Page 168 of The Eighth Isle

My heart jumped.

“One more thing,” I said when he stepped back, and I went closer again.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Bite me, asshole. Right here, on the wrist.” And I shoved my hand in his face.

Valentine laughed. “I’ll be fine, Sunshine. There’s plenty of blood out there to feed me.”

“Yes, but how many people do you reallylove, Valentine Evernight?” My blood made him stronger the same way it did Grey, and he knew it.

“Only one,” he admitted.

“So far,” I corrected. “The world is vast. Who knows—you might meet the love of your?—”

He bit into my wrist so fast my own scream cut me off. And I got it—he didn’t want to hear it. But I had faith. A soul like Valentine’s would be restless without someone to connect to, and he’d find that someone. I knew in my heart that he would.

He didn’t take much from me, only a few mouthfuls, but when he was done and licked the puncture wounds on my wrist,there was color on his cheeks and the bags under his eyes were completely gone.

I felt like I was on top of the world as I sighed.

There.Much better now.

“Thank you, Sunshine. But really, I have to go now—he’s coming for you,” Valentine said.

“Who?” I asked, a second before I felt the energy against my skin, an energy I knew well.

Grey—and he was getting closer.

“Your husband,” Valentine said with a grin, then wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

I locked mine around his waist.

“Stay.” I would be so fucking happy if he’d juststay,even though I knew he wouldn’t. “You’ll have a nephew soon if all goes well—juststaywith us.”

“I will, and I can’t wait to meet him,” he whispered against my hair.

“Then s?—”

“I’ll see you soon, Sunshine,” he cut me off and kissed my cheek. “Keep rising.”

My heart was heavy as I watched him jump on the railing. Shadow flew off his shoulder and came toward me, flying right in front of my face.

Tears in my eyes again. “Take care of him, will you? The same way you took care of me.” He was always there, always behind me, and I loved him with all my heart. He purred again, and I gave him a kiss right on his pointy face.

Shadow must not have seen it coming because he became disoriented for a moment, lost control of his wings and almost fell. I laughed—couldn’t help it. But then he picked himself up and flew toward the sky, and when I turned, Valentine was not there anymore.

He was gone.

I gripped the metal in my hands and looked out at the castle, at the woods—at the sky.

He had disappeared.

“There she is.”

Grey came out onto the balcony, and the sound of his voice raised the hair on the back of my neck. I turned around and when he saw me, his smile dropped.

“What is it, baby?”

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