Page 86 of Barely Breathing

“Costin,” I manage, pointing across the triangle. His eyes flit to mine. “Diana.”

I’ve already outlived my timeline. I should be dead by now. But Diana, she’s just a child. She deserves a chance.

A figure darts from the shadows, ramming into Costin to engage him in a fight. The vampire attacker is joined by a werewolf, and the two double-team the master vampire. It’s enough to keep him from going to Diana. I strain to get free, but my body is weakening, and the metal clamp on my ankle burns against my bloody skin.

The eclipse’s reddening shadow crawls further across the moon’s face, and the temperature in the chamber plummets further as life is being sucked from the air. The cultish chanting resumes and lifts, the voices taking on an otherworldly resonance that vibrates on the marble columns. Blue firepulls from their hands, dancing toward the altar where Elizabeth and Thane stand.

Costin cracks the werewolf’s neck and flies with the vampire toward the ceiling. I hear them crash in the darkness.

Paul continues to fight his chains, but he’s losing strength. Blood drips down his arms in rivulets that seem to move with purpose, slithering across the floor toward the altar. The red light around Diana pulsates, and I see her small form trembling within it. Power builds in the air like static before a storm, making my skin tingle and my hair stand on end.

“You’re too late to stop it,” Elizabeth taunts as Costin drops to the ground. Ash from the dead vampire attacker drifts down over him like snow.

“The three magics are combining.” Thane cries, bouncing in fanatical excitement.

“Witness the new era!” Elizabeth yells. The chanting stops as the crowd cheers and howls.

I see it happening. Paul’s blood glows with a deep crimson light when it reaches the altar, while silvery threads of Diana’s pure magic weave gently through the air like moonbeams given form. The amulet sparks as Draakmar’s power is torn into the mix. Golden energy erupts from the stone, twisting and spiraling with the other magics. I feel the dragon’s fury at being used this way.

Draakmar thrashes in anger. I feel him movingfrom where he tries to sleep deep within the earth. He’s going to surface and bring destructive lava with him.

“The moon is ready!” Francis announces, his voice carrying the same edge of madness consuming the others. The moon’s face is almost covered, casting red light through the dome.

Costin’s vampires surge from the tunnels, clashing with the cult around the chamber’s edges, but neither side can breach the triangle of power forming between Paul, Diana, and me. The combined magics create a barrier that sizzles and sparks.

“Now!” Elizabeth commands. The Freemonts straighten their arms, channeling more energy into the ritual. The floor shakes with the force of it.

Pain rips through me as Draakmar’s power is pulled harder. Paul screams as the death magic violently tears from his body, blood pooling out of his skin. Diana remains silent in her barrier, but tears stream down her face as her forgotten magic is stripped away.

“Tamara, stay strong!” Costin’s screams sound far away. I see him trying to reach Diana, but the magic keeps thrusting him violently back.

That’s when I hear it. Draakmar’s voice is stronger now as he surfaces. The dragon’s consciousness surges through me with crystal clarity.He’s not fighting the ritual. He’s watching Diana, trying to protect her. In her innocence, in her ability to forget and still believe in magic, he sees something the rest of us missed. A vessel pure enough to carry his power without being corrupted by it.

The moon goes dark as the eclipse reaches totality. Elizabeth throws back her head and laughs. “The power is?—”

Her words cut off as Thane howls in agony. I turn to see Elizabeth has plunged her hand into his chest to squeeze his heart. The power he’s absorbed flows up her arm.

“Did you really think I’d share?” she snarls. “All magic is mine!”

She slashes her hand across Thane’s neck, cutting him with her nails.

Chaos erupts. Thane’s pack surges forward as their Alpha’s blood sprays across the altar over Elizabeth. They can’t reach their leader.

The Freemonts’ chanting falters as the ritual spins out of control. They stumble away from Elizabeth in fear. The three magics whirl faster out of us, a tornado of power with Elizabeth at its heart.

I feel my life draining.

“No!” Costin shouts, but he can’t reach us through the maelstrom.

The combined magics are a force of nature now, wild and uncontrolled. Paul’s chains snap as deathmagic pulses through him. He begins crawling across the floor to his daughter. Diana’s barrier flickers and fails. And in that moment of pure chaos, I finally understand what must be done.

I reach for the amulet’s chain.

My life for hers.

“Tamara, don’t!” Costin’s voice carries over the bedlam. He knows what removing it will mean.

The power vortex intensifies. Elizabeth absorbs the last of Thane’s magic, and his massive body drops from the altar. His pack’s howls of rage shake the chamber as they begin attacking the vampires in the crowd. This gives Costin’s army a chance, and they gain ground. The Freemonts scramble backward in panic, looking for escape as their carefully laid plans spiral out of control. I see Elizabeth siphoning their power.

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