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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
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Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
I snuggle deeper under the blankets, the waves rocking the little boat. Side to side, I go. It's calming, like being a baby in a cradle.Did my mother ever rock me in a cradle like this? I can't remember. I was so little when she died, I don't even recall her face. All I have of her are a few photos.Suddenly, a blast of cold air hits my cheeks, and I shiver. I try to pull the blankets tighter around myself, to keep out the icy chill. It does no good. There's a storm heading my way.I see it gathering on the horizon, dark clouds rolling and converging. It’s the kind of storm that destroys everything in its path. Relentless. Unforgiving. I climb to my feet, searching for a way off this little rowboat. All around me, though, there’s only water. Deep, dark water that could swallow me up at a moment’s notice. Panic floods my heart, and I grip the edges of the boat. I need to get out of here. The rocking intensifies, and the panic claws its way up my chest. I’m screaming, screaming
Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
“You good?” Alec asks. Butterflies flit through my stomach. This dude just carried me up a tree. Told me he’s a vampire. And now he’s about to do who-knows-what with me. Maybe drop me and kill me. And yet here I am, still crushing on him. I’d thought last night was the nail in the coffin, but apparently my feelings for Alec won’t go down that easily. I shift on his back, heat building through me. “Yeah.”“Good. Hang on.”As if I would ever let go. Suddenly, he leaps into the air. A scream rips from my throat, and I tighten my hold around his shoulders. He’s crazy! We’re falling!…Wait. No, we’re not. Alec lands deftly on the next tree, its branches bending under our weight. He basically skips from one branch to the next, then jumps again, landing on the next tree. My jaw drops, my stomach bouncing with every jump. How is he doing this?He picks up speed, and it’s like riding a horse through the forest–except in a tree. Oh, and that horse is a person.Laughter burst
Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
We run through the woods as fast as I can manage. I’m definitely slowing Alec down with my aching ribs and pounding head, but he doesn’t argue. As we get closer, the noises become louder. Screams. Shouts. An explosion. My heart climbs into my throat, and I try not to think about what we’re about to find. “Wait.” At the edge of the trees, Alec throws a hand over my chest and we grind to a halt. My breath catches, and I peer over his shoulder. There’s a hole blown into one of Hawthorn’s front walls. At the entrance to the bridge, the air shimmers green and purple. “They broke the boundary,” he whispers. My mouth is dry. “That’s…”“It’s a magical boundary.” He shakes his head. “It’s so strong, though. This doesn’t make sense. “He turns to me. “You need to get out of here. Hide.”“No.” I grab his wrist. “Absolutely not.”A muscle in his jaw flexes. “That wasn’t a question, Winter. You’re beat up right now, and you don’t know how to use your abilities well enough to–”“I
Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
“No!” I scream. The flames around me are burning my skin, but I don’t care. “No!”There’s nothing I can do. I can’t escape from this. I can’t help Alec. Do nothing, a tiny voice whispers to me. Close your eyes. And so I do.I close my eyes and picture the flames rippling away from my body. I picture the grass springing up where it’s been burnt away. I picture the dirt underneath the grass, and the rocks underneath the trees.I feel the fire recede, its oppressive heat disappearing.I open my eyes, and the fire is completely gone.But how did I do that?There’s no time to wonder. The Hunter who hurt Alec turns to me and raises his sword. His eyes are cold and cruel. I raise my hand, and my dad’s bracelet glows white hot against my wrist.Ripping the bracelet off, I throw it, and, almost as if it were sentient and with a mission, it wraps around the Hunter’s hand. He yanks at it and curses, but it holds.The Hunter stumbles, and then he’s on the ground, his sword lying out of
Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
I run as fast as I can, wishing I could be as swift as Brynn. Has she made it off campus?Is she even alive?The courage she displayed back in the courtyard blew me away. If something has happened to her…I shake the thought away. I can’t worry about her or anyone else right now. I need to focus on the task at hand. If Alec is right about this coin, then it’s exactly what we need. It’s the missing piece that can help us drive the Silver Hunters back. Assuming we even figure out how to work the thing. Ducking low, I weave through the brush. The sky is gray, the birds singing their morning songs. Smoke comes from the main building, flames licking through one of the windows, and my heart nearly stops. They’re burning the school. I haven’t been exactly partial to the place, but seeing it be destroyed reminds me that it’s my only home. The people in my life–the good and the bad ones–all live here. Fury bubbles up my chest. I want to run into the main building and take on
Mortal CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The dull, throbbing pain in my shoulder makes itself known as I run through campus, dodging trees and ducking around buildings. I tell myself it’s nothing, that I just need to find a safe place to rest. Deep down, though, I suspect something else is going on. My power has limits, and I’ve just extended myself. My breath comes out in pants, and my feet pound the soft earth. The Hunters are somewhere on the little island, but for now I’ve lost them. They have no idea where I am, and they’re moving slowly. The battle was more than enough to wear them out, and with their fresh injuries they’re having trouble moving as quickly and efficiently as they normally would. Slowing down and giving them a run for their money isn’t an option. I’m drained, the bangs and bumps from all the scuffles over the last twelve hours wearing me down. I need to find somewhere safe to hide. I need to find a place to rest.My mind races, trying to find the safest option. But I don’t know Hawthorn that wel
Mortal CHAPTER ONE
“How much longer?” I turn to the pilot, not sure my headset is even working properly. The man and I haven't exchanged a single word since taking off an hour ago.“We’re there.” I blink at him. Look out the propeller plane’s window. Blink some more. He has to be kidding. Acres of pine trees stretch out below, a blanket of green reaching toward the horizon.“Where?” I don’t see any buildings. He points ahead, to where the trees open into a field; a thin runway stretched the length of it. I lean forward, looking for a building, but still there’s nothing. This is where I’m going to school? In the middle of nowhere Maine, with not one speck of civilization in sight?You have to be kidding me, Dad. Like always, thinking about him sends a wave of pain crashing through me. I close my eyes and try to keep the tears at bay, but they prick my eyelids, hot and blinding. According to my father’s will, I was to spend the last eight months of my high school career at a boarding schoo
Mortal CHAPTER TWO
The bridge groans as the horse steps onto it, and just like on the tiny propeller plane, I tense up. “Did your parents tell you why they sent you here?” Brynn asks. “Uh… No. My dad said in his will that I should come here.”Over Brynn’s shoulder, something moves in the woods. The oncoming night combined with the fog makes it hard to see, but there’s a glow and… Are those eyes? Glowing eyes?Suddenly, crossing this questionable bridge seems like a great idea considering the alternative. No sleeping in the woods and being mauled by wild animals for me, thank you very much. “He died?” Brynn’s face crumples. “I’m sorry.”“Thanks.”“I don’t know why I’m here.” She wraps her arms around herself. “This place is so not safe.”“Why do you say that?” The carriage is rocking as we cross the bridge, and one glance down at the frothing water below makes me wish I hadn’t looked. “It’s what everyone says.” She squeezes her sides tighter. “Anytime I hear anything about Hawthorn it’s abo
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