Page 55 of The Secrets of Roan Island

I sigh, grateful she’s asking questions, her curiosity outweighing her fear.

“Please, join me in the library? It’s warmer there.” I should have never put her in here without more clothes and a warmer blanket. It’s far too cold. “I’ll explain everything.”

She eyes me suspiciously. “You’re not going to keep me locked up?”

I shake my head. “I told you I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done it.” I sigh. “I’ll tell you everything, and then you can choose what you want to do.” The idea of letting her choose for herself feels like standing on the edge of a cliff and giving her the power to push me to my death. I don’t know what I’ll do if she chooses to leave, which she undoubtedly will. My Mavarri side roars at the thought of losing her, ready to pounce, to stalk, to drag herback like the apex predator I am. But I keep a tight rein on that side of myself. Thankfully, I’m well fed and satiated after last night. “You have my word.”

I hold out my hand. It hangs between us. An offering.

She doesn’t take it, getting to her feet on her own and walking past me back into the library where she sits in an armchair. At least she didn’t storm out of the Gate House immediately. “I’ll listen, but I expect the whole truth.”

The whole truth. I swallow. That won’t be easy. There’s no way she’ll stay once she understands what we’ve been doing.

28

Ruby

Iwish I felt numb. But my mind sparks and jolts, desperately trying to process what I’ve seen. This would all be easier if I could shut myself off like I did with David, disassociate and find that place where there’s nothing.

But I can’t do that with Noah. He’s too all-consuming in my thoughts. Too dangerous. The extremity of what I’ve discovered, the panic clawing from my gut into my throat, won’t allow me to distance myself from any of this. I want to scream and scream while equally wanting to crawl into his arms. It’s ridiculous that he still seems safe.

I’m shaking uncontrollably like a dragonfly in a storm. Even my insides are vibrating. My heart, quivering. I don’t want to believe he killed those women, but how can I deny it when he outright confessed? I try to wrap the blanket tighter, but it slips from my shaking hand, momentarily revealing one breast before I grab the fabric and pull it back up to my neck.

Noah holds up a finger. “Give me a minute.”

He leaves the library in a flash of movement and returns seconds later with another, thicker blanket. When he goes to wrap it around my shoulders, I snatch it out of his hands.

His mouth turns down along with his eyes as he takes the seat across from me. The same one he sat in last night when I… “Not there.” My voice comes out hoarse and scratchy.

He nods and sits down on the leather couch. I want to ask him to move again, because looking at that couch just reminds me of how sweet he was bringing me food and water after making me come so hard I almost passed out.

Instead, I move to the library table, facing away from him. He joins me a second later, sitting directly across from me, hands folded in front of him.

Neither of us speaks.

I should walk straight out of this replica house up to my bedroom, collect my things, and find a way off this island. I can’t imagine any acceptable explanation for what I just saw.

Except I can’t bring myself to leave. I need to understand, because my heart feels like a hot air balloon that suddenly popped.

He shifts uncomfortably.

Good. He should be uncomfortable. I have so many questions, but I won’t be the first to speak. I’m not even sure where to start. If he wants to explain himself, I’ll listen, but I won’t make it any easier.

My eyes drift to the laboratory door behind him. All those women…

I gasp, unable to hold back the emotion.

Noah’s eyes jump from the table to my face.

My hand flies to my mouth as their faces flash through my consciousness again, their desecrated bodies. So young. Pretty, as far as I could tell. Normal. Any of them could be my sister. Or my friends in the CWS. Or me. Noah said he wouldn’t hurt me,but how do I know he’s telling the truth? I want to trust him—against all reason, I want to trust him—but how can I when he’s got bodies hidden away in a locked room?

Noah takes a deep breath. “Do you remember when I told you Mavarri can change DNA with their bite?”

Shit. A new fear I hadn’t thought of barrels through my mind and bursts out of my mouth. “Is that going to happen to me? Did you somehow change me last night?” My hand drops to my thigh where he fed from me, gave me his venom.

“No. That was just… feeding.” For a moment his eyes flash dark, but then he blinks and controls himself. “Twice a year, our venom changes. When the moons align on Summer and Winter Solstice.” He pauses and runs his hands through his hair. “There are accounts that this change in our venom can turn a human into a Mavarri. ”

His expression is pained, and his gaze darts to the laboratory before returning to his hands on the table. I narrow my eyes, studying him, trying to read between the lines and piece together everything I’ve seen.

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