Page 7 of Luna's Forgotten Vow

Something thuds behind me.

I whirl, wild-eyed, panting.

Something flashes in the dark. A pair of glowing eyes.

I break into a run, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin.

A dark laugh echoes, sending ice down my spine. I sprint, tripping over roots, branches slicing my skin. My lungs burn and my heart pounds harder.

The shuffling feet close in, taunting whistles instilling fear inside me. I push past the panic, making it just shy of the pavement before a hand yanks me back by my bag, ripping it off me.

I veer, twisting to face them. My chest heaves. There are two of them, nearly twice my size, bulky enough to snap me in half if they wanted.

I retreat a single step back.

The taller one of the two with gaunt cheeks and pitch black eyes smiles so wide, his eyes crinkle shut. "The Luna sends her regards." I have barely enough time to process his words before he tilts his head towards his partner. "Get her."

I don't think. I swing the knife, slashing wildly. It cuts through flesh and there's a roar of pain.

My fist slashes again but a hand grabs my arm. I shriek, jerking and my elbow smashes into something solid. A nose? A jaw? A pained grunt tells me I hit something, and then I thrash like a wild animal.

The knife slices again and someone stumbles back, cursing. I lurch forward, snarling as I drive my knee up. Bone meets bone and a painful howl splits the air.

I wrench free, only to get backhanded so hard, the world blotches temporarily. "Stupid bitch."

A brutal punch to my ribs seizes my breath completely. Another to my stomach and pain splinters through my torso. I gasp, knees buckling. Before I can fall, another blow comes and I only have enough strength to shield my stomach before it lands.

A boot connects with my wrist and I scream at the pain. But I don't let go, digging my nails deeper into my skin as I hang on tighter, as if I can protect my child with sheer will.

I try to lurch away but my movements are too slow and I am caught by a hand in my hair that yanks me backward. Agony. I barely register the sharp pain in my neck before a punch crashes into my temple. My ears ring. The world tilts.

Blood fills my mouth.

Another hit lands on my lower back and I cry out as agony tightens my stomach. A worse pain, deeper, sharper, rends me in half. Something wet trickles between my legs.

No.

Gods, no. Please...

A low, amused voice murmurs, "Persistent little thing, isn't she?"

A vicious hand cracks against my jaw. I trip, my foot catching on a jagged stone, and suddenly, I'm falling.

Something solid smashes against my skull and I hear a sickening crack.

My vision bursts white, then black. My body stops feeling like my own.

"Shit," someone curses, but the sound is distant.

Then everything goes quiet.

CHAPTER 3

SOREN

Ican still smell her.

Sweat, smoke and something feminine underneath. It pissed me off. Everything about the maid infuriated me. She was nothing at all like I expected.

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