Page 84 of The Secrets of Roan Island

“Ruby. Stop.” My voice sounds frail. But when she takes another generous swallow, a powerful awareness—raw and unbound—bursts inside me, swelling up with brilliant light and uncoiling heat. The sensation snaps out like the crack of a whip.

“Stop!”

Though the word isn’t spoken out loud, Ruby immediately freezes, drops my wrist, and stares at me, still as a statue. A tether of energy stretches between us—between me and every member of my family.

Shemaiah, Jafeth and Zarah are in the house, stopped cold in their tracks. I can’t explain how I know, but I can feel it. Though I can’t tell exactly where they are, I can sense that they’re there, connected to me, obeying me.

Patriarchal power.

I let out a breath and focus on each connection, cutting them free one by one. That’s going to take some getting used to, and I’ll need to apologize to my siblings later for my lack of control.

When I snap the tether with Ruby, she ducks her head shyly. “I’m not sure what came over me.”

I lift her hand and lap the blood from her palm, then her neck, the small taste of her enough to revive me. I push her backward, climbing over her body until I’m settled between her thighs.

“I know exactly what came over you.”

Though we're in the temple with snow drifting around us, there’s only heat between our bodies. I lean down and lick a line from the center of her chest clear up to her chin, tasting her, cleansing her. “I intend to feed that wild part of you often.”

Her blush is a beautiful reward. I kiss her until we’re both breathless and she’s reaching for my pants. I stop her. “As much as I’d like to take you right now, you’re still healing.”

Gathering her in my arms, holding her close, the reality of the last several hours weighs me down with latent terror. I tighten my hold.

“I feel fine now,” she says. “Better than fine. Better than I’ve ever felt before.”

I smile and pull away so I can look at her. “Humor my pride and give me a little time to recover.”

“Oh.” Her face falls. “I’m sorry.”

I lift her chin. “I love knowing my blood nourishes you. That because of my blood, my venom, you’re alive. I just need a few minutes.” I stand, holding my hand out to help her to her feet. “And I think we’ve desecrated the goddess’s temple enough for one night.”

She looks around, her gaze stalling on the place where Hammish fell. “Where…” She spins, searching.

“Don’t worry. My brothers wouldn’t have left him here. Can’t you smell the smoke? They’re burning the body to ensure he’s gone.” With Ruby’s hand in mine, we turn away from the wreckage. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“You’re quite the mess yourself.” She glances at me with a smirk. “You’ll have to join me.”

I sweep her into my arms and run full speed back to the house, up the stairs, and into my rooms, where I intend to keep her forever.

39

Ruby

I’m shivering by the time Noah sets me down in the bathing room of his suite. When I see myself in the mirror, I gasp, touching the dried blood on my neck.

“I died,” I whisper.

Noah stands behind me, his arm wrapped around me, his hand wide across my abdomen. “You’re alive. You’re here with me.” He kisses the top of my head, and I feel the soft breath of his sigh flutter my hair.

With a gentle touch, he unties my ruined dress and peels the sticky fabric from my body. Once it’s off, Noah wads it up and tosses it into the fire, warming the room. Together, we watch as the flames eat it, the slow consumption of silky fabric.

Then he takes my hand and leads me to the massive clawfoot tub, filling it with steaming water and making the room humid.

“Get in,” he says, the words laced with just a touch of demand.

My hand in his, I step into the water and sink below the surface, letting the heat nurture my icy skin. Noah kneels next to the tub, his shirt sleeves pushed above his elbows.

“You need a bath too,” I tell him.

---