Page 88 of The Eighth Isle

Except the others weremorewounded, more tired, not nearly as strong as she was to begin with. The sirens were relentless, I’d give them that. No matter how many times she threw them against the ground, they stood up and they tried again, with their magic because they still couldn’t get close enough to touch her physically, though Grey was trying. With his wings, he was trying to get closer, but every time he reached out to grab Syra, another burst of light would push him back a few feet, and then he’d use his wings to stop, to get closer again, and?—

Pain.

Red-hot pain shot up my arm so fast it took away the view of the world instantly. A cry escaped me even though I knew it was Valentine biting into my wrist. Even though I’d begged himto do just that until now, had practically shoved my wrist in his mouth hoping he’d take my blood—but I’d been so distracted by the fight. He’d taken me by surprise when he sank those fangs in me, but he was alive.

Fuck, Valentine was alive, and he was holding my wrist in his hand, and he was sucking blood out of me fast.

I resisted my instinct to move my arm away and gritted my teeth, giving him as much as he needed. But Valentine didn’t stop, even when I began to feel a bit lightheaded. I had no idea how much he’d taken, and how much he needed, but I also knew that I couldn’t pass out, not now. Storm was still waiting, pacing in a circle, frustrated to watch the fight but not engaging because Grey forbade him. He was to wait for the dome to give and take me out of here, and I might miss my opportunity if I wasn’t conscious.

“Valentine, stop!”

I moved, fell back on my ass, and it was harder than I thought it would be to pry my wrist away from his mouth and hand. My skin tore from his fangs, but at that point my entire arm was numb, so I hardly felt it. Blood dripped down my palm and I pushed myself farther back, not really sure what to expect of Valentine when he woke up.

It wasValentine—anything was possible with him.

Finally, he stood up.

Blood smeared his lips and chin and fangs, and he looked me right in the eye as his tongue came out and licked them clean. His hair was all over the place and the right side of his face had been torn open, his cheek a bloody mess, but it was healing. At an incredible rate, it was healing right in front of my eyes, his skin knitting together, turning pink, and then paler and paler until only blood remained on him.

Valentine took a look back at the sirens and Grey fighting, at Storm growling deep in his throat as he waited and watched butcouldn’t participate, at Shadow, who climbed up to his shoulder and wrapped his tail around his neck…then me again.

His smile sent shivers down my back. “Your blood is something else, Sunshine,” he said, pushing his hair back slowly.

I took another step back, closer to Storm, not really sure what the hell to say, when…

Valentine smiled brighter. “Are you afraid of me, Fall?”

Of course, I’m afraid of you!“No,” I spit, and I was already feeling better the closer to Storm I was, even though the dragon was still focused on the fight.

“Sunshine,” Valentine said, shaking his head as if to say,oh, no, you poor girl.And the next second, he moved so fast he basically materialized in front of me.

A miracle I didn’t scream.

“You are not allowed to ever be afraid of me,” the asshole said. “Do you understand that?Not allowed.”

And just like that, he irritated me enough that I really wasn’t afraid of him anymore. “You’re a goddamn bastard, you know that? Don’t tell me what I’m allowed to do!”

He grinned. “That’s better.” I rolled my eyes, but he didn’t let me speak. “Hush, Sunshine. I genuinely thought you were going to let me die—and just so we’re clear, I wouldn’t have held it against you.”

“And you think Icareif you would hold something against me?!” God, he was so damn frustrating I was starting to regret waking him up.

Not really, though.

“I wouldn’t dare assume that, no,” said Valentine, and even now, he was grinning.

“Valentine, they are?—”

“I know, I know,” he said, raising his hands. “I’m getting to that. Your blood makes me incredibly strong, as I’m sure you realized, and I’m about to join the little fight going on there ina minute.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder just as Syra threw three of her sisters to the ground at the same time.Littlewasn’t the word I’d use to describe this at all.

“But there’s something my brother will want to kill meextra slowlyfor—and so will you.”

“I—wait, what?”

“Your magic,” Valentine said, turning toward the fight. “I’ve been researching it. Your magic induces chaos. Not unheard of—witches used to have it in abundance back in the day. And if we have a chance against Syra, it will be through it.” He looked at me again.

“I tried. It doesn’t work against her,” I said, even though what he said made sense.Induces chaos.That’s exactly what my magic felt like.

“Not on its own, but she’s weakened right now. And if you hit her when she’s not paying attention…”

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