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The floor of the quarry treela pivoted and slammed her foot down on his neck

"I don’t think so," she said, and rained down blows

The wish for revenge burned fierce in Ka with Jared’s, protective and furious Even so, Angela looked alht and her next blow fell short and useless, she nearly snarled in thwarted rage, blinked and focused on Ash

Ash was panting "You can’t beat ela panted back She let her mouth curve more fully, into the shape of a scythe "Watch ela looked down at Rob Lynburn

Kami had promised to stay still and be quiet, no h to keep her promise Rob was down, Ash was on their side, and Jared and Lillian were coaze from the father back up to the son and stepped back abruptly Then she offered Ash the hand not holding the chain

Ash glanced at her upturned palhting chance," Angela said "Which, as you can see, is the best kind of chance So you can come with me and Kami, if you want Or you can stay with hi sprawled in his own blood at the bottoela turned, with a chain in one hand and Ash’s hand in the other, tohere Kaht, Kami," she called out, and moved toward her "You can co with pride and fury

Kami was so proud of her, and so sorry about what she had to tell her

"Angela," she said "Look behind you"

Angela and Ash both whirled around The blood was still there, scarlet trails over stone But Rob Lynburn was gone

Kami had only looked away for an instant She had not considered how the wild power of the woods and a source’s blood ela took a deep breath and said, low and calrip on Ash and her chain, "We should run"

"You both run," Kaet Jared and Lillian and Holly; they’re co theela snapped

Kaela was never, ever scared for herself Kami looked at Ash’s face and saw he understood

Kami kept her voice steady "Because the rock has closed in on me Rob did it, and I’o get help Angela, I trusted you, please trust ela hesitated, then whirled around and left She used her grip on Ash’s hand to help hiela more familiar with the terrain She stood on the lip of the quarry and pulled him up to stand beside her with ease

Ka into the woods, until they disappeared froela did not know Rob had spilled Kami’s blood with that knife She did not knoeak Ka in her stone prison She would be furious if she found out that Kami had made her leave when Kaela was safe

Ka breath, and reached out for co back, she told Jared I’m scared

One of Rob Lynburn’s boots hit the heap of chains with a dull clang Ka over his own blood and shivered

Don’t be scared, Jared told her He won’t touch you I’ to kill hi was so loud in this son in its cave She was afraid Rob ht hear Kami turned her head as far as she could and looked at the dark stone instead of at Rob Lynburn She turned her hter on her, like a stone fist Stone pressed against her back, her sides, and her face, cold against her lips Its grip seerind her bones to powder She could not help it: she let out a shted noise "Cohtened around her She did not know if she would be crushed or suffocated first Jared’s cold, clear terror cut through the dark confusion of her brain

If she did not get out of here, she was going to die She had to take her chances with Rob

"Come out," Rob repeated "Or be buried alive"

She tried to will the stone to open and free her, but she had no air and he had her blood Karip released her, easing by just a fraction She turned her face toward the light and began to drag herself out on her raw, bleeding hands and knees

Rob stood over her, s like Jared’s dependable uncle The knife was shining in his hand

Kaolden hair blurred with the autumn leaves She cleared her throat and whispered, low and hoarse, every word painful: "I’ll cut the link"

Jared was running through the woods, trees and light going by in a blur He could hear Holly and Aunt Lillian running after hi questions so

Jared’s heart was louder in his ears than their footsteps or their voices Most of hiht nothing would be able to stop hiela’s hair was tangled with twigs and leaves Her mouth was a snarl, and fro She looked ready to use it Her other hand was in Ash’s He looked as if he had gone wild too, but wasn’t adapting to it as well as Angela His face was distorted and ns of tears

For aat each other