Page 82 of The Secrets of Roan Island

“I love you,” I whisper over and over, hoping she can still hear. I wish I’d told her before. Wish I’d told her a thousand times. Wish we could say those words how they’re meant to besaid, accompanied by tender touches and ecstasy. Not in the middle of a bloody temple with my family around us.

Still, I won’t deny her my truth. Not now. Not ever. “I love you,ta’ari.”

Her lips form words again, but I shake my head, my hand pressed to her throat, and silence her with a soft kiss against her bloody mouth. “Don’t try to talk.”

She continues to struggle, face contorted in pain like she’s desperate to communicate something, but she’s struggling to breathe now, gasping for air. Her heartbeat is too slow.

Tears stream down my face and onto hers as I hold her close, rocking her, soothing her however I can. “I’m sorry,ta’ari. I’m so sorry.”

“Bite her, you idiot!” my sister urges from somewhere over my shoulder.

“But she’ll die.”

“She’s dying anyway.” Shemaiah says the truth softly, as if it will be easier to hear.

Ruby uses the last of her strength to nod her head, then her eyes roll back. A gurgling sound comes from her throat. She droops in my arms, unconscious, going where I can’t follow.

Everything in me fights against this. A Solstice bite is pain and death. But… Shemaiah’s right, she’s already dying. This is the only chance.

My fangs drop. My hands tremble. I pull her close and whisper in her ear one more time, “I love you.”

Then I bite her, right where her neck and shoulder meet, where the mark of my earlier bite still stands like a raised scar. Her blood effervesces on my tongue as sweet and tempting as always, but I don’t drink. I give.

I inject her with my venom. Every last drop.

And then I wait.

The room is too cold, snow drifting around us like ashes.

The beating hearts of the people around me are too loud in comparison to Ruby’s weak pulse.

“Please,” I whisper to the goddess. To anyone who’ll listen. “Please.”

Ruby’s body arches, and her mouth drops open in a silent scream. She convulses just like the women before her. I feel her pain as if it’s mine. I scream at the stars, roar my anger at the goddess. “No!”

Zarah tries to touch my shoulder, but I twist and snarl at her, clutching Ruby against my chest. If Zarah hadn’t been so impulsive, hadn’t killed our father while Ruby was still at risk, maybe she’d be alive right now. I move to lunge for her, but Ruby’s shaking stops, halting my retribution and drawing all of my attention to her face. So pale. Her heart beats irregularly, then… stops.

“No!”

I want to rend the heavens and rage against the world. But all I can do is pull her toward me and kiss her cold cheek, her still lips. My tears mingle with her blood. “Ta’ari,” I whisper over and over. “Ta’ari.”

Somewhere in the distance, I hear soft sobs.

“Come.” Shemaiah’s voice. “Let’s give him space.”

Footsteps retreat over the stone. Then silence.

Silence, then a beat.

A heartbeat.

A heartbeat that isn’t my own. Isn’t my brothers or my sister or the women damned to die.

Another beat. Stronger.

Again.

“Ruby?” I draw away and look at her face.