Page 29 of Barely Breathing

Chapter

Eight

“Some curses run deeper than dragon fire.”

Peter’s warning from the coffee shop echoes through my head. I didn’t understand what he was trying to tell me at the time, but now it is starting to make terrible sense. They want me for their ritual, and I can’t help wondering if this is why Costin tried so hard to keep me away. Is this why he mesmerized me? Why he didn’t stop the wolves from kidnapping Paul?

But why didn’t the wolves take me instead if I am who they want?

The amulet. They’re afraid of its power. Thane hesitated before touching it as if testing its magic.

My heart pounds in time with the pulsing amulet. The stone feels like it’s catching fire, hot enough to burn my skin. This isn’t right.Before we fixed the amulet, it didn’t act like this. For most of my life, I thought it was just a necklace my grandfather gave me. I had assumed the magic was more symbolic, like a token to remind me of familial love. But then Conrad tried to kill me, and its magic was activated. It protected me from death. That is when I knew it was more, but there was still no heat, or pulsing, or dragon warnings.

I’ve been trying not to panic, telling myself that my awareness of the connection to Draakmar is what’s different. But I fear it’s more than that.

“Sometimes, the old magic requires great sacrifices.”

Thane’s words swirl with Peter’s in my mind as I stumble from the ritual room. They need me for their ritual, and they are leveraging Paul to make that happen. I can’t prove it, but it’s the only thing making sense.

Has Costin known all along?

What pieces am I missing from this puzzle?

I keep waiting for Thane to stop me from leaving. I glance back to find him watching me, smiling knowingly as if he already sees how everything will play out.

It must be nice to have answers. I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on.

The throne room is a blur of bodies and classic rock. Two burly wolves are waiting at the entrance like guards. The animals look at me from either sideof the door as I force myself to walk past. Their golden eyes track my movement. My heart won’t stop pounding, and I hope I look braver than I feel.

The werewolf palace feels fuller than when I left it. I see some of the men who were partying outside now gathered indoors. I can’t tell if they’re here to prevent my escape or if they’ll give me a clear path. Behind me, I hear Thane’s laughter, rich and dark like aged whiskey.

“Tamara.” Costin materializes in front of me, reaching for my arm. “We should go.”

I dodge his grasp. “Don’t touch me.”

“Tam—”

“I’m not yours to command,” I argue, mindful to keep my tone low. “You don’t own me. This isn’t the Middle Ages. You’re not lord of the manor. So take your misogyny and?—”

“You don’t understand what’s happening,” Costin cuts me off.

He’s too late, though. I hear some of the werewolves laughing at us. Damn supernatural hearing. Very little can be kept secret, especially in crowded rooms.

I don’t care.

“Then why don’t you tell me?” The amulet’s weight feels heavy, and it pulls at my neck. Draakmar tries to whisper, but I ignore him. “Why did you even bring me here?”

His silence only adds to my suspicion.

“You act like you don’t want me to learn what’s happening. Is that why you came? To stop me?”

He moves so fast I don’t see him until he stands beside me, hand gripping my elbow. “Now is not the place.”

A commotion near the throne draws my attention. A familiar figure in expensive designer clothes stands with the Alpha—Chester’s mother, Mabel Freemont.

“What is she doing here?” I whisper, forgetting my anger toward Costin. He looks at me annoyed like that is who he was warning me about.

The woman looks entirely too comfortable among the werewolves. And beside her, a woman I’ve never officially met in this timeline but whose face I’ll never forget. Elizabeth. Costin’s sister. She and her vampire followers had tried to kill me at a lonely gas station in the middle of Kansas. If not for the amulet, she would have. The vampiress is as beautiful and terrifying as I remember, though she’s never met me in her current timeline.

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