MARK BY A HALF BLOOD

couldn

Like it didn't belong in this world. No eyes. No nose. Just a pale

riek that sliced through the

hind him. "Don't ru

Cindy whispered, pani

han wolves, crueler than vampires, and impossible to ki

was still bleeding beside

eyes were glassy. "You have

ing as his claws extend

eature

de, forcing it backward. The Shadow screamed again, but it

ying to pull her away f

umbled through the trees. Behind them, Aeron and the Hunter c

echoed in t

of them," Li

t. But she heard them too-low,

re surr

ng to pull the girls back into the dark. Cindy's breathing grew ragged, her heartbeat pounding

hispered to herself

-

hum vibrated thr

burned hot un

rest s

ver light erupted in th

y of the Shadow Hunter, its chest pierced by a glowing blade of l

oulders rising and falling, b

re dissolv

d teeth, "It activated when you touched

t him. "What a

re not just marked. Y

ed to

ds," a new vo

hipped

cloaked in shadows, his face hidden by a h

ward slowly. "

iffened.

etween them. "

leader of the rogue hybrids. Exil

es and long black hair. He looked strangely

he girl must be protected at all costs.

ndy asked.

irl anymore," Cyrus said. "You're th

-

roots of an ancient tree guarded by wards and

tched her cautiously-sil

ome had claws that never retracted. Some ha

ed around the

s the

really

't look li

fear her or protect her. Cindy hugged her arms close to her

Cindy, speaking low so onl

now what she i

man," Aer

amused. "Ar

tightened. "Wha

a normal human could hold moonfire in their blood?" Cyrus stepp

er head. "No. This is wrong.

Cyrus said.

-

re in the den, watching the hybrids

s on the walls. Every crackle of the fire reminded her of t

ilent for a long time b

u, I thought you wer

" Cindy

est person I've met. Even now, you're not runni

don't feel strong. I fee

oice gentler now. "Then fa

shifted be

shed hers. J

eyes

orgot about the shadows,

was on

armth in

e, something stirred. Not fear. Not confusion.

-

ce didn

he woods, another

smoke as it whisp

ed girl is

ood aw

en it

sts wil