d to wa

stop righ

ed across the mass

inst the pavement behind me, growing clo

ss had been comp

ance, especially from the woman he

sharply against the flagstones leading to the

n's hand clamped down tightly on my wri

ack so hard my

!" Julian growled, his

ng he had just used that sam

for a split second, the raw rebel

ened just a frac

d the opportunity, broke free, raised my free hand,

d do

dare do such a thing-

llowing closely behind,

front of Julian, taking a blow

sound of my palm strik

nd far too fragile an

er face, then collapsed to the gro

ed, throwing herself

's all my fault. I'll leave! Julia

of the ultimate ma

at his childhood sw

f my fingers glowing a

fury bl

ped tow

wisted into a mask of pure vio

epping backward until my heel met

old Julian back, but a

m of his lunge, she swung

nted firmly o

she pushed me back w

e of the wicked, triumphant glint in Al

d off the edge

n air, a sickening jolt maki

down the unforgivi

into the stone,

stealing all sound, and the metall

ensation ripped thro

ble knife carving me o

ottom of the stair

ry for help. The agonizing pain p

up at the pitch-black

en, I

of fluid soaked through my custo

octor to tell me

w ins

e, my eight-week-old

lur, a dark tunnel c

ely into darkness, I saw move

ntly shoved

dn't even glance at her, his previ

as contorted in

s eyes locked not on my face,

enn

ugh my fading consciousness as he threw