Shemaiah
The moment she enters the observation deck, Pippa gasps, stopping so abruptly I bump into her. My hands wrap around her waist to keep her from falling forward, pulling her against my chest.
“It’s a stunning view, isn’t it?” I whisper.
The ship sits on a hill with a view of the landscape beyond the city. The grassy moors dressed with black crags and boulders are breathtaking. Black and white trees dressed in purple, white, and yellow accessorize the background like jewels. But it pales compared to the woman I’m holding steady.
I press my nose against the back of her head just to inhale her scent, needing it as if she’s my own personal drug.
The airship vibrates as the engine whines to life.
It’s loud, even though the interior is insulated.
Over the noise, we’re unable to talk, and I want to.
I want to chase her thoughts about sharing the room, about claiming she’s my wife.
Something monstrous in me likes it and wants to possess her completely.
I wish I knew what’s going on in her head.
I’m both deeply hungry for her and unnerved by that in equal measure.
Vivienne’s duplicity broke me open, unmoored me, and I vowed to never allow another so close, but somehow Pippa has fitted herself into those dark spaces and filled them with light.
Her companionship, her friendship, her support, and willingness to help me without the strings of a romantic entanglement—it’s all like a balm to my soul.
This journey, I suppose, is the least I can do for her.
It seems so small compared to the way her friendship has brought me back to life.
Though calling it friendship feels wrong. Especially after last night’s feeding.
The blimp lifts into the air, the engines calming to a purr as we lift off.
When I look away from the view, Pippa is staring back at me, something curious in her gaze, something I can’t read.
The urge to kiss her hits me right between the ribs.
It would take so little to close the distance between us.
One part of me argues she doesn’t want that, and it could ruin what we have.
But what if it could make it better? What if we could be something more than friends?
Not in love, not a bite, but… lovers. Her eyes drop to my lips and mine drop to hers.
We’re so close now, I can taste her breath, feel the ghost of last night’s kiss on my lips.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Starburst,” a deep voice breaks our trance.
Pippa snaps away from me, her cheeks a pretty pink. “Sorry,” she whispers, too quiet for anyone but a Mavarri to hear.
I don’t like that she’s apologizing for what almost happened, and I really don’t like that our moment was interrupted. But now’s not the time to talk about it.
“Allow me to introduce myself.” The rotund man puts his hands on his stomach over his white uniform as everyone in the room turns to look at him.
“I’m Admiral Day, and I’ll be your captain while you’re on board the Starburst. We’re scheduled to land in New Caldon in four days’ time.
” His thick, full mustache twitches as he talks.
“If New Caldon isn’t your destination,” the captain pauses for effect, “tough luck.” He laughs at his own joke, and a few of the passengers join in.
The captain explains a bit about the airship, where everything is located, and what kind of entertainment is offered on board. Then he introduces his executive officers and tells us what time dinner will be served.
After he finishes, the cruise director we spoke to earlier leans toward the captain and whispers something in his ear. Captain Day’s gaze shoots to us, and his mustache twitches as he smiles. He’s been trying to get an invitation to a new moon party for years. He probably sees this as his chance.
Lovely.
“Mr. Roan,” he bellows loud enough for the other passengers on the observation deck to hear. “What a pleasure to have you with us.” He walks over with both thumbs in his vest pockets. “And do I hear right that you’ve married?”
I force a cordial smile. “Captain Day, allow me to introduce my wife, Pippa Roan.”
There’s a nice ring to the name Pippa Roan that I try to ignore.
“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Roan.” He takes Pippa’s gloved hand and kisses her knuckles. I tighten my grip on her. Admiral Day doesn’t seem to notice, his touch lingering a little longer than necessary. “I thought it was Noah who married.”
“Indeed.” I keep my response pithy, attempting to cut off the conversation with brevity.
He finally drops Pippa’s hand and claps his together twice. “What auspicious luck for both of you to find love so close together.”
“Seems more coincidental than auspicious.” I take a step to the side, pulling Pippa with me. “If you’ll excuse us, my wife is feeling a little ill and would like to rest.”
“Ill, eh?” He gives me a conspiratorial grin, nothing subtle in his insinuation. “I understand the quick wedding now.”
Pippa straightens her back, her tension snapping against me.
“Tread carefully, sir,” I say through gritted teeth.
Admiral Day’s round cheeks turn almost as red as Lake Nettor. “Please, forgive me. You’re quite right. How rude of me.” To his credit, he looks truly chagrined. “Allow me to make it up to you. Join me at my table for dinner?”
Pippa looks at me with wide, imploring eyes.
“Another time, perhaps.” I turn to guide Pippa toward the door.
“Right, right. Lots of nights left.” The captain notices our retreat and steps in front of us again. “Oh, but you can’t go to your room quite yet. There’s no meandering the ship until we reach cruising altitude. It’s a safety measure.”
It’s clear he’s already said this by the confused look on his face.
“Right,” I say. “I’m sure you understand how difficult it is to pay attention to other things when you’re on your honeymoon.”
Pippa clutches my arm, her body swaying just a little. It’s already been a long day of travel. Was it too much for her? I scan the room and find an unoccupied bench near the side window.
“Of course,” Day replies, some of the joviality of before returning. “I’ll let you two lovebirds be.”
Finally, he turns to talk to other passengers, and I lead Pippa to the bench at the front where we can sit with our backs to the group, facing the window.
“That right there is one of the reasons I don’t like to travel,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“Do people recognize you everywhere you go?”
“Not usually on sight, since it’s rare for us to leave the island and only new moon guests join us there. But everyone knows our name and the latest gossip surrounding us. They all want a part of the Roan prestige and an invitation to the mysterious parties people clamor to join.”
At the mention of the new moon parties, Pippa looks up, her eyes catching mine. Such deep blue pools, full of so many emotions, some I can read and others I can’t. I want to dive into her depths and know every part of her.
I drop my gaze to where she’s clutching my jacket with both of her hands. She lets go and smooths her palms over the wrinkles. Her attempt to hide her nervousness—whatever it’s about—is valiant. But I see through it.
“Talk to me, Pippa.”
“It’s… I’m just…” Her gaze darts behind us before quickly turning back to me. “I’m worried we ruined everything last night.”
“I’m worried, too.” Turning slightly, my knee presses against hers. She doesn’t move away, which gives me hope. “I don’t want you to see me as the monster I was last night.”
“You weren’t a monster.”
My eyebrows lift.
She huffs, but places her hand over mine. “I wasn’t scared of you.”
Last night, there was a moment when I wanted her to be scared, to run away so I could avoid biting her.
I’m so glad she didn’t. I would have missed out on so much.
Not just her blood, but the sweet noises she made.
The sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard. If I hadn’t bitten her last night, I wouldn’t have known how compatible we could be, how good we could be together.
Now, that’s all I can think about.
I turn her hand in mine, and my thumb glides back and forth over her wrist. The pulse point at her neck throbs hard enough that I can see it jump.
“I’m scared of losing you,” she says softly, “of losing the easy friendship we’ve developed. Scared that you’ll think differently of me after seeing me so… wanton last night.”
She’s not entirely wrong. I do think differently of her. But not in the way she thinks. “Your desire could never scare me off, little flower.”
“But I was so… so…”
“Demanding.” I turn our hands over and trace a line on her palm. “Eager.” I touch the place I bit her, now covered by fabric and lace. “Responsive.” I drag my thumb across her jaw. Her little tongue darts out, wetting her bottom lip. “None of it scared me.”
The way I responded to her did.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night, wanting to do it all again.
That’s what scares me. What if I give in to whatever this feeling is, what if I convince myself it’s love and bite her, but she dies in my arms?
I’m not a good judge of what love is or who feels it.
And we don’t know enough about the bite to know what kinds of love will guarantee transformation.
How in love does someone need to be for it to work?
No, I won’t mistake the desire I feel for her as love. But maybe I don’t have to deny it either.
Pippa sucks her teeth between her lips, a light furrow between her brows. “I just want us to stay friends, Maiah. You’re the only one I have.”
“We’re friends, Pippa,” I say with a sigh, resigning myself to her not wanting the same things I want.
“Nothing you do or say will change that. I will always honor my promises.” I press my lips to her cheek and linger there before adding, “It’s okay that things have been awkward between us today.
It’s understandable. But you should know I’m not going anywhere. ”