Page 36 of Nearly Dead

“That’s not going to happen,” I interrupt, feeling both sides of my nature bristling at the accusation.“I understand what’s at stake.”

“Do you?”Vasilisa asks.“You haven’t even experienced your first full moon since the transformation.What makes you think you can control yourself when it comes?”

Before I can answer, Sully strides forward, stopping just short of the circle.“That is what I’ve been saying.The moon is coming.Eleven days.By then, she needs to be with the pack.We can help her.”

“She is not one of yours,” Costin says coldly.“She is mine.”

“She carries our Alpha’s blood,” Sully counters.“She belongs with us when the moon calls.”

“She belongs with those who can contain her if necessary,” Elder Decimus cuts in.“Your pack is in disarray, Sully.No Alpha, no clear succession.How can you protect her or others from her?”

A low rumble builds in Sully’s chest, a sound I feel more than hear.“I can handle her.”

Sully’s challenge snaps something inside me.The wolf surges forward, responding to the dominance play.

“Can you?”I snap.

Before I can stop myself, I’m at the edge of the circle, teeth bared, a growl building in my throat.

“You think you can handle me?”The words come out distorted as my mouth begins to reshape.“You have no idea what I am.”

The council chamber erupts in a flurry of movement—vampires rising to their feet, magics raising defensive shields, werewolves leaning forward with interest.Rhea cackles, the sound oddly joined by Elizabeth’s chuckle.

I feel my body starting to shift, not fully wolf, not fully vampire, but something in between.Claws extend from my fingers, tearing through the silk of my dress.My chest presses against the metal bodice as it tries to expand.My vision sharpens.Colors become more vivid as my eyes change.

“Tamara.”Costin’s voice cuts through the chaos.The sire bond resonates with it, not forcing obedience but offering support.“Control it.”

I want to snarl at him, to challenge his authority too, but something in his steady gaze reaches past the monster to the part of me that’s still Tamara.I take a deep, shuddering breath, focusing on pulling my warring natures back into balance.

Slowly, painfully, I force the transformation to recede.My claws retract, my teeth return to normal.The room comes back into focus as the red haze of rage dissipates.

The silence that follows is deafening.

Finally, Elder Zephronis puts his hand on my shoulder.He looks sad.“The hybrid shows potential for control but is clearly unstable.”

“She needs training,” Astrid says firmly.“Time to adjust to her new nature.She should be with her family.We can deal with this.”

“Time we may not have,” Birch counters.“The full moon approaches, and if what the werewolf says is true, her control will be tested severely.”

“Then let her prove herself,” Elizabeth suggests, her voice silky.“Let her demonstrate whether she can be trusted with freedom or whether she requires more permanent containment.”

I don’t like the gleam in her eye, the way she makespermanent containmentsound like something worse than a death sentence.

Before I can respond, Vasilisa raises a hand.“I believe I can offer a solution.”Her violet eyes fix on me.“A trial period.The hybrid will remain under observation until the full moon.If she can maintain control through the lunar cycle, she proves herself worthy of continued existence.”

“And if she can’t?”Anthony asks, his voice tight.

Vasilisa’s smile is cold.“Then the council will take appropriate action.”

“What does that mean?”I ask, though I already suspect the answer.

Vasilisa’s gaze doesn’t waver.“If you lose control, the council will act.Swiftly and permanently.”

“Who will observe her?”Astrid demands.“Where will she be kept?”

“Neutral territory,” Zephronis decides.“Neither vampire nor werewolf domain.”

“The Devine country estate,” my father suggests.“It’s warded and secure.”

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