Page 14 of Nearly Dead

As he turns to leave, Sully pauses.“One more thing.”

“What?”I ask.What more could he possibly want to say?

“Watch yourself.”

“Is that a threat?”Costin is suddenly standing next to me.I never saw him move.

“No,” Sully says, his eyes staying on mine.“It’s a warning.From one wolf to another.The council is talking about putting you down as a precaution.”His gaze flicks to Costin.“I’ll see myself out.”

After he leaves, I collapse into a chair, my mind racing.“I never wanted any of this.”

Costin reaches to touch my cheek.“Supernatural politics are never easy, but we’ll get through it.”

“They’re insane if they think I’d make a good leader.”I would laugh if it wasn’t so dire.Tamara, Alpha of the Werewolves?“Six months ago I wasn’t allowed near them.A few weeks ago was my first time in their territory and I needed you to escort me.Now I’m a psychotic mess you need to restrain to the bed to keep from eating your staff.”

“Which is exactly why they want you,” Costin leans closer, his eyes searching my face.

I wonder if I look like a monster.I feel my skin prickling.Is my mouth ugly and elongated like James’?Are my eyes glowing?I run the tip of my tongue over my teeth.They feel sharper than usual.

“You’re unpredictable,” he continues.“Dangerous.And, right or wrong, they believe you’re powerful enough to elevate their status.”

“And what do you think?”I ask him.

He studies me for a long moment.“I think you’re more than you realize.I think you’ve always been more than any of us have realized.And,” his lip curls up at the corner, “I think when you say you want to eat my staff?—”

I smack his shoulder.“I meant servants.”

“As you wish.”He nods, appearing disappointed I didn’t flirt back.“Do you want me to take you back to your parents?”

I grimace, shaking my head.I don’t want to deal with Uncle Mortimer right now.

I run my hands through my hair, trying to process everything while keeping my emotions under control.“I can’t be responsible for a pack of werewolves.I can barely be responsible for myself right now.”

“The choice may not be entirely yours,” Costin says gently.“Sully was right about one thing.The council is nervous.”

“Great.So I’m either wolf queen or dead.Fantastic options.”

“There’s a third option,” Costin says, his voice taking on that careful tone he uses when he knows I won’t like what he’s about to say.“You could let me claim you officially as my progeny.As a master vampire, I have certain protections I could extend to you.”

Is he serious?Our relationship is already all kinds of messed up.This would only give him a new layer of control over me.

“At what cost?”I ask.

“I publicly claim you.The sire bond you already feel would be formalized to the council.You would be under my authority in the eyes of supernatural law.”

“So I’d be your pet.”The anger surfaces and I have a harder time pushing it down.Soon it’s going to explode.I hear it grumbling in my voice when I add, “Trading one leash for another.”

“You would be my official responsibility,” Costin counters.I hate that he sounds reasonable and calm.His eyes swirl with red as they travel over me, and I catch a flash of possessiveness that makes my pulse quicken despite my anger.He reaches toward me but stops just short of touching my face.I would much rather he yell and fight me.“Nothing will change between us.I will always protect you.”

“Protected and controlled.No thank you.”What I don’t say is if I fail to get myself under control, it would be left to Costin to deal with me.He wouldn’t be able to.He couldn’t watch me die after he promised me he would.I doubt he could kill me if the council demanded it of him.

“Think about it, Tamara.Please.”His eyes hold genuine concern.

I wish I could figure out what I am and what I want, not what everyone else wants me to be.I close my eyes and take a deep breath.My blood is rushing around in my veins.

“Why does it matter what I want?”I ask.“Everyone will just make the decisions for me anyway.”

“You’re slurring your words.Here, drink this.”

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