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Sure enough, they turned on me, teeth bared and drool coming out of their mouths. They resembled wolves, only with brown fur and eyes that glowed like orange fire. He'd probably ordered them not to harm her, but they had no such instructions regarding me. Wolves. Just like in science class. What had Ms. Meissner said? A lot of confrontations were all about willpower? Bearing this mind, I tried to project an alpha attitude, but I don't think they fell for it. Any one of them outweighed me. Oh yeah—they also outnumbered me. No, they didn't have anything to be scared of. Trying to pretend this was just a free-for-all match with Dimitri, I picked up a branch from the ground that had about the same heft and weight as a baseball bat. I'd just positioned it in my hands when two of the hounds jumped me. Claws and teeth bit into me, but I held my own surprisingly well as I tried to remember everything I'd learned in the last two months about fighting bigger and stronger opponents. I didn't like hurting them. They reminded me too much of dogs. But it was me or them, and survival instincts won out. One of them I managed to beat to the ground, dead or unconscious I didn't know. The other was still on me, still coming on fast and furious. His companions looked ready to join him, but then a new competitor burst on the scene—sort of. Christian. "Get out of here," I yelled at him, shaking off my hound as its claws ripped into the bare skin of my leg, nearly toppling me over. I was still wearing the dress, though I'd shed the heels a while ago. But Christian, like any lovesick guy, didn't listen. He picked up a branch as well and swung it at one of the hounds. Flames burst from the wood. The hound backed up, still compelled to follow Victor's orders, though also clearly afraid of the fire. Its companion, the fourth hound, circled away from the torch and came up behind Christian. Smart little bastard. It sprang at Christian, hitting him back first. The branch flew from his hands, the fire immediately going out. Both hounds then leapt onto his fallen form. I finished my hound—again feeling sick over what I had to do to subdue it—and moved toward the other two, wondering if I had the strength to take on these last ones. But I didn't have to. Rescue appeared in the form of Alberta, emerging through some trees.
With a gun in hand, she shot the hounds without hesitation. Boring as hell perhaps—and completely useless against Strigoi—but against other things? Guns were tried and true. The hounds stopped moving and slumped next to Christian's body. And Christian's body… All three of us made our way over to it—Lissa and I practically crawling. When I saw it, I had to look away. My stomach lurched, and it took a lot of effort not to throw up. He wasn't dead yet, but I didn't think he had much longer. Lissa's eyes, wide and distraught, drank him in. Tentatively, she reached out toward him and then dropped her hand. "I can't," she managed in a small voice. "I don't have the strength left.” Alberta , leathery face both hard and compassionate, gently tugged her arm. "Come on, Princess. We need to get out of here. We'll send help.” Turning back to Christian, I forced myself to look at him and let myself feel how much Lissa cared about him. "Liss," I said hesitantly. She looked over at me, like she'd forgotten I was even there. Wordlessly, I brushed my hair away from my neck and tilted it toward her. She stared for a moment, blank-faced; then understanding shone in her eyes. Those fangs that lurked behind her pretty smile bit into my neck, and a small moan escaped my lips. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it, that sweet, wonderful pain followed by glorious wonder. Bliss settled over me. Dizzying. Joyful. Like being in a dream. I don't entirely remember how long Lissa drank from me. Probably not that long. She would never even consider drinking the quantities that would kill a person and make her a Strigoi. She finished, and Alberta caught me as I started to sway. Dizzily, I watched as Lissa leaned over Christian and rested her hands on him. In the distance, I heard the other guardians crashing through the forest.
- Page 192 and 193: "Even if I was crazy?” "No," I sa
- Page 194 and 195: "Without your clothes?" She handed
- Page 196 and 197: He moved forward to stop me. "Be ca
- Page 198 and 199: "How'd you manage to buy this? I sa
- Page 200 and 201: And just like that, a million thoug
- Page 202 and 203: He stared stonily ahead. "It was pr
- Page 204 and 205: Lissa pushed herself into Christian
- Page 206 and 207: I'd forced my way into her head, an
- Page 208 and 209: "Did you tell them about the 'other
- Page 210 and 211: desperate and depressed one from th
- Page 212 and 213: Fifteen minutes later, we cut acros
- Page 214 and 215: Mason gave Jesse a sharp poke in th
- Page 216 and 217: Twenty MY MOUTH DROPPED OPEN. "Uh
- Page 218 and 219: Mia scandal and, petty or not, seei
- Page 220 and 221: He just sat there, and I suppressed
- Page 222 and 223: him, urging me closer. An instinct
- Page 224 and 225: Twenty-One I'D NEVER BEEN COMPLETEL
- Page 226 and 227: stomach went queasy while my skin s
- Page 228 and 229: "She's right,” mumbled Christian,
- Page 230 and 231: Farther and farther off the main ro
- Page 232 and 233: Twenty-Two "HEAL YOU?” Heal him ?
- Page 234 and 235: about spirit users and specializing
- Page 236 and 237: A calm core of confidence settled i
- Page 238 and 239: Lissa summoned up all of those thin
- Page 240 and 241: "What's it look like? I'm a stowawa
- Page 244 and 245: No glowing or fireworks surrounded
- Page 246 and 247: "They should fire me. What I did wa
- Page 248 and 249: I crossed my arms, trying to put on
- Page 250 and 251: Odd sounds came from the detention
- Page 252 and 253: "Do you?" I hoped I could stall her
- Page 254 and 255: Still holding me in his arms, he lo
- Page 256 and 257: for what had happened to Christian'
- Page 258 and 259: Then, out of nowhere, a thought sma
With a gun in hand, she shot the hounds without hesitation. Boring as hell perhaps—and<br />
completely useless against Strigoi—but against other things? Guns were tried and true. The<br />
hounds stopped moving and slumped next to Christian's body.<br />
And Christian's body…<br />
All three of us made our way over to it—Lissa and I practically crawling. When I saw it, I had<br />
to look away. My stomach lurched, and it took a lot of effort not to throw up. He wasn't dead<br />
yet, but I didn't think he had much longer.<br />
Lissa's eyes, wide and distraught, drank him in. Tentatively, she reached out toward him and<br />
then dropped her hand.<br />
"I can't," she managed in a small voice. "I don't have the strength left.”<br />
Alberta , leathery face both hard and compassionate, gently tugged her arm. "Come on,<br />
Princess. We need to get out of here. We'll send help.”<br />
Turning back to Christian, I forced myself to look at him and let myself feel how much Lissa<br />
cared about him.<br />
"Liss," I said hesitantly. She looked over at me, like she'd forgotten I was even there.<br />
Wordlessly, I brushed my hair away from my neck and tilted it toward her.<br />
She stared for a moment, blank-faced; then understanding shone in her eyes.<br />
Those fangs that lurked behind her pretty smile bit into my neck, and a small moan escaped my<br />
lips. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it, that sweet, wonderful pain followed by glorious<br />
wonder. Bliss settled over me. Dizzying. Joyful. Like being in a dream.<br />
I don't entirely remember how long Lissa drank from me. Probably not that long. She would<br />
never even consider drinking the quantities that would kill a person and make her a Strigoi. She<br />
finished, and Alberta caught me as I started to sway.<br />
Dizzily, I watched as Lissa leaned over Christian and rested her hands on him. In the distance, I<br />
heard the other guardians crashing through the forest.
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