Page 3 of Nearly Dead

I grab at my bare neck.They’re puzzle pieces that don’t fit neatly together.

For the love of everything, please don’t tell me my amulet reset time again.I can’t take another trip down a parallel universe with multiple timelines in my head when no one else can remember what happened.

Wait no.I’ve already been over this.I’m cycling.Time didn’t reset again.Diana wears the amulet.

Draakmar wants to be with the six-year-old.Her innocence calls to the dragon.Being raised in my supernatural family, innocence is not a word I’d use to describe me when I was Diana’s age.I like knowing she’ll be taken care of.Conversely, I’m scared to be without my protection.The amulet saved my life more times than I can count.Now I’m defenseless.

Is that what happened to me?I gave away my protection, and that sacrifice killed me?

Is this what death is?Floating in confusion from moment to moment?

It must be Hell.Heaven wouldn’t hurt so much.

No, wrong again.This is Costin’s home.I smell him like a fine cologne lingering on the sheets.It stirs inside me a curious mix of desire and rage.Behind that is the copper tang of blood.

Why am I so hungry?

I breathe deeper, trying to connect the dots of the last several days.Time is a mindless blur that makes no sense.

A memory of Elizabeth performing a ritual with the werewolf Alpha comes trickling back.They tried to harness all the world’s magic, redistributing power to themselves.Thankfully, they failed, but their attempt came at a great cost.It won’t go unnoticed.Ancient powers don’t like it when you fuck with their shit.

I see a flash of light, and I close my eyes tight.I don’t know if it’s a memory or actually happening.

I remember Elizabeth and Thane standing on the altar of blood and moonlight.The memory feels like it belongs to someone else or perhaps a movie I watched long ago.The image has been haunting my thoughts since I entered this newest supernatural nightmare.

Elizabeth is Costin’s vindictive vampire sister.She’s never pretended to be anything other than what she is, a power-hungry bitch who’d sacrifice anyone for her own ends.At least she’s honest about her intentions, unlike half the people in my life lately.She wanted all the power for herself, and when Thane tried to take some of the control, she didn’t hesitate to kill the Alpha.

But not before he bit me.

I run my hand over my shoulder and chest.My body is healed.It shouldn’t be.

This is all wrong.

Iwasdying.

Fuck, this is confusing.

We are born, we live, we die.

That is how it’s supposed to be for humans.

That’s normal.That’s mortality.

I’ve always had the sense that there isn’t much time.Life is short.Live for the moment.I have an expiration date.That’s how we mere mortals think.We’re on a finite timeline.

But mortality should never have been in the cards for me.Not with the Devine legacy hanging over my neck like a guillotine.Not with Uncle Mortimer constantly shoving supernatural suitors at me to continue the bloodline like some broodmare.

Everything is becoming clearer now.

A week ago was my expiration date.I was ready.I even looked forward to the eternal calm.And then… Costin.

Costin, with his ancient eyes and cold hands.Costin, who promised he wouldn’t let me become a monster.Costin, who broke his word to save my life.I can still taste his blood on my lips.

Hot tears stream down my cheeks.

I’m not a mere mortal.I’m a mere monster.

I don’t want to be a monster.

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