Again, she tries and this time, she squints against the morning sun. Her eyes burn from the glare of a bright light and she turns her head slowly glancing around the bedroom. Two French doors are open to allow in the fresh air and she is laying on a large clean bed. Magdalene wiggles her toes and flexes her fingers, relieved to feel them move on command.
The constant ebb and flow of the sea pulls at her, forcing her to sit up. She waits for the room to stop spinning as her sheet slips down to her waist. Wearing only a white cotton nightgown she glances at her arms and finds no injuries. Edging to the side of the bed, she places her feet on the floor and stumbles towards the door.
Gasping in awe, Magdalene takes a step outside into the morning sun. On weak legs, she steps further out onto the warm green grass that leads down to the beach behind the small house. Her gasp is heard by Brody’s mind. He stands quickly from the breakfast table in the dining room, shocking his family, and runs towards the back of the guest house where Magdalene is supposed to be resting.
The wind is blowing her hair wildly about her shoulders, but she doesn’t care. Standing with her face in the warm sun, she savors the sting of the sunshine on her pale skin. Brody reaches her just as her knees give out. He sweeps her up in his arms, surprised by the emotions that rage through his body.
His snarl of frustration freezes on his lips when she lifts her tear stained face to his, with eyes full of joy.
“It’s so beautiful, Brody.” She rests her head on his shoulder, laughing and crying at the same time. He turns to take her back inside, but her protest stops him. “Please, not yet. I need to feel the sand.”
Brody nods and walks to the beach with her held safely in his arms. Magdalene stares at his profile and grips the back of his neck. She inhales his scent into her soul and nips at his neck with her teeth. Brody skids to a stop and stares down at her.
“You should know better than to tease a beast, Magdalene.” He presses a hard kiss to her mouth as he settles into a large chair on the beach.
“I’m not afraid of you, Brody. Thank you,” she whispers and sinks her feet into the fine white sand. She closes her eyes and falls back to sleep content for the moment to be safe in his arms once more.
He holds her in his arms, looking up at his family as they all gather around to look at her. “Have you told her yet that you are keeping her?” Eric whispers.
“Not yet. She’ll come around. How long will she be so weak?”
“I’m not sure. She’ll need to feed and see how she feels. Rest is the best medicine, for now.” Eric replies, like the doctor he is.
“Her skin is burning,” Pop says, “you should take her inside.”
“Never seen skin so white before,” another brother comments.
“Go away, before you all scare her off,” Brody grumbles. Magdalene mumbles his name and smiles softly in her sleep.
She sleeps for ten hours straight and wakes famished. Her eyes whip open and her fangs elongate. “Brody?” She whispers and her mouth fills with saliva at the thought of his rich metallic blood.
“Good you are awake.” Eric walks into her room with a tray of food. He hesitates when he sees the way her hazel eyes are glowing. “Brody will be along shortly. My name is Eric. I am his brother and your doctor.”
Magdalene pushes herself to a sitting position and pulls the covers up to her neck. “Where am I?”
“Drink this, it will help with the… craving.” He watches as she takes the goblet and sips at it. “It should help regenerate you. You are in Niihau, Magdalene. This is our family cottage, situated near the main lodge.”
Mag looks him over. He is large, muscular and blonde like Brody, but that is where the resemblance ends. Quickly she drains the glass of blood and glances around. “Okay, Eric. I need a phone.”
Surprise registers for a second, “We don’t have phones on the island.” He pours her another glass and watches as she drains that one quickly. Already she can feel her strength returning and with it, clarity of mind.
Magdalene frowns at him. “What?
“Is she giving you a hard time little brother?” Brody asks, stepping into the room. His scent envelopes her instantly, turning her body on and sending her thoughts scattering in a second.
“Brody,” Magdalene begins to shake and her eyes stare into his. He can smell her intentions, the way her body reacts instantly to his and his own heart beats faster looking at her.
“Did you miss me, sugar?”
Eric glances at them and begins to back out of the room.
“I need a phone.” Magdalene waits for Eric to leave and then drops the covers. Standing up, she tests her legs. Still a little wobbly, but better. ‘Don’t think about him, Mag, block his scent. Don’t think about licking the sweat from his body and savoring the way he tastes,’ she tells herself.
Brody steps closer and she instantly backs away from him and stumbles into a side chair. “Easy now, you are still healing. We don’t have a phone on the island.”
Magdalene loses what little color she has. “But Sebastian must be warned.” Instantly she is on her feet and looking for her clothes. “Never mind, I will just call him from the mainland. Where are my clothes?” She demands.
Brody grabs her arm and both of them freeze. “This Sebastian is so important to you that you
