Page 14 of Barely Breathing

“There’s a ritual—” Peter stops abruptly, nostrils flaring. His gaze snaps to the window, and he jerks his hand away from me. “They have been collecting pieces for years. Since that night at the shipping yard...” He cuts himself off, looking guilty. “Forget I said that.”

“What ritual?” I whisper insistently. “What night?”

“I shouldn’t have said that.” Peter quickly stands, and his chair legs scrape against the floor. More heads turn our way in irritation at the disruption. He leans forward. “Listen, Tam, for old times’ sake—stay out of this. The Alpha... He’s promising things. Change. Real change.”

Anthony wraps his hand around his coffee and taps his fingers.

Peter studies us and then looks around to see if anyone is listening. He lowers his voice. “You two grew up in the elite circles. You don’t know what it’s like for the rest of us. The vampires get their ancient estates, the magics get their ivory towers, and we get industrial wastelands and shipping yards. But Thane says that’s going to change. He’s found a way aroundthe old treaties, around all the rules that keep us in our place.” His eyes flick to my amulet. “Some curses run deeper than dragon fire. You don’t want to mess with this. This is so much bigger than your mortal boyfriend. Bigger than any of us.”

“Paul’s not my boyfriend,” I say automatically.

Peter’s laugh is hollow. “No, you upgraded to a vampire king. How’s that working out for you?”

Even though I can’t see him, I feel the weight of Costin’s invisible presence. I find the disappointment of broken dreams on Peter’s face. There was never anything real between us beyond friendship and his boyhood crush. I know he doesn’t love me, not like a man should.

Is this what a future with Costin will be like? Everyone judging me by the vampire in my life? Could I even blame them? Until recently, I imagine I had that same look of disdain when it came to vampires.

“Be careful with him, Tam, seriously. You don’t know what Lord Constantine is capable of. He’s not… He’s not a nice guy.”

“Peter, please,” I start, but he’s already backing away.

“I have to go. But Tam?” His expression softens. “Whatever you think you know about Paul’s situation, you’re wrong. And getting involved will only make things worse. For everyone.”

I stand to stop him from leaving. “Peter?—”

“Be careful with that vampire. You can’t trust him.” He avoids my hand and strides toward the door, pausing with his fingers on the handle. “Oh, and Anthony said you’re wondering about Paul’s dog. She’s safe. We’re not monsters.”

He leaves. I slide back into my chair and watch Peter disappear into the crowd outside.

Anthony lets out a long breath. “Well, that’s cryptic and unhelpful.”

“He told us enough. The werewolves took Paul for a ritual, which means he’s alive, and they’re scared enough of something to risk pissing off our family.”

“Ugh, I hope this isn’t another prophecy,” Anthony mutters, running his hands through his hair before stretching. “I can’t handle another apocalypse.”

“Don’t go there. He didn’t say anything about an apocalypse or prophecy. He said ritual.”

“You say that like it’s better somehow. Honestly, I kind of thought it had something to do with the Freemonts paying a wolf to take him to get back at you. Guess that would have been too easy.” Anthony nods toward the window. “Speaking of boyfriends...”

I turn to see a shadow solidifying into a familiar silhouette across the street. Even at this distance, I feel Costin’s eyes on me. My amulet pulses withwarmth, and I get the sense the dragon is readjusting in his sleep. I wonder—not for the first time—just how much control I have over my life.

“You okay?” Anthony asks.

I touch the amulet, drawing comfort from it. “No. But I will be once we figure out what the hell is going on.”

The problem is, I’m not sure I will like the answers.

“Want me to chase him off?” Anthony asks, sounding very much the protective big brother.

“No, don’t get in the middle of us.” I appreciate his caring, but my relationship drama is not his battle. “If he wants to talk to me, he’ll find me. I can’t run from him.”

Chapter

Four

Devine Country Estate, Twelve Years Ago…

Floating in the estate’s pond, watching clouds drift across the late afternoon sky, is about as close to free as I’ve ever felt—free from the constant reminders of my mortality, anyway. Like everything else on the estate, the water feels charged with old magic. Something always lurks beneath the surface of our world.

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