Page 27 of The Secrets of Roan Island

I press my lips together and clench my teeth as I lead her through a cramped hallway. The old stone arches above us, but it’s too low, making me feel hemmed in. The last thing I want to talk about is the new moon party. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll be gone by then.”

She yanks her hand away from my arm and stops abruptly. “I most certainly will not. Your father said he wouldn’t talk about the grant until after the new moon, and I have no intention of leaving before I’ve secured the money I need.”

She’s going to get herself killed. I seize her hand and wrap it around my forearm again, holding it in place as I tug her closer.

She resists so that her steps slide over the old stone, then suddenly acquiesces, tumbling into me. My arm holding her hand is caught between us, but my other wraps around her back, keeping her steady. One of her hands splays against my chest. I can smell her, that enticing scent of copper mixed with that earthy floral that messes with my equilibrium. Instinctually, I lean in, my head tucked closer to her neck, her scent so fucking good. Delicious. Tempting. Mouth-watering.

When my nose scrapes her neck, she gasps, leaning a little closer, snapping me from my trance.

I straighten and resume walking. My mind jumps through possible things to say, trying to find some way to convince her to leave. If it’s money she wants, there must be something we own worth the value of the grant she’s seeking.

“Is the party like the winter celebrations in New Essik? Do you decorate a tree? Exchange gifts?”

“No.”

When she realizes I’m not going to give her more, she tugs her hand away again, but I keep her securely tucked into myside. Holding on to her might be petty, but it’s keeping me grounded as my thoughts spiral. Why would my father want her here for the new moon party? Granted, it’s not as dangerous as her being here for Solstice, but it’s still likely to end in questions I don’t want Ruby asking.

I turn her between the pillars to start up the narrow stairs.

She draws in a breath. “Oh. This is–”

Stained glass windows line the twisting tower stairwell, each one a different color, making a pattern of rainbow light on the steps. I want to feel self-satisfied at how I knew she’d love the romance of this section of the house, but I can’t. First, it’s a trick to distract her, and since getting to know her, I hate that I resort to the same immature maneuvering as my father. Second, she deserves the truth even if I can’t give it to her, even if a part of me wishes I could. A ridiculous, foolish part, but the desire is there nonetheless.

I don’t linger, tugging her up the narrow stairway.

“Mr. Roan,” she says in a sharp, reprimanding voice. “If you refuse to answer my questions, perhaps I should find one of your brothers. Maybe they’ll escort me on a walk outside and tell me what I want to know about the new moon party. I’m sure Jafeth–”

“We’re here.” A jealous growl rumbles in my chest as I swing open the heavy wooden door as if it’s nothing.

Ruby sucks in a breath.

The sound makes my cock twitch.

I’m going to give Shemaiah a piece of my mind for not showing up to escort Ruby to the library. He never should have left her with me.

The flat roof top of the east tower stretches in front of us. The blunt teeth of the parapet enclose us like a cage, an empty trap tightening around me. I usually love the view from up here,but the space suddenly feels too small and too expansive all at once.

Ruby steps through the door a pace ahead of me, and I finally let go of her hand, watching as she tilts her face to the sun. The wind whips locks of her dark hair from the tight bun pinned at the nape of her neck. In the sunlight, the escaped strands glow auburn as they dance around her face. She laughs, delighted.

I realize I haven’t had much opportunity to look at her in the natural light. I’ve mostly seen her through candle light. Her beauty is ethereal, her alabaster skin smooth and supple. Her rosy lips curl with a smile, her eyes closing as she draws a deep breath. I shift, suddenly uncomfortable in more ways than I’d like to acknowledge.

“This is beautiful.” She starts across the expanse, a lone flower in a sea of stone. I follow, unable to keep away from her. When she gets to the parapet and leans over, my stomach drops. She wouldn’t recover from a fall like I would. As quick as a thought, I circle my arm around her waist and hold tight.

She looks up at me, her lips parted with surprise.

“Be careful,” I say, but I’m not sure I’m talking about the possibility of a fall. My hearts knock against the inside of my chest, and my grip tightens. Everything in me compels me to claim her. One part of me pushing to kiss her, another to bite, another to fuck. But I can’t allow my instincts any leeway. Not with her.

The tower juts above the trees, giving us a clear view of Lake Nettor, which glistens like Ruby’s namesake in the early morning light. We normally have snow by this time of year, but today the sun is bright, as if it mocks my dilemma. I can’t let Ruby stay here, but I’m not sure how to convince her to leave. Or how I’ll deal with her departure.

She shivers and wraps her arms around herself. I drape my jacket over her shoulders and tuck her into my side. For a fewminutes, we just look out over the island. A flock of birds swoops up out of the trees and over the water, dancing on the wind.

“Will you tell me about the new moon party now?” Her voice is whisper-soft. Her warm breath battles the cold on my cheek.

I imagine prior new moon events. I think about the urge to hunt, the adrenaline coursing through my body when I’ve caught my prey. The taste of blood. Then I picture that being Ruby and shudder before drawing her closer. “If I begged you, would you leave before the new moon?”

She shakes her head slowly. “You know I wouldn’t. I need this grant too much.”

“Why? I know your last paper wasn’t met with applause, but you’re clearly intelligent, an asset to the university.”

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