The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (99 page)

When I heard the toilet flush, I walked right back in the bathroom and helped her in the tub. I held my breath as she slowly sank in the water. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was hoping the warm bath water wouldn’t overload her senses of that element. My fears were calmed instantly when I heard her moan in pleasure.

I let her sit there for a few minutes. She closed her eyes and sank deeper in the tub until it was up to her chin. She had a small smile on her face, and it made me horribly curious. I knew that the one element she always had problems with controlling was water. I had no idea what had happened but somehow I just knew that the water had been the most soothing of the experiences that she had put herself through when she absorbed their ultimate power.

I squeezed the liquid soap onto the sponge and started gently to scrub her body. She opened her eyes and watched me wash away the dirt and blood. The water was rapidly turning the color of brown, and I unplugged the drain to run fresh water after I scrubbed her hair the first time. She protested until I told her that the water was dirty, and I needed to run more clean water to finish bathing her. The second the tub started filling up again she relaxed, and I went about scrubbing her from head to toe one last time.

I let her sit in there until the water was cold and helped her out so she wouldn’t fall. I knew she wanted to stay there wrapped up in the soothing liquid, but I could see her eyes were getting heavy. I dried her off and ran into the bedroom to see if Katya had any nightclothes for Willa to wear.

I pulled out a nightgown and winced. I knew Willa hated nightgowns but unfortunately they were the only nightclothes in the drawer. I yanked it over her head after lathering her body in her favorite moisturizer and laid her down on the mattress. She sat right up again and tried to get out of the bed.

“Willa, you need to sleep,” I said

“Thirsty and hungry,” she said sleepily

I almost pumped my fist in victory. The fact that she recognizing her bodies needs was fantastic. I nodded my head and picked her up in my arms to carry her downstairs. When I had her settled on the couch, I went into the kitchen to go over some food options. I made her hot tea and toast while the homemade soup I picked up at the deli heated up on the stove.

I watched her as she sat drinking her tea and picking at her toast listlessly. She was staring off into space, and I tried not to get too concerned. I knew she had a lot to deal with right now. I placed a bowl of hot soup on the coffee table and sat down on a chair beside her. She picked up her spoon and tentatively took a sip. For a few minutes, she just sat and blew on her spoonful’s of soup while I watched her in silence. She almost got near the bottom of the bowl before she pushed it away and looked at me.

“Tired,” she whispered. I nodded and picked her up and laid her on the bed. I pulled the covers around her body and was just about to leave a few minutes later after she closed her eyes when I felt her hand grab my arm.

“No, don’t go,” she pleaded. “Don’t leave me.”

The next few days were hell. Willa would wake up screaming every few hours, and I would have to calm her down. One night I woke up to the bedcovers flying around the room as a mini tornado came whipping through the tiny space and the next night tree roots  wrapped  themselves around both of us tightly. I barely woken up in time on the third night before I raced her to the window as a stream of fire came rushing out of her mouth.

After every time, I would place her in the bathtub, and she would stay there until the water was cold, for some reason that was the only thing that calmed her. I had left her one night in the tub to go downstairs to fetch clean towels out of the dryer, and I came back up to the bathroom to find steam hanging in the air and a whirlpool of bubbles in the bath tub.

On the fourth morning, I woke up as the sun was rising in the mountains and turned to find her staring at me. I held my breath as she reached out her trembling hand and started tracing my face with her fingertips. I was stunned. This was the first time she had willingly touched me like this but that shock turned to horror when she suddenly pierced her neck with her sharp nail and a small stream of blood dribbled down her neck

“Please,” she said

“No,” I shook my head. “No, Willa.”

“Please,” she repeated. “Take it from me. Get it out of me.”

I tried to climb out bed, but her hand shot out and grabbed mine with a death grip. My eyes opened widely as she came closer and brushed herself against me.

“Please, Mathias,” she said again before tilting her head to the side and closing her eyes.

A part of me was almost sickened with repulsion at the longing I felt when I looked at her neck. To feed off of her right now felt wrong. She wasn’t in her sound mind, and I couldn’t fathom even doing something so intimate when she wasn’t even aware of what was going on around her.

There’s was the other part of me though that yelled with joy. The animal wanted to feed off his mate. I felt him stir inside of me the second I touched her four days ago in the living room of the castle. I knew that it had been a long time since I fed, and that was dangerous, but I had been confident that I could forgo giving into any temptation until Willa was better.

When she dipped her finger into the blood and placed it on my lips I tried to push her away but the second I tasted her nectar it was all over for me. No matter how noble I wanted to be in the end I was a beast that survived off of blood. The one person whose blood I craved more than anything was offering it to me and no matter how hard I tried to resist it was futile.

I pressed my lips against her neck and swirled my tongue around the small wound she had made. I heard her moan, and my body tightened in response. My fangs descended in my mouth, and I lightly grazed them on her skin. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her quivering body against mine. I wanted to roar in triumph, but I held myself back.

I pushed her back into bed and bit deeply into her neck. When the first rush of blood came spurting in my mouth, I growled with pleasure. Willa’s blood was unlike anything I had ever tasted in my entire life. It was warm and sweet with a slight spicy aftertaste that made my tongue want more even after my body felt full.

I kept pulling more and more until finally I stopped. My whole body was humming with the most amazing charge I had ever felt. I knew that Willa was more powerful than any other being, but her blood sang with magic and power now. I kissed her wound until it closed and pressed my forehead to hers.

I finally pulled away, and when I looked into her eyes I felt happiness surge through me. She looked like Willa. Her smile was so familiar and sweet. I knew that she had a long way to go, but this was the first time she truly looked like her old self. I kissed her eyelids and gently peeled myself off of her when I felt her sink into sleep.

I stared at her for several hours before I finally went downstairs and checked my phone for the first time since I had been here. There were many missed calls and messages. I sighed when I realized that I couldn’t ignore the real world any longer. Willa had many people that cared about her, and I’m sure they were probably frantic for news of her wellbeing.

I called Cecily first. I knew Willa would want her mother to be informed of her progress so she could have some peace of mind. I wasn’t sure if I could give her that just yet but I had to tell her something concerning Willa’s wellbeing. I was vaguely surprised when she didn’t answer. I figured she would be waiting by her phone day and night for news on Willa.

I called Winifred next and was not surprised when she answered immediately.

“Mathias?” she asked. “How’s Willa?”

“She’s doing as well as expected I suppose,” I answered cautiously. I figured it was too soon to give her hope when I wasn’t too sure of Willa’s outcome.

“Will she come out of this?” Winifred asked anxiously

“I think she will eventually,” I said, “But I also think it’s going to take some time. She is just now sleeping peacefully for the first time in days and I saw a small glimpse of her old self.”

“Oh thank God,” Winifred breathed into the phone

“I’m still not certain though Winifred,” I said. “She could have a relapse at any time. She is too unstable right now.”

“Well then I’m glad that I put our contingency plan into place.”

“I’m sorry?” I asked. “What contingency plan?”

“Mathias, you know what I’m talking about,” she said. “The one we spoke of weeks ago when you came back to the island, and we discussed what measures we would need to take if Willa couldn’t handle or procure the weapons.”

“No,” I said. “No Winifred. Do not do that. I did not authorize any plan that would have Cormac and Rhoswen turn into vampires.”

“Need I remind you Mathias that I am the queen, and I have the power to override your decisions,” she said sternly. “We don’t know what is going to happen with Willa and I can’t take the chance that maybe someday she’ll snap out of this. I have to think about every person on this island and their safety.”

“I realize that,” I said. “But you know that Willa is going to freak out if she finds out that her father is a vampire. You also know that there is a very good chance both of them could turn into the Rau.”

“I am well aware of the risks and so are they.” Winifred said. “You know, as well as I do, that the Fae cannot be fully turned into the Rau. The magic in their blood repels its curse.”

“That’s not completely true,” I said furiously as I walked out onto the back deck and shut the door. I did not want Willa waking up and hearing this conversation. “They may not be able to be turned fully into the Rau but even if they manage to keep their Fae magic they can still be as vicious as the most horrible vampires imaginable.”

“That’s a chance they are both willing to take,” she answered calmly

“That’s not a chance I’m willing to take,” I yelled

“Mathias, you know Willa better than anyone,” she said. “Do you think she would want her family and the lives of the people on this island in jeopardy? We have to protect ourselves against the Fae Lord’s and whatever evil they may bring. I’m sorry, but this is my final decision.”

I swore to myself. I knew Winifred was right. I knew that protecting the people on the Isle of Skye was more important than Willa getting upset but it still felt wrong. I knew she was going to be furious, and I also knew if her father or Rhoswen turned more into the Rau than the Fae she would blame herself. I did not want her to go through that guilt and suffering.

“Mathias?” Winifred asked. “Are you still there?”

“I’m assuming you already have lined up the two Guardians that will turn them?” I asked

I heard her hesitate over the phone, and I smiled.

“Let me guess,” I said. “No one wants to cross Willa and make her mad?”

“That girl has all these Guardians wrapped around her finger,” she muttered

“They’re just scared stiff of her,” I remarked

“Veronica has offered to turn Rhoswen,” she said

“What about Cormac?”

“Oh dear Lord, well, of course, no one was volunteering to do that until he threatened to go to London and seek out the Rau,” she sniffed in disgust. “Finally, someone did step up and it was only because he knew that Willa wouldn’t want anyone, but him to do the job.”

“Riah,” I said matter of fact. Of course, I thought, Riah knew Willa so well. She was liable to get pissed at him if he didn’t do it himself. He was in a tough spot; damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.

“When is it going to happen?” I asked finally

“The conversion will take place tomorrow night.” Winifred answered. “Cecily and Cormac are visiting with his parents today. He wanted to see them one last time before he turned into a vampire. I’m not sure if we’ll ever see Sidra and Kelvin again.”

“We’ll figure something out when this is over,” I said absently

“You don’t understand Mathias,” she said. “Cormac is doing this because he does not want Willa ever to use her powers and fight a war.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure this will sway her.”

“What am I to do?” she asked

“Nothing,” I said. “You sound like you have your mind made up already. I know that this is a smart choice and honestly if I wasn’t so concerned about Willa I probably would’ve pulled the trigger on it yesterday.”

“Speaking of which,” she started to say

“Not now Winifred,” I interrupted her. I knew she wanted to talk about me and Willa, but I didn’t have it in me at this moment to have a heart to heart.

“Someday soon then,” she said

“Yes, someday soon we will talk about whatever is on your mind,” I answered. “Tell Cecily and Cormac that I called. I’m not sure what the next day or two will bring, but I will try to answer my phone.”

“Take care of our girl,” she said softly

“With my life,” I answered before disconnecting the call. I watched the birds chirp and fly around in the afternoon sun as my mind raced with a million different thoughts. I had no idea how Willa would react to this piece of news, and I vowed to keep it from her as long as I could. My phone buzzed again, and when I saw that it was Willa’s mother I answered right away.