Page 129 of The Eighth Isle

“So, what—we just live on a mountain or something, isolated from the rest of the world? All alone? And with…withthe baby?!” I sat up straighter, now flushed for a whole different reason, and Grey sat up with me.

“Calm down, baby,” he said, but I couldn’t.

“That’s no way to live, Grey. Constantly afraid—and only until they find us becausethey will.”He knew it, too. That’s why he said nothing, just closed his eyes. “Onlyifthe end of the world doesn’t happen first!”

“We don’t know for sure that it will,” he said, but his heart wasn’t into it.

“We don’t know for sure that it won’t, either,” I insisted. “The witches saw the stars—Isaw them, Grey. I saw the drawing and the translation—it’s the same constellation as before with just a slight difference in the name. It meant the end of the world as they knew it then. Why wouldn’t it mean the same now?”

Grey put his arms around me and pulled me to his lap, kissing my shoulder for a moment as we both processed. As I tried to calm down my racing heart and put my thoughts in order.

“All I know is we won’t get anywhere if we panic. If we rush. Let’s take it one step at a time, can we? Let’s wait for Mama Si to return, and then for Valentine. Then we’ll know what to do next,” he finally said.

It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter. Alone, I couldn’t do shit, so I nodded, and I let him hold me until Marissa knocked on the door and announced that food would be served downstairs if we wanted to eat.

We did—all that energy spent all day in bed had left me drained, and my stomach was growling. So, we showered and we got dressed, and we went downstairs to that same room where we’d eaten with Mama Si.

Unfortunately for me, I was too freaked out to even taste the delicious food Claus had made me. All I could really focus on was praying.

Reeva Lorein smiledat me like I was the sun she was seeing rising for the first time.

My gut clenched uncomfortably as I held her eyes and tried to return that genuine smile. I had no idea if I managed, but she came closer anyway, put her hands on my shoulders, analyzed my body, then pulled me into a hug.

“My, my, young one,” she whispered. “Congratulations on your pregnancy. Witches’ Wing could not be more thrilled!”

“Thank you, Reeva,” I whispered when she let go and stepped back, then bowed her head deeply to Grey.

“Master Evernight, congratulations to you, too.”

“Thank you, Lorein. We appreciate you coming here today.”

“Of course,” she said, turning back toward Mama Si, who stood proudly by the pillar of the dining room we were still in, wearing her mauve dress and those bright pink lips, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Mamayka was kind enough to tell me what the sirens have been holding back from us. Oh, what wonderful news she gave me.”

Fuck, it was so hard to breathe right now, and I was already regretting eating half the plate of food I’d been served. Because regardless of everything, Mama Si had lied to Reeva, just like she said she would, and Reeva wasglowingagain.

Gone was the woman who’d lost all hope, with red eyes and messy hair and no regard for the future. Reeva was back to the woman she had been when I first met her in the Evernight castle at the party. Her skin was glowing, her eyes sparkling with excitement and joy, her black dress clean and pressed, and the black witch hat that she was holding in her hands now looked brand new and polished, too. She no longer looked like she’d given up, but she was buzzing with energy. Buzzing with magic—I could feel it around her like an aura.

“Yes, it is true,” Grey said because he must have known that I couldn’t bring myself to speak at all.

“And Reeva here has decided to help us figure it all out, too,” said Mama Si and she slowly came closer, then laced her arm around Reeva’s.

“Of course, I will,” said Reeva, her eyes on me. “Of course—if there’s a way to save the Isles, I will do anything in my power to help, young one. Anything at all.”

“There is,” Grey said before I could make myself speak. “There’s always a way for everything. I assume you’ve come to stay.” He nodded behind her, at the two large brown suitcases that had been rolling themselves when she first came out here to find us still eating.

“Oh, yes!” Reeva said, laughing heartily—God, she was in such a good mood. Completely different from the woman she had been that day when I went to ask for her help.

She’d helped me—and now I was lying to her face.

“Yes, I will. I’ve brought with me all that I might need to figure out exactly what was done to Autumn here. Mamayka explained to me what happened, and I must say, I am truly sorrythat you had to go through that, young one.” She came closer and took my hand in hers and squeezed, her skin warm. Her eyes honest.

I was going to be sick.

“Thank you,” I forced myself to say again.

“But we’re lucky to have you,” Reeva continued. “And we’re going to learn more about what was done to you. Don’t you worry about a thing.” With another squeeze of my hand, she let go and stepped back.

“Do you think it’s possible to undo it—whatever it is?” Grey said, putting his arm around my shoulders like he knew I needed the support.

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