“Are you sure that’s enough for you?” she asked, eyeing the container nervously.

I looked down at it. “This’ll be okay. I won’t be hanging around long here anyway.”

I was actually surprised by how much blood she’d managed to draw in a short time. Clearly she didn’t want a repeat of what had happened in the Egyptian guesthouse.

My heart was pounding by the time we reached the jetty. Taking River’s hand, as well as the container of blood, I stopped by the ladder beneath the hatch. I gathered her in my arms and pressed my lips against her neck, drawing in her scent and then kissing her deeply.

Her eyes were glassy as she looked up at me. “I can’t believe we’re here,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

She pulled my neck further down and pressed her mouth against mine again.

I held her head in my hands. “I’ll see you once more before I leave. Just come to the Port and wave to me—I’ll be watching for you. But until then, do you know exactly what to do?” Although we’d already discussed it, I wanted to be sure that she was comfortable.

“Yes,” she said. “I need to ask the first person I come across to take me to your parents—Derek and Sofia Novak. I need to say that I’m your friend, and you have sent me here. I need to tell them that you’re okay, and ask them to take me to see the witches to help me find a cure.”

She looked nervous, even though I had assured her everyone on the island would treat her well. Of course, having told her that this island was packed full of strange supernatural creatures she hadn’t come across before—like werewolves and ogres—I couldn’t expect her to feel anything but nervous.

She climbed up through the hatch, and closed it behind her. I headed back to the control room and watched as she made her way along the jetty. She entered the clearing, then disappeared into the woods.

I just hoped that, for the sake of her nerves, Brett wouldn’t be the first person she came across.

Chapter 22: River

I stared around at the dark island in wonder. I could still hardly believe that I was here. The Shade. A mystical island filled with supernaturals, an island I hadn’t known even existed until a short while ago.

I walked slowly as I crossed the clearing beyond the Port. All my senses were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. The fragrance of exotic flowers mixed with the scent of the giant sequoia trees. The ocean breeze against my skin. The whispering of leaves and the chirping of birds. The moon amid a sea of stars, casting down a sheen of pale light.

I’d only set foot on this island for a few minutes, but I already sensed that The Shade was a place of magic. A place of mystery. A place where anything could happen.

Always night. I can’t believe it’s always night here.

Leaving the clearing and entering the forest, I found myself walking along a path that was clearly well trodden. I looked around wide-eyed, listening for any sounds of someone near me. So far, the noisiest thing was the snapping of twigs beneath my feet.

It felt like I’d been walking for perhaps a mile through the forest when voices drifted toward me from the trees to my right. I squinted, looking toward the source of the noise. Seeing nothing but thick trunks, I left the path and began making my way through the undergrowth.

Peering through the last line of trees, I found myself staring down at a magnificent lake. Standing in an old boathouse were a man and a woman—a pretty woman with long red hair, and a tall dark-haired man wearing glasses.

Going by Ben’s description of his mother, I thought for a moment that this might be her, but I soon realized that she wasn’t as the man spoke.

“I can’t go on like this, Adelle.”

Adelle’s face was ashen as she looked down at her feet.

“You’re bottling something up,” the man continued. “I’ve sensed you have been for the past few months. And I… I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me enough to speak their mind.”

The redhead heaved a sigh. “I’m so sorry. I know. It’s not fair. I-I’ve just been so scared to tell you.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I don’t want to hurt you, Eli. I really don’t.”

“Just tell me what’s on your mind. As long as it’s the truth, it doesn’t matter if it hurts.”

“I… I’m in love with Aiden.”

Eli’s jaw twitched as he took a step back from her. He swallowed hard, then nodded slightly.

“I guessed as much.”

“I thought I could forget about him. I really did. I just… I simply can’t.”

Eli cleared his throat. “So you’ve loved him all this time. At least… now we know where we stand. We were living a lie before.”

The woman wrapped her arms around Eli and hugged him. “I still care about you so much. I do.”

He hugged her back stiffly.

“I hope you won’t hold any grudge against Aiden. He’s been nothing but honorable. He urged me to come back to you when I left you.”

Eli nodded.

Adelle sounded close to tears. “I think I’m going to leave The Shade.”

Eli raised a brow. “Leave?”

“Yes. Not forever, but for a while. I need to take some time out… reorient myself.”

“Where will you go?”

She bit her lip. “I’m not sure where I’ll end up exactly. I’d like to travel a bit.”