Page 28 of Barely Breathing

I take a step back. “What does that mean?”

His claw scrapes against the stone as he walks to the other side. Thane presses his hands flat against the altar. He nods toward it before rocking his hips suggestively. I can see the outline of a thick arousal beneath his light pants. “Care to take it for a spin? One minute riding my wolf, and you’ll forget all about that cold popsicle.”

I shake my head.

“He can’t hear us in here. Unless you want him to, then I promise your vampire will hear every moan.” He winks as if that’s a real enticement. “Let’s have some fun and get the heart pumping in that dead blood sack, shall we?”

I can’t tell if he’s teasing.

“No.” I shake my head again. “No, thank you.”

His arms flex, and he pushes up onthe altar, leaping over it to land before me. I gasp and stumble back in surprise.

“You’re not what I expected.” He lets his finger hover over the amulet but doesn’t touch it. “I’m curious. How far will your protection let me go?”

I don’t know how to answer that.

“Take it off,” he urges, eyes flashing and throat rumbling. “I hear your heart beating. I know what you want. Danger. Excitement. A hard fuck. I’ll give you an orgasm better than a near-death experience.”

I want to be repulsed. I really do. But there is something feral and raw about the way he wants to devour me. Costin’s earlier kiss already has my senses heightened.

“Why did you bring me here?” I insist.

“Straight to business, then?” Thane sighs.

“Blood and moonlight. What does it mean?”

“It’s the ingredients of an ancient magic ritual.”

“To do what exactly?”

“Transfer a curse.” He leans closer.

I try to stay strong, but I’m terrified.

“You see,” Thane’s breath is hot against my ear, his closeness making me long for Costin’s cool touch instead, “sometimes the old magic requires... great sacrifices.”

The amulet burns against my skin like a brand as Draakmar’s warning becomes clear. The dragon’srage floods through me, but it’s not directed at the wolves. What am I missing?

He stares at the amulet as a claw extends from his fingertip. As if daring himself, he touches my arm lightly, dragging the claw against my skin. Right before he pulls back, he lets the tip puncture my forearm. I grimace and jerk away.

Thane lifts the claw and sniffs before licking the tip. “Mm. Interesting. So your dragon does let you play a little.”

“Why are you showing me all of this? Where’s Paul?” I inch away from him, wanting to run. I don’t want to be in this room.

“Your heart is so fast.” He closes his eyes. I ball a fist, wishing I had the nerve to hit him. My human strength would only amuse him.

“I’ll make you a deal. Come back in three nights as the sun sets. I’ll consider giving him to you.”

“For what price?” There’s always a price.

“For a choice,” he says.

He thinks he’s clever and enigmatic. I see it in his expression. But I have been playing word games with the supernatural my entire life. Draakmar’s half-whispers, Thane’s hyper-focus on my amulet and attempts at seducing me to take it off, his effort to have me return at the full moon…

The werewolves don’t just want Paul. They wantme. And as the moon watches through the dome, I realize this trap was set long before I walked into it.

There’s something else Draakmar is trying to tell me. I try to listen to his strange language, but all I get is vague warnings about betrayal and choices made in darkness. Too bad the dragon’s riddles aren’t as easy to uncover as Thane’s narcissism.

---