Especially after last night’s feeding.

The blimp lifts into the air, the engines calming to a purr as we lift off.

When I look away from the view, Pippa is staring back at me, something curious in her gaze, something I can’t read. The urge to kiss her hits me right between the ribs. It would take so little to close the distance between us. One part of me argues she doesn’t want that, and it could ruin what we have. But what if it could make it better? What if we could be something more than friends? Not in love, not a bite, but… lovers. Her eyes drop to my lips and mine drop to hers. We’re so close now, I can taste her breath, feel the ghost of last night’s kiss on my lips.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Starburst,” a deep voice breaks our trance.

Pippa snaps away from me, her cheeks a pretty pink. “Sorry,” she whispers, too quiet for anyone but a Mavarri to hear.

I don’t like that she’s apologizing for what almost happened, and I really don’t like that our moment was interrupted. But now’s not the time to talk about it.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” The rotund man puts his hands on his stomach over his white uniform as everyone in the room turns to look at him. “I’m Admiral Day, and I’ll be your captain while you’re on board the Starburst. We’re scheduled to land in New Caldon in four days’ time.” His thick, full mustache twitches as he talks. “If New Caldon isn’t your destination,” the captain pauses for effect, “tough luck.” He laughs at his own joke, and a few of the passengers join in.

The captain explains a bit about the airship, where everything is located, and what kind of entertainment is offered on board. Then he introduces his executive officers and tells us what time dinner will be served.

After he finishes, the cruise director we spoke to earlier leans toward the captain and whispers something in his ear. Captain Day’s gaze shoots to us, and his mustache twitches as he smiles. He’s been trying to get an invitation to a new moon party for years. He probably sees this as his chance.

Lovely.

“Mr. Roan,” he bellows loud enough for the other passengers on the observation deck to hear. “What a pleasure to have you with us.” He walks over with both thumbs in his vest pockets. “And do I hear right that you’ve married?”