Page 84 of The Eighth Isle

Was Syra trying to do the same to me? Was she going to kill the baby in my womb?

The thought made me rage. It was like yet another force climbing up inside me, filling up my every cell, and it was about to explode and ruin this entire fucking Isle. I’d never felt anything like it before, and it came from deep inside me, from my very soul. It gave me voice. It gave me my movement back, and before I knew it, I was screaming.

My own voice filled my head, chasing away Syra’s chanting, and my arms were moving, too. The darkness was retreating the longer I screamed, leaving way for my surroundings until I finally saw again.

Until I saw Valentine on his knees in front of me, and Shadow on the ground with his wings spread right by my feet, motionless. Until I saw Syra standing naked still behind Valentine, looking at me and smiling, blood dripping from both her nostrils, and the corner of her lips.

Until I saw Grey was being pulled to his feet by Storm’s talons, even though he could barely stand.

Then Syra laughed again, and it was straight from the heart.

I could move now. No more magic held me back, and I was going to run to Grey, except the moment I tried to take a step forward, I realized my legs weren’t strong enough to carry me. I fell to my knees in front of Valentine and was surprised to find I could barely keep my balance. I swayed to the sides and almost fell all the way to the ground—like Shadow, whose eyes were half open and his tail was twitching to the sides uncontrollably.

Shadow, who wasdying.

My hand shook as I reached out to touch his small chest.

“Sh-Sh-Shadow,” I choked because I couldn’t stand the sight of him like that. I couldn’t stand to see him shaking, unable to move properly, his eyes unblinking.

Then Valentine raised his head, and it was a miracle I didn’t scream. He looked like a goddamn corpse—skinwhite, not pale. Eyes black, the skin around them bruised a deep purple. His fangs extended and his lips dry, like someone had sucked the life right out of him. Blood came out his nose, too, and…he smiled.

Those lifeless eyes took in my face, and the asshole smiled.

“What have you done?” I whispered, raising my hands to his face because it was still Valentine. God, whatever the fuck was wrong with me, this was Valentine, and I’d loved him once. I couldn’t seem to shake that stupid feeling even now. Even after everything.

And he whispered,“Sunshine.”

That’s all. That’s all he said.

In the next moment, everything changed.

“Hello, Syra, sister dearest.”

Valentine collapsed to the ground on his side, and Shadow was moving his wings now, too. Grey was on his feet, and Storm was no longer roaring, and Syra…

Syra was shocked as she turned to the side, toward the dark trees where the moonlight didn’t reach, to see a figure slowly reveal herself as she walked so gracefully.

It was a face I knew well, even though I’d only seen her a handful of times. Raxae, one of the five remaining siren sisters—and she was not alone.

Slowly, one by one, the other sirens came into view, naked, their wet hair sticking to their skins that no longer looked grey and lifeless. No, they looked even better than that night at the Evernight castle, so much closer to how they used to be before. They were not hiding behind any magic, and they’d gained weight, and their eyes had more color, and their hair was thicker, too.

They’d been healing, just like the rest of the Seven Isles since the curse was undone.

And now they were here.

Syra moved back, smiling and shaking her head as she wiped the blood off her face with the back of her hand.

“Let me guess—you were watching, weren’t you,” said Syra, and I began to crawl on all fours toward Grey, who was limping his way to me.

“Guess again,” said whom I thought was Andya, even though I wasn’t looking at the sisters anymore.

My eyes were on Grey, and he was right there. My God, he was three feet away from me and the thought of being in his arms gave me enough energy to push myself to my feet, until finally his hand was in mine. Until finally we were face-to-face.

“You’re okay,” Grey whispered, looking me over.

“We have to go,” I choked, urging him to move back, closer to where Storm was waiting on all fours, ready to launch at the sky with Grey’s command, but…

“Oh, no!” Syra cried out before she burst out laughing, and I had no choice but to turn to her. “Him?!” she shouted. “It was him—my sweet, sweet Valentine?!”

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