Page 33 of Mostly Shattered

“Are you doing it now?” I whisper, unable to move.

He gives a small shake of his head. The vampire can deny it all he wants, but I feel the truth.

“I don’t believe you.” I want to run. Why in the world didn’t I go underground with my brother? Hanging in the supernatural realm with him sounds so much better than being alone with a seductive vampire hellbent on making me do some kind of quest. “My legs don’t work.”

“Then that is your issue, not mine.” His tone darkens, and he sounds exasperated. His bent finger extends beneath my chin, and his sharp nail brushes my neck like a warning. His presence pulls at me like gravity.

I feel a vibration against my hip, and at first, I think it’s him. I instantly touch the spot to push him away but realize it seems to be coming from the broken amulet.

“Shall we go?” He motions toward the mausoleum.

As I’m about to respond, I hear a faint rustling in the shadows. My heart skips a beat, and I find myself moving closer to Costin out of instinct. “What was that?”

His mouth opens, but before Costin can answer, something bursts from the shadows, leaping onto a nearby tombstone. The small, goblin-like creature has glowing red eyes and sharp teeth, and it screeches incoherently at me. Before I can react, it lunges at me. Its gnarled claws swipe toward my face. I scream and stumble backward. My hands lift to shield me from the attack, but the creature is too fast. It lands on my arm, teeth bared as it tries to bite my throat.

Suddenly, there’s a blur of motion. Costin is in front of me, moving faster than my mind can process. With a swift, almost lazy motion, he grabs the creature by the throat and holds it in the air like an angry doll. The thing screeches, thrashing about as its claws cut into Costin’s flesh, but the vampire doesn’teven blink.

“This one’s harmless,” he says, his voice eerily calm. “Just misguided.”

Misguided?

Misguided!

I touch my neck and face, searching for wounds.

“She’s protected.” Costin tightens his grip, and the goblin whimpers before falling limp. He tosses it aside, and the creature scrambles back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as it came.

I stare after it, my heart hammering violently in my chest.

Costin’s eyes sparkle with a sinister and predatory gleam, hinting at the danger lurking within. The full threat of the moment barely registers before he says, “You’re welcome.”

I exhale, realizing I’ve been holding my breath. “I didn’t… I didn’t need your help.”

He arches a brow and drawls sarcastically. “Of course not. I find screaming and flailing to be an effective means of protection.”

I hug my arms around my body and ignore him as I search our surroundings for other threats. My self-defense instructor would be so disappointed in me.

“He’ll tell the others. You have nothing to worry about.” He sounds confident as he dismisses my fears, but strands of threatening red still swim in his eyes.

I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach at the look. I hate that I feel this way. I’m drawn to him, even though I know I shouldn’t be.

“Are you done with your accusations? Are you ready to listen?” He picks up the conversation as if the goblin attack didn’t happen.

I nod. I don’t want to, but the reaction is out of lingering fear.

Costin strikes me as the type who is not used to being contradicted.

“I’m listening,” I whisper, wishing I sounded braver.

He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small leather-bound book. He holds it between us.

I don’t want it. I feel like if I touch the book, bad things will happen. No part of me wants another supernatural escapade.

Why can’t my life be normal?

I don’t want this.

I don’t want to be here.

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