Page 67 of Mostly Shattered

He grabs me by my neck and holds firm, and his eyes swirl with anger. His face distorts, showing hints of the monster he can become. I’ve never seenhim like this before. I feel his fingers working against my throat. With one squeeze, I could be over.

He leans in and growls beneath his breath, “Down here, I am your master. Don’t make me enthrall you to prove it to them.”

I tremble at the rage I see in his expression. He’s never spoken to me like this.

“Keep defying me in front of people, and I will be forced to punish you.” His tone lowers, and I feel his words vibrating through me. “I am the ruler of all the North American territories. I cannot be seen as weak. There are a hundred vampires in this place alone who would love to challenge me for the right, and I have no desire to massacre them all because you are having a tantrum about the truth of your mortality.”

I don’t move. I feel the others watching us. I want to argue, but I force the words to stay inside.

“Do you understand?”

I nod once.

“Good.” He withdraws and releases my throat.

I force myself to appear calm. I can’t deal with Costin being mad at me right now. If he was to storm off and leave me, then where would I be?

“You made your point,” I say, hoping my narrowed eyes let him know how displeased I am by his actions. Never have I seen him angry, not likethis. I’ve seen him irritated, and mocking, and bored, but never this.

“We need to keep moving.” Instead of crossing, Costin leads me away from the bridge, cutting into a nearby tunnel where it is more private. A nearby cafe is packed with fairies hosting what appears to be a fashion show. I hear lively music in the distance and see flashes of what look to be disco lights.

“Maybe Anthony is in there.” I motion toward the disco. I’m feeling very alone. I look at my phone. Where is my brother? I need him. He’ll tell me how to complete this labyrinth, whatever it is. He’ll make me feel safe.

“He won’t be there,” Costin dismisses. I don’t ask how he knows.

“I don’t want to be here,” I whisper more to myself than to him, even though he can hear me. I put the phone back into my pocket. “I’m out of my depth. I just want this to be over.”

“I am sorry I had to…” Costin frowns. He still seems irritated with me despite the half-apology.

“We’re both tense,” I dismiss. I know I’m giving him a pass for his behavior, but I can’t deal with more drama right now. I have enough on my plate. “Let’s just focus on what we need to accomplish. Tell me about the labyrinth.”

“I could have convinced Morvok to find another path before it got this dangerous,” Costin says. “Youshould not be alone in the labyrinth where I can’t protect you.”

“It’s done. I don’t think I have a choice.” I don’t think he understands exactly how much pressure I’m under at the moment. I am completely out of my depth. My entire life I’ve been told that I’m mortal, delicate, a freaking butterfly. Whoever heard of a butterfly surviving a fight with a monster?

No. Not just any monster. Draakmar, a fire dragon who embodies raw, destructive power.

A fucking fire dragon.

Of course, it’s a dragon.

You’re a delicate butterfly in a world of fiery dragons. The world needs butterflies, Tamara, as much as it needs dragons. Probably more. We all have our place.

My grandfather’s words repeat themselves in my head. It’s like he was trying to tell me something, even before he knew the full prophecy for himself. I always took the words as a warning to be careful, but maybe they’re more than that. Maybe he was telling me to be brave, that I stood a chance.

Shit. I’m so scared.

My hands are shaking, and I want nothing more than to curl into a ball to hide from everyone and everything. I try not to cry. Heroes aren’t supposed to cry, right?

Costin takes a deep breath as if coming to adecision. “You are not going into the labyrinth alone. It’s not safe. I’ll go with you.”

I instantly want to say yes. But that is not what the signs are telling us.

“I don’t think you should. I have to do it alone,” I counter nervously. “Nothing about my life has been safe for me.”

Of course, I would rather have him with me. Who wants to go into a labyrinth alone? I don’t even know what this labyrinth thing really is. But it doesn’t sound good.

How do you stop a dragon?

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