The Marked Girl Read Free Page B

His eyes met Kat’s as the two groups converged in the hall. She scanned the space just as Cedric had. They were evenly matched—four of them versus four wraths. Not great odds, but not terrible, either. Kat cocked one eyebrow up and smiled.
    â€œThis is the last of them,” one of the wraths said to the creature who was still gripping Cedric’s arm. “Take them to the dungeons.”
    â€œWait,” Cedric said to the wrath that held him. “What if I have something to offer you instead? Something incredibly powerful.”
    The wrath made a grunting noise that might be construed as a laugh. “What might that be?”
    In response, Cedric aimed his knee upward and connected solidly with the wrath’s middle. Before the wrath could rebound, Cedric spun slightly, extended his leg and kicked it, hard. The creature doubled over, and its grip on Cedric loosened. Cedric drove his elbow into its neck, forcing it to the floor. He took the creature’s knife and tossed it to Kat, who caught it with her free hand. She sunk the knife into her captor’s side and twisted out of its grasp, so quick that her nightgown looked like a white blur against the backdrop of shadows and stone. She was sparring with the wrath that held Merek before her captor even hit the floor.
    Cedric spun quickly to the wrath that held his younger sister. It tightened its hold around her throat as Cedric approached and Emme’s blue eyes bulged slightly. Her mouth opened, but only a small, gasping sound emerged.
    â€œStop, or I choke the life from her body,” the wrath growled.
    Cedric put his open hands up. The wrath’s black, bulging eyes flicked between Cedric and Kat. It didn’t even notice as Emme lifted up her own hand, raking her fingernails violently down the creature’s arm. The wrath howled, and in that instant,Kat came up behind it and slashed across its shoulder. A spurt of blackish blood flowed from the wound. Howling in pain, the creature released Emme, who crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.
    While the wrath clutched at its shoulder, Kat lunged forward again, plunging the knife into its neck. The creature clutched uselessly at its throat as it slumped to the ground, joining the other three fallen wraths.
    â€œSomething incredibly powerful?” Merek turned to Cedric and raised one eyebrow, which transformed his thin face into its usual expression of mild disdain.
    Cedric looked to the wrath lying at his feet, then gave his own leg a light pat.
    â€œI was referring to my high kick.” He grinned. “Was that not clear?”
    Merek rolled his eyes and bent down to take the knife from his fallen captor’s hand. His nose wrinkled as he got closer to the creature.
    â€œThis one actually tried to bite me,” he said.
    â€œThey will not stay down long,” Kat said, brushing strands of dark hair out of her eyes. She left behind a dark streak of blood on her forehead.
    Cedric glanced down at the wraths as their blood leaked onto the stone floor. The creatures could only be killed with silver, which was why all Guardian blades were made with the substance. But these knives belonged to the wraths and were made only of common metal. Sharp, but common. The wraths’ wounds would heal in a matter of moments, and they wouldrise again. The one near Emme’s feet was already starting to stir. She made a slight noise in her throat and moved away from it. Cedric took the creature’s knife from its hand and stabbed it again for good measure.
    â€œWe should get out of here,” Merek said, pointing toward the corridor’s main doors. “Before more of them come.”
    â€œNo,” Cedric said. “First we find my father.” He started running down the hallway toward the dungeons and didn’t look back to see if the others would follow.
    He knew they would.
    When they neared the entrance to the dungeons, Cedric stopped. He motioned for the