Page 25 of Nearly Dead

Climax hits hard.Violent.Relentless.My body convulses around him, and I scream his name.Without conscious thought, I clamp my mouth down on his shoulder.The taste of his blood pushes me over another edge, as waves of pleasure crash through me.

Costin follows moments later.His fangs find my neck.He drinks deeply, completing the circuit between us.The double bite intensifies everything, the sire bond pulsing with power and possession.

For several heartbeats, we remain locked together, blood and bodies joined.Gradually, awareness returns.I release my bite, licking the wound closed as instinct dictates.He does the same, his tongue gentle against my neck.

When I look around, I see the destruction we’ve caused.Our clothes and the bedding are in shreds.The headboard is cracked.One of the anchors holding my chains is bent from the force of our pulling at it, but magic keeps it intact.

Costin brushes blood-matted hair from my face.His expression is a complex mix of satisfaction and concern.“Are you back?”

I blink, realizing how far gone I’d been, how completely the monster took control.“I...I think so?”

He doesn’t ask if I’m all right.We both know I’m not.Instead, he presses his forehead to mine, a gesture that feels more intimate than what we just shared.“I’m sorry.”

I feel closer to normal than I have since this change started.I don’t need to ask him what he’s sorry for.His guilt and shame linger inside me.It hums through my veins.

I look at the destruction.It’s the perfect representation of my life—everything broken and in shambles.

Costin rises and disappears into the bathroom.He returns wearing a robe and holding a second one for me.He drapes it tenderly around my shoulders, his movements are careful.It’s a stark contrast to our violent coupling.He touches my cheek, stroking me gently.

“I have to go,” he says, his voice low.“The council is waiting for me.I don’t want to give them another reason to be irritated with us.”

Reality crashes back.The council.My fate.Elizabeth’s offer.

But that’s not all.

I catch his arm as he turns to leave, my grip firm but no longer brutal.“Costin.There’s something else I need to tell you.”

His expression remains serious.

“I think something bad is coming.”

He gives me a long look.“I know.I can feel it too.But we’ll handle the council and the werewolves and anything else that comes for us.”

I give a small shake of my head.

“I saw Conrad.”The words feel heavy.“Here, in this room.He spoke to me.”

Costin goes still.“That’s impossible.Leviathan has him imprisoned in an orb.Your brother’s spirit could not escape necromancer magic.”

“Either it was him, or my sanity is completely slipping.”I tighten my grip on his arm.“He made a joke about being out on work release.You said you could tell something was here.What if Leviathan isn’t containing him?What if he’s using him?”

A shadow crosses his features, and I can feel the stress radiating from him.“What else did he say?”

“He heard what I did to Leviathan’s goblins.”I can’t look him in the eyes.My fingers flex, still able to feel the squish.

Costin touches my cheek, turning my eyes to meet his.“If that’s true, we’re in more danger than I thought.”

As if summoned by our conversation, the shadows in the corner begin to shift.Costin drops his hand.The temperature drops, and the air grows thick with a musty scent.

“He’s coming for her, vampire.”Conrad’s voice echoes, though his form remains hidden.“You can’t stop him.Don’t try.This was always her path.”

Costin moves toward the voice, fangs bared.He puts his body in front of mine like a shield.“Show yourself, coward!”

My brother’s presence fades, leaving a lingering chill.I hear the echo of his mocking laughter.

Costin turns back to me, his expression grim.“I need to speak with Astrid.”

“Why Astrid?”

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