Page 105 of Nearly Dead

“I’m going to try.”

“Give it a shot.Try to kill me, little one.I might not have turned you, but you’re still bound by my blood.”Elizabeth takes a step forward, then stops as she notices the protective circles surrounding our ritual space.“Clever.But not clever enough.”

She gestures to her followers, who begin to spread out along the roof’s edge.Others land behind her.I count at least twenty vampires and a dozen magics.More than we anticipated, but not enough to overwhelm us if our own allies hold.

“Hey, Uncle Mortimer, I’m curious,” I call out, drawing his eyes so that he finally looks at me directly.“Did you tell Elizabeth about your plans for me?Or is she just another pawn in your game?”

Mortimer’s smile falters slightly.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No?”I step forward, feeling the power rise within me.“Not going to mention the ritual you’ve been designing for decades?The one specifically designed for someone like me?The one meant to extract and transfer magical ability from a blank slate?”

Elizabeth’s head turns slowly toward Mortimer, her expression unreadable.“What is she talking about?”

“Nonsense,” Mortimer dismisses, but there’s a new tension in his posture.“The girl is trying to divide us.”

“Am I?”I press.“Or am I just revealing what you’ve kept hidden?How many allies have you betrayed over the centuries, Uncle?How many schemes within schemes?”

“These markings won’t sever the sire bond,” Mortimer says.“I told you they were lying.It’s half protection spell and half gibberish.And that bit,” he gestures at a series of markings, “is to summon… chicken nuggets?”

“Enough,” Elizabeth snaps, though her eyes linger on Mortimer with newfound suspicion.I’ve seen firsthand what Elizabeth does to partners who get in her way.I watched her tear Thane’s heart out of his body.If I’m lucky, they’ll tear each other apart and save us the trouble.“We didn’t come here to talk.”

She raises her hand, and her vampires surge forward.At the same moment, Sully lets out a howl that splits the night air.The werewolves emerge from their hiding places around the perimeter, their bodies already half-transformed under the moon’s influence as they scale the side of the building.

Sully was right.I feel the pack’s raw energy humming in my nerves.It invites me to join them.

Costin doesn’t hesitate.He launches himself at Elizabeth.They crash in midair, twisting violently.A loud screech echoes out over the city.

Chaos erupts.Vampires and werewolves clash in a blur of supernatural speed and strength.The magics release balls of energy that illuminate the night sky with flashes of light.Anthony and his friends create temporary barriers to protect our allies.

Astrid fights with deadly precision, slashing through her opponents as if she’s releasing centuries of pent-up frustrations.I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her lethal magic, as I watch it reduce vampires to dust.

And then there’s Mortimer backing away from the front lines as if the chaos will provide the perfect cover.His calculating eyes fixate on me.

I step out of the fake ritual circle, moving to intercept him.The cold magic inside me surges, responding to the danger.It entwines with my vampire’s natural tendencies.I embrace it but no longer allow it to control me.At the same time my predator reacts to the moon’s pull and the werewolf battle raging around us.The primal urge starts to take over, fueled by the flashing lights of magic and the raw surge of emotions.It’s fire to the cold.

“Hello, Uncle,” I say, blocking his retreat.My gruff voice is not my own.

His face twists with rage.“You have no idea what you’re dealing with, Tamara.”

Oh, and there’s hunger.The vampire and wolf want to hunt and feed.The need runs through me like lightning.It burns.

“Actually,” I smile, feeling my fangs extend, “I think I do.”

He throws a spell at me.It’s dark and oily as it slithers through the air.I raise my hand, deflecting it with a telekinetic shield.The spell splatters against it, dissolving into black smoke.

Mortimer’s eyes widen.“Impossible.Where did you get that?”

“You’ve been studying me my entire life,” I say, advancing on him.I draw a breath.The vampire doesn’t need it to live, but the wolf gains energy from it.“Did you really think I wouldn’t figure it out eventually?That your precious blank vessel wouldn’t fill itself with a power you never anticipated?”

Around us, the fight rages.I catch glimpses of Costin and Elizabeth locked in their own deadly dance, neither gaining the upper hand.Sully and his wolves are holding their own against the vampire forces, their full moon strength making them formidable opponents.Anthony and his magics continue to provide support, though I see them beginning to tire.

And above it all, the moon climbs higher, its pull on my blood growing stronger by the minute.

“How did you get that power?”He backs up, his hands working frantically as he prepares another spell.

“I picked up a few things when I killed your buddy, Leviathan.He had an extensive collection of souls.”I deflect his next attack with a casual wave, the telekinetic force growing stronger with each use.

“He should not have had that power,” Mortimer blusters.“I would have known.”

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