Page 74 of Barely Breathing

“Alpha Thane sends his regards.” The way she says his name carries weight like she’s savoring the taste of it. “Now there is a man who knows how to protect what’s his.”

Costin’s eyes narrow, and I detect the moment he recognizes something in his sister’s tone. There’s a familiarity there that seems to surprise even him.

“You and,” his voice drops into disgust,” awolf? No, Elizabeth, that’s too low, even for you. Thane is?—”

“He’s what?” Elizabeth’s bitter laugh cuts him off. “At least he understands what it’s like to be looked down upon by other supernaturals, to be underestimated and ignored, to have everything taken away because of what you are.”

Costin’s lip curls in disgust. “The treaties exist for a reason. The last time wolves and vampires tried to align, they nearly exposed us all to the mortalworld. Or have you forgotten the Blood Riots? There’s a reason we keep to our territories.”

“Oh yes, brother. The precious treaties.” Elizabeth’s voice drips acid. “Tell me, how many of those territory lines did you draw yourself? How many packs did you force into these urban wastelands while you claimed the prime hunting grounds? At least Thane doesn’t pretend to be civilized while he takes what he wants.”

“This can’t just be about power,” Costin denies. “As my sister, you have?—”

“Nothing that is my due. The council, the vampires, the magics... They all believe they’re so superior with their rules and hierarchies.” Her eyes flash as she paces, each movement precise and deadly. “They have all these arbitrary rules about what magic can mix with which, about what creatures should remain separate. The treaties were written by old aristocratic males playing at civilization, brother. You may be content to play lord of your underground kingdom while bowing and scraping and licking the boots of those fossils who declare themselves your betters. Then there are the magics, like the Devines, who perch in their gilded sanctuaries, declaring themselves too pure to mix with lesser beings. But Thane sees through their pretense. These boundaries they’ve drawn, these rules they’ve madeare nothing but chains forged by cowards afraid of true power.”

The way she says it makes my skin crawl.

“That’s about to change,” she promises. “I will not bow to lesser men who think they are more.”

I watch them like a play, not knowing how I can make the situation better. Costin doesn’t try to fight her anymore. Even when she comes towards him, he doesn’t lift his arms in defense. She runs her finger through the blood on his chest before lifting it to her lips.

“Thane knows what it means to be treated as lesser. The wolves may be as ancient as our bloodlines, but they’re seen as animals, dogs, barely civilized. Just like women are seen as decorative toys to be traded and married off with no other value.” Her gaze fixes on me. “Ask your vampire about that. Ask him how many times he’s moved those he considers to be lesser around like pieces on a chess board to cement his power.”

“Elizabeth—” Costin warns, but she cuts him off.

“You have until tomorrow night, little dragon tamer.” She goes toward the door, her movements confident. “Come to us willingly, or we’ll start cutting Paul into manageable pieces. Diana, too.” Her smile is cruel. “I wonder if the child’s screamssound different than her father’s. Thane’s quite curious to find out.”

“If you touch that child—” Costin starts forward.

“Oh,nowyou care about children. Please!” she snorts.

“Elizabeth, I’m warning you,” he orders.

“Or you’ll what? Kill me? We both know you lack the balls. You need me alive to validate your eternity.” She glances between us. “I wonder if your pet will be as understanding when she learns the truth about what kind of man you are.” Her attention fixes on me. “Ask him about what he did to me.”

With that, she transforms into bat form and disappears down the hall, leaving us with the wreckage of their fight and the weight of her threats. The sound of her wings fades, replaced by my own ragged breath.

“Are you hurt?” I see guilt etched on Costin’s features.

I shake my head in denial. “What did she mean?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Costin, talk to me. This doesn’t work if we keep secrets.” How many times do I have to remind him of that fact? “You arranged her marriage, and the man killed her. What else?”

“It was a different time,” he says as if I wouldn’t understand. He lifts his finger to hischest, lightly rubbing the blood on his shirt as if he wishes to erase it.

“The medieval period. I know.” This isn’t news. I know he’s ancient. I take small steps toward him.

“Marriages were about political alliances. We were at war. A noble match was made to cement allies. I was her guardian, and it was my duty to find her a husband and make sure that she was taken care of.”

I think of how my uncle, Mortimer, tried to force me to marry Chester for the sake of political alliances. I think of my parents’ arranged marriage. I could argue that times are not so different.

“And he turned out to be a vampire?” I prompt.

I see his guilt. It’s almost palpable. When the siblings were fighting, there was a moment when it almost looked like he wanted her to kill him.

“I didn’t know what he was. When I met him, Marcus seemed like any other nobleman. Elizabeth was young. I thought my sister was being dramatic and fanciful, as was her nature. I knew she was not pleased with the marriage. Marcus’ castle was isolated and far away from the amusements of the royal court. She did not want to live in the mountains. When she made claims of Marcus eating people and draining their blood in his dungeon torture chambers, I didn’t believe her. She begged me to let her come home. She spoke of unholy acts,and even the priests did not give credence to the ramblings of a silly girl. We thought all she needed was a stronger hand and time to learn her place. I did not know until later that my sister became pregnant. Vampires cannot conceive children. At least not naturally. Dhampirs are rare and require spells. Marcus killed her after he made her watch as he impaled her lover.”

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