Page 134 of Mama Si's Paradise

Holy shit.

“Really? That wasmagic?” Grey had looked so much worse yesterday when he’d fought a cougar. He’d been barely standing then.

“Oh, yes. He put all of us in danger. So reckless,” Romin said, trying to sound disappointed, but it was obvious he was amused. The brothers didn’t have much love for Grey. They rarely dared to even tease him.

“To go so close to the shore is ludicrous. He could have gotten himself killed,” Romin continued, sighing dramatically.

I shook my head. “Why?” Was it because of another animal? I couldn’t think of another reason why he’d want to go close to the borders like that, knowing what would happen, but…

“Because ofbooks,” Romin said with a laugh. “He went to pick up bookshe ordered from one of the Isles. He wanted to handle them himself, when he could have sent our people to pick up the delivery without putting anybody in danger.” Hetsk-ed. “But that’s my brother for you. He does what he wants, consequences be damned. Come. Sit.” He waved at the chairnear him, the same place I sat that very first night I came to this room.

Books.

So Grey not only caged cougars to heal them and save them from lions, but he also liked books.

Curiouser and curiouser…

“Fall? Are you listening?” Romin said, pulling me out of my trance. “Join me for a drink.”

I’d rather not,I wanted to say.I’m really tired,I wanted to say.I should get to bed.

“Of course,” I said instead, but my mind was still with cougars with glowing eyes and books and the shore, with Grey, dirty and bloody,almost smilingas he went.

Romin waved a hand and a tray with a bottle of wine and an empty glass appeared right next to his on the table. He used magic with the same ease as Genevieve had, and he was grinning ear to ear as if he were proud to show me.

“Figured I could pour you some wine myself. I don’t want any distractions,” he told me, then grabbed his own glass. “Cheers.”

I clanked my glass to his and drank. “Cheers.”

Fuck, I was going to die of the anticipation alone.

Was he going to bite me? Was he going to grow fangs and declare that he wanted to taste my blood first before the Call and before anybody else?

Or was he just going to taunt me?

“I’ve taken your, uh…situationunder consideration, Fall. I understand that you weren’t told the whole truth about us and the Whispering Woods when you offered yourself in the ritual.”

Oh. My. God.

I looked up at him and sat a bit straighter, praying my ears hadn’t lied to me. “You do?” Hope was like the sun suddenly shining over my head, warming me to my bones.

“Of course,” Romin said. “I understand, and that’s why I’ve given you more time than I have anyone else, to get used to this castle, to all of us.” My stomach fell instantly. “I’ve given you as much time as I could give you, but you’re ready to get to know all of us now,” he declared, slowly leaning closer to rest his elbows on the table. “After all, we don’t know whose bride you’ll be soon. Better to be prepared beforehand is what I always say.”

That little warmth I’d felt died a quick death. I swallowed hard, taking another sip of the wine, focusing on the rhythm of my heart so that it didn’t show even half of what I really felt in those moments.

“So, from now on you will be spending time with each one of us, alone, until the Blood Call,” Romin said, reaching out his hand toward my face, touching my jaw with the tips of his fingers. It was all I could do not to move away and start running already.

“When will that be?” I dared to ask, just so I knew how much time I really had before it was over.

Romin shrugged. “The Blood Call? Honestly, nobody knows. For most, it’s two weeks after they come here, but you’ve already been here for three, so it might be longer. The Blood Call knows the right time. It knows when you’re ready.”

I nodded and took another sip of the wine as he watched me, hoping my hands weren’t shaking as badly as I thought.

“You are so incredibly beautiful, Fall…” Romin’s voice trailed off as he touched my chin next and raised my head, turning it toward him. I had no choice but to look into his eyes, to see every perfect line of his face from close up. He really was a sight to see—a rough kind of beauty that lured you in and at the same time promised you that it was as dangerous and as deadly as it was appealing.

“Thank you,” I choked, hoping to break the spell his eyes were trying to cast on me.

Romin smiled, showing me his teeth. “I would be honored to call you mine. I’d give you the world if you were.”

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