Page 92 of Mostly Shattered

“All creatures have magic,” Morvok says.

I look up at Morvok. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Maybe I’m too tired to decipher his words, but I’ve never had magic. I know that for a fact.

“Human magic is connection,” the troll says. “Your blood... your magic... it comes from the people you are tied to. Generations passing themselves down for centuries to create who you are. We all have magic—every human, every creature, but most forget. The amulet was forged from Draakmar’sscales, yes, but it is powered by more than that. It is powered by love. By connection. The same magic that gave you the amulet for protection in the first place, the magic you feel for the vampire beside you. That is what will heal this.”

Costin reaches for my hand. I glance up from the shards. The words hang in the air between us`, unspoken but heavy. The connection. The magic of connection, of love, of bond. That’s what’s going to save us.

I take a deep breath, letting the words fill my tired body, trying to focus on that connection—on everything that binds me to this world. The love of my birth mother and grandfather, who cared enough to trade with trolls to protect me from harm. My parents, who love me the only way they know how. My brother, who will not abandon me. Paul and Diana, who helped a stranger and who I can never see again for their own protection.

And Costin. He’s always been there since I was a child, ready to swoop in and protect me. I never realized it until now. When I burnt my hand, when I broke my arm, he was there. At parties, when I watched from the shadows, he was there. And now that I’m older, he’s become more to me.

All the people I’ve fought for, bled for. The people who keep me tied to this world.Mymagic.Mypower.

I close my eyes, and for a moment, everything goes silent. Just the sound of my heart beating steady and strong. And then...

A soft hum.

I open my eyes. The pieces of the green amulet glow faintly, the cracks slowly sealing themselves together with the red of my blood. I watch the pieces click into place, the magic swirling and binding them together.

The amulet becomes whole, my blood turning the green shards into the red stone that once was. I gasp in shock. Costin’s hand slips from mine.

“Costin, do you—?” I turn to him.

Costin slumps on the ground, unmoving. His eyes are closed, and his skin is paler than normal.

“Costin?” I fall to my knees beside him, shaking him. “Costin, wake up!”

I touch his skin. Vampires are normally cold, so I don’t know what to make of it. He’s not breathing, but vampires don’t need to all the time.

A loud roar echoes from outside. I stand, torn between the imminent danger and helping Costin.

Morvok has the fixed amulet and is pressing thick silver threads around it. He holds it up to show a new necklace he has crafted. “Morvok will watch your vampire.”

I hesitate before taking the amulet. “Don’t let him die.”

I’m not sure what Morvok’s grunt means, but I hope it’s agreement.

“Costin, I’ll be back,” I say.

He doesn’t answer.

I limp for the exit as I slip the amulet over my neck. I have no clue what I’m doing, but I have to try.

The underground city is in ruins. Flames rise from the marketplace, and the air is thick with smoke and ash. I can feel the heat clawing at my skin, but I don’t stop. I don’t have time to be afraid.

“Draakmar,” I yell, hobbling away from the troll’s cave.

What the fuck am I doing? Everything in me screams that this is a mistake. I silence the voices that have always churned in my head.

“Draakmar,” I yell louder, trying to follow the sound of destruction. I see a couple of the schoolchildren alone, huddled together beneath a pile of rocks. I motion and point behind me for them to run.

Loud steps reverberate through the ground. The giant creature is easy to find.

Draakmar stands near the opposite side of the bridge, towering over the wreckage like some unstoppable living nightmare made of flame and rage. His massive wings unfurl to show his full size. Molten eyes fix on me with a primal fury. He opens his great jaws, baring those horrible teeth, with a roar that erupts from him to shake the very earthbeneath my feet. Fire breath lights up the underground city, choking the air with more heat and smoke. I cough and touch the amulet, feeling its familiar strength back where it belongs. I have to believe that it worked, that the stone will protect me.

I take a step forward, terrified.

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