thing snarled. Not human. Not an animal. Something in between. She didn't dare look back. The forest behind the school stretched like a living thing-old roots, twisted limbs, and shadow

was a

nowhere. A flash of amber eyes, a his

er slammed into a tree trunk. Pain shot through her. The figure was tall, cloaked in r

heat, and the creature screamed-not in anger, but in pain.

ould run somewhere el

ipped at her arms and face. Her breath came in ragged gasps. Something caught her hood

dn't

hand, claw

en it w

in a blur

ad-shouldered, moving like a shadow with blades in both ha

bone. A gur

came from behind

e blade in his grip, and drove i

ing was

t held it

rum inside her chest. The man turned slowly. H

t safe her

at were those

ee that! Pe

ou," he said. "Becau

ed?" What the hell a

up. That means they can smell you no

way. "Stay a

m you," he said fla

falt

el Thorne," he said. "I've been

still tremb

your mother died t

t's time you kn

ve run. Shoul

her, the same one from t

"They won't stop, Elara. Not until

behind he

, more are coming. I

. And the moment she touch

g deeper from ins