Page 51 of The Secrets of Roan Island

But I can’t picture it.

All I can picture is Noah’s teeth sinking into David’s neck. The fire in his eyes when he caught David trying to hurt me. Howgentle he was when he brought me something to eat and drink last night. The way he didn’t just take. He gave.

My eyes fly open.

Noah wouldn’t do this.

I shake my head.

He wouldn’t.

Jafeth? Shemaiah? Mrs. Darning?

Hammish, maybe. He’s capable of it, I’m sure.

But if any of them did this, they’d have to get through Noah. A new panic sets me beating on the door again. What if something happened to Noah?

I need to get out of here.

“Help! Noah!” Heedless of the blanket falling, I pummel my fists against the door. “Let me out!”

No one answers. No one comes.

My hands throb. My arms ache. My throat goes dry.

Still, nothing.

I swallow, shut my eyes, and lean my forehead against the cold metal of the door. “Noah,” I whimper, the fight going out of me. The latch clicks. I jump out of the way as the door swings open. Noah. I fling myself at him. “You found me.”

His arms wrap around me, holding me tightly, and the fear melts out of my body. “Shh, you’re okay.” He slides his hands over my skin. “You’re cold.”

I shiver.

He walks me back into the room to retrieve the blanket from the floor and wraps it around my shoulders. “I’ll bring you your clothes. But for now, you need to eat.” He pulls away and grabs a tray from a table just on the other side of the metal door. He brings it back into the room, then herds me toward the cot.

I balk. “I can eat out there.” I glance over his shoulder at the open door.

“It’s safer here,” he says, his hand curled around the back of my neck. “Sit with me.” But he doesn’t sit, waiting for me.

I freeze as his words hit me. “You knew I was here?” I look up, hurt slamming into me like a punch to the gut.

“You think I’d let you go anywhere without my knowledge?” His expression softens, and he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “You’re mine, Ruby. I protect what’s mine.”

I open my mouth to protest, shaking my head, but an uncontrollable, soft shudder at his touch gives me away. There’s something mystifying that draws me to Noah. Some part of me that wants to belong to him, wants him to belong to me, which goes against every ingrained belief in me. My logical brain is vying for attention, yelling at me to put up more of a fight.

I take a deep breath and ask the question I don’t want to ask. “Did you lock me in here?”

He doesn’t hedge, doesn’t shy away. In true Noah fashion, he says simply, “Yes,” and gently pushes me toward the cot.

Fine. This is fine. I might be jumping to conclusions. Maybe he just wanted to keep me somewhere safe while he went to get food. I don’t know how much time has passed, and his brothers might still be crazed with new moon hunger. That’s it. I’m sure it was just a momentary thing.

But I need to be certain.

I maneuver out of his hold and take a step toward the door. “I’ll just go put some clothes on and then we can eat. Why don’t you bring the food–”

There’s a smack of metal on metal, and Noah’s in front of me faster than I can take a second step. “You can’t leave.” His eyes are black as night.

I hate that the sight of his predator makes my sex clench with need.

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