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She’d e than she’d initially realized Thank God

She was so weary she could barely stand upright She could only hope her spanking new abilities would be enough to put an end to the bitch

"We’re about to find out," she muttered

"Stubborn," Marika snarled, her dark eyes s with hatred "So like your mother"

Her chin tilted "I’ll take that as a co Laylah into the wall of the tunnel

"Why?" the va to break you"

Without considering the consequences, Laylah curled up her hand and punched the nasty woman directly in the nose

She didn’t possess a va crunch of cartilage and a spurt of blood as her fist connected

That one was for her mother

"No, she didn’t lose," she hissed "She will defy you to her dying breath Just as I will"

Sharp claws sliced through Laylah’s upper chest and raked down her stoh her flesh with a painful ease

"Continue to battlebreath happens sooner rather than later," Marika warned

Laylah shook her head, gritting her teeth against the agony Tane had already assured her that Victor’s servant was in the process of rescuing herMarika could do to halt hier have need of her She is … expendable" Marika th of her fang "Unless you concede defeat"

Laylah narrowed her eyes The vampire had to be even weaker than she’d first suspected if she was trying to negotiate an end to their battle

Lifting her hands toward her aunt’s face, Laylah was profoundly relieved when the female hastily backed fro down her body from her wounds and she knew she would soon be on her knees Or worse

She would have to strike quickly if she intended to survive long enough to rescue her baby

"Never," she swore, cautiously advancing

Marika slashed her hand through the air, slicing open Laylah’s forehead

Laylah swiped away the blood, recognizing the wound wasn’t deep Yet another sign of the va to sacrifice your mother for this hopeless attempt to save the child?"

"Myrescued by a very handsoh the dark eyes Marika didn’t like the thought of her sister escaping her clutches

"You lie"

"Well, Uriel can’t compare to Tane, but what man does?" Laylah taunted "Still, he’s …"

With a screech, Marika launched herself forward "You brat You interfering, ill-bred rel"

"Ill-bred?" Laylah ducked, barely escaping the fangs that snapped a ainst Marika’s chest, feeling the electrical current race through her and scorch the vareat deal of trouble to breed ain forced to step back as her skin began to smoke "I created an abomination"

Laylah instinctively flinched, before lifting her chin in a gesture of defiance She didn’t give a crap what this lunatic thought Or anyone else Tane loved her And nothing else ed, discreetly leaning against the wall of the tunnel Marika could no doubt sense her weakness, but pride deuise it Besides, she was tired of getting sue hope if she were already pressed to the wall she could avoid a repeat perfor a lusty demon in the saod coive you the power that you were denied" Her lips curled in disgust "Your sister Sergei The Dark Lord Pathetic really"

"Shut up"

"Why?" Laylah prodded She wasn’t overly excited about another round with the fe wasn’t an option She had to provoke the vampire into a reckless attack soon or it would be too late Either she would pass out or Sergei would complete his spell "Does the truth hurt?"

"You …"

Clearly preparing to rip out Laylah’s throat, Marika was distracted when Sergei shouted in sudden alarnizable "Two"

Coent fear in his words, both Marika and Laylah turned to where Sergei stood, one hand pressed to his chest and the other pointing at the child lying on the ground at his feet

No

Not a child Children

As in more than one