Page 96 of Mostly Shattered

I can’t keep running from who my family is.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but at the same time, I’m terrified of what I have become.

I grasp at the neckline of the gown,the fabric constricting my throat. Tilting my head backward, I draw a deep breath.

A soft knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. Costin comes quietly into the room. He’s dressed in a simple black shirt and dark pants. Looking at him, there is no sign of the struggle we’ve just been through.

Long black hair hangs around his shoulders, showcasing his handsome face. He’s so beautiful, achingly so. My heartbeat quickens.

What will we become now that the prophecy is done and his obligation to me is finished?

Neither of us speaks. He crosses the room, the shuffle of his boots the only sound in the quiet space. His eyes stay steadily on mine, and I see something I don’t expect. I’m used to him being impossible to read, or domineering, or annoyed. But this is…

Vulnerability.

“You’re awake,” he says, his voice deep and rough around the edges. He sits on the end of the bed.

I nod. “Yeah.”

A smile touches his lips, but it quickly fades. He stares at his hands, watching them flex open and shut as if gathering his thoughts. I try to think of what to say to him. Nothing brilliant comes to mind.

“You—” I start to speak when he doesn’t.

“I—” he says at the same time.

I give a small laugh. He gestures for me to go first.

“You have a lovely home,” I answer.

He glances around at the compliment. “Thank you.”

We fall again to silence. I rub my shoulder, trying to work the knot out of one of my many sore muscles.

“Do you remember everything?” I watch him closely. “Time is what it should be? Everyone is all right?”

“There might be a few casualties from the dragon’s stroll around town, but I think it’s mostly property damage. There is enough magic down there to rebuild. They’ll be fine.” He must feel me still staring and adds, “Yes, time is normal—prophecy, troll, what we did in your bedroom, the subway, the labyrinth, your defeat of Draakmar.”

I give a big sigh of relief, and we fall back to silence.

Finally, as if coming to a decision, he looks at me. His voice is low, almost frustrated. “I failed you.”

I frown, shaking my head as I step toward him. He lifts his hand to stop me.

“I wasn’t there to protect you.” Costin is always so composed, so sure of himself. But now, there’s an uncertainty in him I’ve never seen before. “I had oneduty, an oath to your grandfather to protect you, to see you through the prophecy.”

I shake my head in denial, taken aback by the admission. “Oh, no, Costin?—”

“You faced the ultimate battle with the dragon alone, and as a reward, I attacked you and nearly drained you dry.” He doesn’t look me in the eye. “If not for the amulet, you would be dead, and it would be my fault.”

“But I’m not dead.” I momentarily forget my body aches. I go to stand before him. “You didn’t fail me. Costin, you’ve been there for me through everything. You’ve protected me and stood by me when no one else would have. You’ve always protected me. I didn’t realize it at times because I was a kid, but you have always looked out for me. You didn’t fail me. You never have. It was my fate to tame Draakmar, not yours.”

His jaw tightens. “I should’ve been there. You shouldn’t have had to face that alone.”

“I didn’t.” I kneel on the floor before him and place my hand on his. “You were with me the whole time. Maybe not physically, but you were there. I could feel it. I knew I wasn’t fighting alone. Very few vampires would have gone to such extraordinary lengths for a mere human as you have.”

Human connection, a mortal’s magic.

There’s a long pause betweenus, filled with so many unspoken words. I’ve been guarded, closed off when it comes to admitting my feelings for Costin. But here, in this place, in the aftermath of everything, I can’t keep running.

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