Page 138 of Mama Si's Paradise

“You’re a prick, you know that?” I said when I took in his grinning face and Shadow hanging out on his shoulder.

“I missed you, too,” he said, spreading his arms to the sides. “How about a hug?”

I burst out laughing. “Why the hell not?” And I walked straight into his open arms, shocking him all over again. His arms locked around my back the next second, and he slammed me to his chest. Shadow flew away as if he wanted to give us a moment, and Valentine tightened his grip around me even more, lowering his forehead on my shoulder, sniffing my neck hard.

“Don’t be an ass. If you bite me, I’ll make sureto kill every unborn Evernight baby in your balls,” I muttered against his shoulder.

He laughed, his entire body shaking. “Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine.”

I inhaled deeply, too, and the metallic scent of blood mixed in with that of dirt made me freeze for a moment. My heart skipped a beat and I moved back to see his face.

Hisblood-splatteredface.

“What the hell happened?”Hewas bloody, too?

“I’m fine,” Valentine muttered.

“You’recoveredin blood!” How could he be fine with all that blood and dirt on his shirt and neck and hair—shit, it was all over him.

“Notmyblood,” he said. “I’m okay, I promise.”

“Are you sure?” I mean, he did look okay. His eyes were just as lively, and his skin had color just like always.

“I’m a vampire, Sunshine. There is nothing on this Isle that can come even close to hurting me.”

“Right.” I cleared my throat and pretended I hadn’t just made a fool out of myself.

And then I remembered that I’d asked Grey a couple days ago ifhewas okay, too—twice.

But he had been hurt for real. I’d cleaned his leg myself. The same leg that had healed not twenty-four hours later.

Shit, Valentine was right—they werevampires. What the hell was I doing, worrying about the likes of Grey?!

Focus on Valentine.That’s what I was going to do, just focus on Valentine.

“So, what—were you out there hunting?”

“I was,” he said.

“Oh, well, I hope you had a great hunt. I thought you were dead or something. Silly me, with you being a vampire,” I muttered. “Meanwhile, I was being courted by your brothers, in case you didn’t know.” His smile faltered. “Yep. I’m havingdrinks with Romin and walks with Emil and playing twenty-one questions with Tristian—and it isn’t even Grey’s turn yet. Howamazingis that?!” I sounded so damn bitter, I surprised my own self.

“I know,” Valentine said. “I know, Sunshine.”

I grabbed my hips. “You know.”

“Yes, I know. But they won’t hurt you.”

“Right, right—but remind me again,who’skeeping me here even though I want to leave?” Sarcasm dripped from my voice and he heard it.

“The curse,” he said. “That would be the curse.”

I rolled my eyes. “Smart-ass.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Of course, it is! Just like you disappearing for two whole days.” Not that I was accusing him, but I just wanted to make him as miserable as I’d felt hiding in this room all day.

“He took me out there to clear a mountain of bears on purpose. I couldn’t come back sooner,” Valentine said.

---