Kalayn Price Have 02 Twice Dead

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.I bristled.I didn t know Steven well, had never fought beside him, and he was too close.I couldsmell the stink of sweat under his layers of clothing.Sour sweat that smelled of fear, notexertion.He was scared, and his beast had latched on to me as the resident alpha.Great, I can tmake a dog sit, but I ve managed to adopt a city-shifter.Which meant I was responsible forkeeping him out of danger. Just stay back, I said, without tearing my eyes away from the mage.Steven didn t move, but Bobby joined me. Do we have a plan? Yeah. I said. Nobody die.Chapter ThirtyI made it halfway across the street before the mage moved from the doorway.I was fast.Hewas faster.Within two of my running strides, he crossed the distance between us.I barely registered themovement.Then he was in front of me, his fist angling toward my face.I dropped, diving out of the way.In mid-movement, I twisted, swiping with my claws.I grazedhis forearm, but he was there one moment and yards away the next.I blinked.Twice Dead Haven 02 Page 223 of 246Bobby hadn t even reached us yet.A heartbeat, maybe two, had passed.How can he be that damn fast?He charged again, and I lashed out.Missed.A blow I didn t see slammed into my chest, knockedme back.I crouched, ignoring the sting spreading across my torso.Bobby reached my side,Steven on his heels.The mage s movements blurred, and Steven yelped as the mage flung him backward.I didn thave time to turn, to see where Steven landed.I was too busy diving out of the way as themage focused on me, again.I ducked under the next blow, lunging forward at the mage s unguarded chest.He dartedbehind me before my claws reached his skin.Behind me, the crack of a bone snapping sounded,and Bobby grunted in pain.Dammit.There were three of us fighting him.How can we be losing?I whirled around and aimed my strike too far to the right, while feinting left.The mage plowedinto my claws.Finally.He jumped back, hissing.Fangs flashed.Vampire?I backpedaled. What the hell are you? For once it was me asking, not being asked.But really?Magic, snake musk, and vamp fangs? A mage turned vamp and possessing the magic to use askinwalker s stolen skin? I m the rightful Master of New Brennan.The Collector and her pathetic freaks stole my city,he said, his voice hissing between his fangs. and you, freak, are fucking up my revenge. Helunged.I twisted away, but not fast enough.His fangs tore into my shoulder with a flash of white pain.No pleasure overshadowed the pain.Not a single pulse of anything beyond the average horrificanimal bite.He s a soldier vamp no mental powers. Get off! I struggled in his grasp, but he was stronger.His grip tightened, locking my arms to my sides, pinning my claws.I flailed, kicking my feet.Myefforts did no good.His fangs ripped deeper, nicking at my shoulder joint.Somewhere, not far away, tires crunched over pavement.Twice Dead Haven 02 Page 224 of 246The mage went rigid.He screamed, his head rearing back in agony.His fangs tore from myflesh, and he hurled me away from him.What? I d lost a lot of blood and probably had neverreclaimed enough from Nathanial to start with, so my landing lacked any cat-like grace.My feetslid and my arms windmilled.I hit the pavement, but I kept my legs under me.Bobby stood behind the mage, blood dripping from his knuckles.As the mage turned, I sawwhy.The hole I d ripped in the snake s back earlier hadn t healed it hadn t slowed him downeither, but it was a large, seeping wound that now showed evidence of broken ribs, thanks toBobby.My hunger blossomed.The mage s blood smelled sour, but I was starving.The mage pulled a large sheath of black scales from the void.A snakeskin identical to Akane sor likely, her twin sister s actual skin.He wrapped it around himself and expanded into a hugeserpent. Get back, I yelled at Bobby.If the mage injected even a drop of poison into Bobby s body& ?A vehicle swung around the corner.Of all the mooncursed luck.Humans could not be allowedto witness this fight.Imagine their shock: me in bloody tulle, with claws instead of fingers, a giant serpent stretchedacross the pavement, blood dripping from Bobby s fist, and Steven I didn t know whereSteven was.I glanced around and caught him creeping toward the mage.Yeah, definitely not ascene for human observers.I shouldn t have wasted my concern.The dark SUV slammed to a stop in the center of the road and the doors flew open.Roncodashed out of the driver s seat as Elizabeth stepped out of the passenger side.Why do I get the feeling this isn t the cavalry coming to our rescue? Trevin, we ll handle this from here, Elizabeth said as she shook wrinkles from her dress.The snake s head dipped in agreement, but it didn t retreat.Ronco surged forward, headed notfor the serpent, but for me.I wasn t surprised.I lifted my claws, keeping one eye on the snakeand one on the charging vampire.The snake lifted its head, its mouth falling open, and a human voice emerged, The silver, fool.Silver? Oh crap. Run! I turned, taking my own advice.Bobby and Steven did the same.Not that any of us had a chance.Twice Dead Haven 02 Page 225 of 246Ronco tossed something thin and light-weight, and a cord wrapped around my bare neck.Myskin went numb, my throat closing, and I stumbled, falling to my knees.Bobby glanced back as Ifell.He stopped.Doubled back.No!I couldn t speak.Couldn t breathe.I clawed at the silver chain, but my fingers turned numb atthe first touch, and my claws dripped with blood as I scratched skin I couldn t feel.Ronco slammed into Bobby.Another chain of silver glinted in his hands.I had to stop him.I hadto& ?The serpent slithered closer and coiled around my body, constricting.His mouth opened inchesfrom my face.His fangs flashed, dripping poison. Trevin, enough. Elizabeth s ballerina slippers made soft sounds as she trudged through thesnow toward me. Don t hurt her. Just this one? Again the snake s voice emerged perfectly clear, as if spoken from a humanthroat.His head dipped closer. No.We couldn t explain her death.Besides, she s much more useful as a decoy.Now go.The snake s tongue flicked out and danced over my cheek.Then he uncoiled and slithered back toward the warehouse.A scream tore down the street,and I looked up to see Steven fall, thrashing in the silver cords binding him.Bobby was alreadydown [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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