Page 81 of Nearly Dead

“Him for you,” Leviathan says.“Your power.Your potential.Your very essence.You’re the perfect vessel, Tamara.A successful hybrid vampire and werewolf, with latent magical ability in your bloodline.Do you have any idea how rare you are?How valuable?”

“You can’t have her,” Costin’s voice is deadly.

We’re not going to make it out of here alive.Conrad’s spirit is flickering.I stare at Paul’s eyes as they flutter open.He doesn’t stand a chance.The mutants will tear him apart before we can fight our way to him.I hear the zombies break into the church.Their fumbling becomes louder.

“Me for them,” I negotiate.

“Deal,” Leviathan snatches the offer.

“What?”Anthony gasps.“No!”

“Tamara,” Costin warns.I feel his anger surging through our bond like lightning.

I turn to Anthony, pleading with my gaze.“Take Paul.Get him to his daughter and send them far away from me.Somewhere safe.”

He wants to argue but instead he nods once.The flash of understanding in his eyes tells me he knows I have a plan.Or at least I hope he thinks I do.

“How touching,” Leviathan mocks.“The hybrid sacrifices herself for the humans she loves.”He waves his hand, and Paul’s chains fall away with a clatter.“Take him and go.We’ll find a new test subject.”

Costin steps closer to me, his body tense.“I’m not leaving you,” he whispers, his voice so low only I can hear it.

“You have to,” I reply just as quietly.“Get Anthony and Paul out safely.I need you to protect them.Do this for me.You owe me.”

The mention of his broken promise hits him like a slap across the face.It’s a low blow to call in the debt now, but it’s a manipulation I need.

“I’ve lost too many people I love,” Costin says, his voice cracking with emotion.“I won’t lose you too.”

I reach up to touch his face.“Trust me.”

The conflict in his eyes is palpable.The master vampire who’s lived centuries, who’s controlled and commanded and conquered, now faced with the one thing he can’t dominate.My choice.

“I’ll come back for you,” he promises, his eyes burning red with intensity.

“I know.”

Leviathan gestures impatiently.“Enough with the tearful goodbyes.I have an empire to build and a queen to crown.”

Anthony helps Paul off the altar.He looks disoriented, his eyes glazed with confusion and fear.

“Tamara, don’t do this,” Paul pleads weakly.“Whatever he wants?—”

“Go,” I tell him firmly.“Live your life.Take care of Diana.Forget about me.Forget about all of this.”

He stops near me, searching my face.His eyes are so kind.They remind me of all the things I can never have.The man has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met.A part of me will always love him.

There is so much he wants to say, but he slowly shakes his head.He doesn’t need to say goodbye.I know.

“Call off your zombies, Leviathan,” Anthony says.

The zombies above give one last series of thuds and suddenly go silent.

Anthony leads Paul toward the stairs.The mummies part to let them pass, spears held at the ready in case they try anything.Costin hesitates, his eyes lock with mine.

“If you truly love her,” Leviathan says to him, “you’ll respect her choice.Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to learn, vampire?That love means letting go?”

The necromancer chuckles at his own wit.

The words hit their mark.Costin’s jaw tightens, but he takes a step back.“This isn’t over,” he tells Leviathan, his voice deadly.“If you harm her?—”

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