Page 71 of Monster's Pretty Bride

She shudders, her body trembling, magic still writhing around her fingers.

“You have to fight it!” I plead, stepping closer. “Something is controlling you!”

Her lips part. “I… I don’t…” Her face contorts inagony, hands flying to her head as if something isburrowinginto her skull.

A coldwhisperslithers through the battlefield.

Oh, but she belongs to me now.

The voice is like ice, likepoisoncurling through the wind.

It isn’t Catalina’s voice.

Naranus growls low, his body stiffening. His wings snap out, shielding me instinctively.

Catalina screams.

Magicexplodesfrom her, and suddenly,I see it.

Not justher, but the thingbehindher.

A presence. Ashadowclinging to her magic, twisting it, threading its will into hers. Apuppet master, its tendrils buried inside my sister’s mind, forcing her hands to move, her lips to part, her magic todestroy.

I lunge forward.

Catalina’s eyeslock onto me.

Somethingflashesin them. Aflickerof recognition.

“Catalina,” I say, my voice steady. “You are stronger than this.”

Her breathing isragged. Her hands tremble.

“Ican’t,” she chokes. “It won’t let me?—”

“Yes, youcan,” I press, stepping closer.

Naranus growls behind me, but he doesn’t stop me.

“Catalina.” My voicelowers. “I am here.I am real.”

Her hands shake violently.

“Feelme.Not it.”

The magic around her flickers.

Theshadowwrithes, as ifsensingits hold slipping.

Itlashes out.

Awhipof energy snaps toward me.

Catalinablocks it.

The magiccollidesinto her instead. Shescreamsin agony, her body convulsing as the thing inside herfights back.

“No—fight it!” I grab her wrists.

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