22. Shemaiah
SHEMAIAH
Tonight, the new moon party is in the back garden, a space that hasn’t seen life since my mother was alive.
Ruby has been adamant about using the Roan wealth to better effect, employing those who need work, while making the place more inviting.
We now have a full-time groundskeeper and three gardeners living at Roan Island, along with a plethora of new cooks, servers, and maids.
The house feels like it’s waking up along with the flowers.
The party is beautiful on this spring night, breathtaking really, but I can’t enjoy it in my agitated state.
Rather than adding mystery, the new moon darkness feels like it’s clawing at my skin.
Ruby has positioned torches and hundreds of tea lights around, reminding me of bioluminescence floating in dark water.
Lit lanterns swing from tree branches along with tons of colorful ribbons situated like hanging vines.
The plants are thick with new growth and woven with flower garlands from the greenhouse, so the fragrance is heady.
Romantic. That’s the best way to describe it. Fucking romantic.
The new moon party is supposed to be about carnality, not love.
And biting Pippa—if she even lets me—is supposed to be about helping a medical condition.
It should be done down in the laboratory, not here among plush rugs, pillows, and couches brought out from the house, situated around the garden with layers of potted leafy greens for privacy.
The guests meander around in their formal finery, masked. Laughter, conversation, and the din of heartbeats drown out the music. Ruby had a piano set up on the patio for entertainment, though no one pays attention to the music. Not when the true festivities are finally getting started.
I take a sip of champagne and scan the group, searching for golden hair, a fresh scent, and that rare laugh that’s become so familiar. I haven’t seen Pippa today, and I miss her keenly, which is exactly why I’ve stayed away.
All I’ve thought about since talking to Noah is sinking my teeth into Pippa’s neck.
I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t read, couldn’t think.
I don’t trust myself to be around her. Not with the hunger gnawing at my gut.
I still don’t know if she wants my bite or not, but the idea is out there now. And I can’t seem to shake it.
I spent most of the day hiking the island, wearing myself out. I almost found a willing servant to appease my hunger so I wouldn’t be as much of a risk to Pippa, but not all of them know what we are, and I didn’t want to create an unnecessary complication by revealing myself.
Our hunger is always worse at the new moon, but this is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. There’s a phantom scent in my nostrils at all times, the scent of the woman I spend far too much time with, and it has me salivating.
I’m almost relieved when I don’t spot Pippa right away.
It’s better that we don’t complicate things with my bite.
It’ll just confuse her. And me. Goddess knows I’m confused enough when it comes to that woman.
Whatever happens with Pippa tonight, it’ll be best if I feed from someone else first and curb this craving.
“There you are.” Jafeth slaps me on the back. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming and would avail yourself solely on your own delights.” He wiggles his eyebrows while looking around. “Where is your Pippa?”
I open my mouth to correct him that she isn’t mine but slam my lips shut.
Jafeth leans against me, already a little pleasure-drunk. “Tell me, do they taste as foul as the disease smells?”
“I wouldn’t know.” I brush him off, ignoring his surprised look, and walk away, scanning the space for a meal that will quickly satisfy. There’s too much pressure on my shoulders. I’m not good for anyone in this state. I need to eat.
My focus lands on Mr. and Mrs. Frellman. I watch them stumble drunkenly between a row of plants and know that by the time I get there, he’ll already be balls deep in her, which means they likely won’t pay me much mind or try to proposition me.
Perfect.
I take a step forward and stop. The deep tang of citrus, layered over fresh air and bitterness, carries on a breeze. My nostrils flare. The predator in me stiffens, inhales, and turns toward it.
The crowd parts, and before me is the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen.
Pippa holds an emerald demi mask up to her face that fails to hide her stunning features.
I’d know her anywhere, but this is… words fail me.
She’s a goddess, resplendent in an emerald dress, a glittering jewel among trinkets.
Her long blond hair is piled into a neat updo that accentuates her bare neck and shoulders. My fangs elongate as I inhale again.
She’s here. She came, even knowing what everyone will expect because of our fake relationship.
Does this mean she wants me to bite her?
The possibility hits me in my core, followed by a deep curiosity to know what she sounds like when she moans.
As a bee to a flower, I’m drawn forward, moving before I think.
“You’re here,” I say.
She tucks a ringlet behind her ear and looks down, the demi mask hiding her face for a moment. “I’m here.”
There’s more to those words than the simple syllables, and I wish she would look at me so I could interpret it all.
“For appearances,” she adds.
My hearts lose their moorings and sink through my chest. She doesn’t want my bite. She’s just thinking about the believability of our lie.
I straighten my suit jacket. “You’re under no obligation to be here, Pippa. Go back to your rooms.” Please go back to your rooms. Before I lose control and do something you clearly don’t want.
She finally looks up at me. “I don’t want to leave. I’m going to enjoy myself tonight.”
“This isn’t the kind of party where you dance and talk about the weather, Pippa. Are you just going to stand around and watch me bring pleasure to someone else?” I step forward.
She stands her ground, but her lips turn down at the corners.
I pinch her chin and tilt her head. “Are you planning on seeking pleasure from someone else?” My muscles fill out, blood pumping furiously through my veins.
I’m fighting the claws, the need to throw her over my shoulder and run away to feast. “Don’t you dare fucking tell me you’re going to let one of my siblings bite you. ”
She drops her mask to her side and glares at me. “You’re being ridiculous. Of course I’m not going to do any of that.”
“Then what do you want, Pippa? Why are you here tempting me?”
“Tempting you?” Her head tilts. My eyes drop to the pounding pulse point on her neck.
“It’s the new moon, Pippa. I’m hungry. So hungry.” My fangs dig into my bottom lip, drawing blood.
“I talked to Noah.” Her voice is so quiet I wouldn’t hear it if I wasn’t Mavarri. Her cheeks fill with the color of pink roses, and that sunshine scene of lemon blossoms assails me.
My hands clamp at my sides, my pulse erratic. “And?”
“And I want you to bite me.”
“For appearances.” There’s a bitterness in my tone that I don’t intend, and it just makes me even more irritated with myself.
“And for my health,” she replies. “Yes.”
I tilt my head back and blow a breath at the stars. “I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”
“Noah said it would make me feel better.”
“Biting isn’t the only thing I do at a new moon party. My venom is… euphoric. You can’t understand what it will do to you.” Or to me.
“Will it be a problem if I don’t… engage in…” Her gaze shifts to look around at the partygoers, many of whom are only half dressed now.
“No. You get to choose what you partake in.” I twist a lock of her hair, unable to resist touching her.
“But… you might find it difficult to control your cravings once you’ve been bitten.
I don’t want to put you in a position you aren’t comfortable with, where you lose control of yourself and regret it. ”
“Are you worried I’ll lose control or are you worried you will?”
Fuck, how can she see through me so completely? I don’t answer.
She furrows her brows and chews her lip. Without thinking, I swipe my thumb over her mouth, pulling the soft flesh from her teeth and caressing its fullness to wipe away the hurt she’s done to herself.
She releases a breathy sigh, the warmth of it wafting across my skin.
My touch trails down her neck to her arm, and she trembles in response, silent for a long beat.
“I trust you, Shemaiah.” She gives my hand a quick squeeze, and I can see her resolve clicking into place when she brings her mask back up.
“Biting me will kill two birds with one stone. You get the blood you need. I hopefully feel better before we travel. And it further convinces everyone that we’re together.
” She gives a nervous chuckle. “And, well, if there’s some pleasure that comes along with it…
maybe that’s not a bad thing. It’s been a long time since I’ve really felt good.
” Another beautiful little laugh. “I guess that’s four birds, actually. ”
“Pippa.” All I say is her name, unsure where to go from there.
“You don’t have to worry, Shem. I know it doesn’t mean anything. It won’t change anything. We’re friends, helping each other out. We both win in this situation.”
This is happening. It’s really happening.
“I should eat from someone else first,” I blurt out. “So I’m not so… needy. Will it bother you to see me with someone else?”
A shiver teases the base of my spine at the thought of Pippa watching me with someone else. Would she be jealous or eager? Curious or repulsed?
“I’m actually not sure,” she says with a look of open curiosity. There’s a light flush to her cheeks that I can only see in the low light because of my keen eyesight.
I slide my hand up her white satin glove to its edge and brush my thumb over the warm skin of her inner arm. “If at any point you want me to stop doing something—no matter what it is—just tell me. Or pinch me if you don’t want to say it aloud.”