Page 122 of Bitten, Marked, Obsessed

Her pupils flick open—pure white again for just a flash.

“Kendall,” I warn, standing. “Back up.”

“No.”

“Kendall.”

“She’s—”

Adora’s lips part. A breath escapes.

And a voice that doesn’t belong to her slides out like oil.

“You should’ve let me finish what I started.”

I shift halfway, claws out, body tense.

“Get away from her, now.”

Kendall looks up at me, defiant but terrified.

“She’s fighting it.”

I take a step closer, eyes burning.

“And if she loses?”

“Then I lose her.”

“You’ll loseeveryone.”

The magic pulses again, heavier now, like it knows it’s being threatened.

“Move, Kendall,” I say, every part of me screaming.

“Ican’t.”

“Youcan.”

She looks up at me, voice cracking. “You didn’t see what I saw. You didn’t feel her pull it back. You weren’t there when she?—”

“She almost killed you.”

“But shedidn’t.”

We stare at each other, the space between us thick with tension and heartbreak.

Adora twitches again. Her back arches. Magic leaks from her skin like steam.

“She can’t hold it long,” I say. “If we kill it now, we might be able to saveher.”

“And if we’re wrong?”

“We’re not.”

“You don’tknowthat.”

“No,” I say. “But I know what happens if we let it fester.”

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