Page 81 of Marked By His Hunger

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The creature hissed in my face, breath rancid, jaws snapping inches from my throat. I twisted sharply, driving my elbow into its skull with enough force to crack bone—or whatever passed for it—before grabbing hold of its neck and slamming it into the stone.

Once.

Twice.

A third time for good measure.

It shrieked again, body writhing as it tried to claw free, its limbs flailing, scraping, searching for purchase.

I gave it none.

“Bloody Daemons,” I snarled, tightening my grip as it thrashed. “You chose the wrong night?—”

Its claws raked across my side again, deeper this time, tearing fabric and flesh alike.

Pain blossomed.

Sharp.

Alive.

I laughed.

“—to fuck around with the Draugr.”

I wrenched it upward, ignoring the way it fought, ignoring the tearing of my own wounds as I hauled it off the ground and drove it back toward the edge.

Behind me, Serena’s voice cut through the chaos.

“You’re bleeding!”

Concern.

For me.

The sound hit harder than any blow.

For a split second—just one—something inside me faltered.

Dangerous.

Stupid.

“Get down and stay down!” I shouted.

But I didn’t turn.

Couldn’t.

Because the Algea lunged again, jaws snapping, claws reaching for me.

The battle wasn’t over yet.

Chapter 9-Draugr

The second Algea hit me, the cliff side trembled.

Its claws were longer than the first’s, curved and slick with spectral ichor.

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