Page 81 of The Secrets of Roan Island

Hammish jumps out of their reach just in time, twists, and grabs me around the throat. Two long claws press on my jugular, my back against his chest.

Everyone freezes.

Everything stops.

“You move,” Hammish says, “and I end her.” He pricks my skin with his claws. Fresh drops of blood joining the dried ones on my chest.

Noah’s horror is written in every line of his face.

Shemaiah’s gaze is calculating.

Jafeth narrows in on the opportunity. I can see it in his eyes. He’s still considering an attack, even if it means risking my life.

“Do it,” I gasp, the words burning through my constricted throat. If my death will mean the world is rid of Hammish Roan, I’ll happily die. To protect Noah. To protect these women—allthe women that Hammish will try to turn if he’s allowed to live. “Do it!”

None of them move.

“She’s braver than all of you,” Hammish mocks, still holding one clawed hand around my throat. A knife clatters to the stone floor as he reaches to remove another from his back. It clangs against the stone, and he grabs for the third. We all know what will happen once he’s removed them. He’ll heal quickly and gain back the upper hand. I can’t let that happen.

“Do it,” I gasp, reaching for the knives still on the altar. His claws dig deeper into my neck, drawing more blood.

“Stop,” Noah pleads.

Hammish’s nose drags up my neck and he inhales loudly. A taunt. “It would be a shame to end you this way, pet. Your tenacity and my strength are a perfect combination.”

“No,” Noah says and pushes forward one step. He crumples as Hammish laughs.

“You’re never enough, Noah. You’ll never be–”

His words are cut by a snap. A crack. Bone breaking. His claws scratch across my throat, opening the tender flesh before his hand falls away.

I try to scream, but barely gurgle as pain lances my consciousness, sharp and cold. My hand goes to my torn throat, blood oozing between my fingers. Shock drives me to my knees. I look up and see Zarah with her hands on either side of her father’s head. She drops him, and he falls beside me, his eyes lifeless. His body limp.

Blood splatters as I cough. My vision blurs. I try to speak, to call Noah’s name, but only a liquidy noise escapes. Noah catches me as I sag to one side, limp, heavy. He looks so beautiful. And so worried. I need to tell him I love him. Tell him to bite me. But I can’t speak. My whole body shakes. So cold.

I blink. My head feels light. My body, heavy.

Everything slows.

I try to speak. I need to tell him… something important.

Why does everything look so far away? Why is Noah so far away? I need to tell him…

What was it?

If I can just… tell him…

38

Noah

“No. No. No!” I scramble for myta’ari,fallen and covered in her own blood. A nightmare. I’m living in a nightmare. I reach her at the same time my father falls dead beside her and pull her into my arms. Deep cuts cross her throat. She blinks, her eyes drifting my way.

“No no no no no,” I keen, rocking her in my arms.

I’m barely aware that my father is finally dead. At my sister’s vengeful hands. All I see is Ruby. Pale in the light of the aligned moons. Covered in so much sweet-smelling blood.

She blinks at me once more. Her mouth moves, but no words come out. Blood bubbles from her wound and lips, one grisly hand sliding against my cheek as the other presses against her throat, trying futilely to stop the bleeding.

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