Page 114 of Bitten, Marked, Obsessed

“It’s not that.”

“I’m stronger than you now.”

It’s not a brag. Not quite. But it lands like a slap anyway.

I step into the ring, slowly, keeping my stance open. “You might be stronger. Doesn’t mean we stop fighting together.”

She narrows her eyes. “You mean so you can keepwatchingme.”

That hits too close to home.

“I just want us to be on the same page.”

“We’re not,” she says flatly. “You’ve got the speeches. The pretty wolf-boy. The firelight love story. I’ve got whispers in my head I can’t shut up and a power that doesn’t feel like mine anymore.”

My breath catches.

“Adora…”

She lunges before I can say more.

Claws bared, movements wild. I barely dodge the first hit, block the second.

This isn’t training. This is atestand she’s losing herself.

“Adora, stop!”

She snarls—literally snarls—and I knock her back with a sharp twist and kick. She stumbles, catches herself on her palms, and stays crouched. Breathing hard. Shaking. And crying.

“Something’sinme,” she says. “I didn’t let it in, Kendall. I didn’t want it. But it’sinme.”

My knees buckle and I drop in front of her. “The Hollowed.”

She doesn’t nod.

But she doesn’t deny it either.

I take her hand. Hers is ice.

“I’ll fight it with you,” I whisper.

She shakes her head. “No. You’ll fight me. Because it’s not done yet.”

She stands and walks off without another word.

I sit in the ring, heart pounding, knowing that the girl who grew up protecting me may soon be the thing I have to protect everyonefrom.

46

CALLUM

Iwake choking on smoke and fire that doesn’t exist. Yet.

The vision lingers sharp and cruel.

Adora, her silhouette framed in red-gold light, standing over Kendall. Her hands glowed with something ancient, magic not meant for skin or bone. Kendall didn’t move. She was still. Too still.

And Adora?

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