Page 278 of Halfblood Deceived

Someone stepped right in front of Diana in a blink… and stabbed her neck with a massive silver needle.

Diana dropped to the floor on her knees and then toppled to her side, half unconscious.

Aella cried out in surprise, recognizing the one who injected Diana as the nurse who had drugged her silly a week before.

She growled and lurched for the nurse—

Something cut through her neck, and she heard a buzzing sound. Then a cold liquid was spreading inside her and she was falling to the floor just like Diana.

Move, move, move! She screamed at herself, but barely managed to half-roll. Her sight blurred, but she saw the satisfied smile on Doctor Hudson’s face, and a metallic cylinder with a massive needle in her hand.

“What do we do with this one?” she heard the nurse ask as if she were underwater.

Move, please, move; she begged her body, but it didn’t respond.

“They only want Ella,” Doctor Hudson responded. “We can kill the other.”

“Good,” the nurse said.

Aella whimpered.

No, no, no!

“Help me carry Ella first,” said Doctor Hudson. “They’re waiting.”

Aella’s sight blackened.

Who are ‘they?!’ She wanted to scream, but her tongue was heavy, and the darkness was closing in…

VI

PART SIX

She has fallen from greater heights

She will rise one more time

She knows who she is now

And she’s had enough

They will not break her again

She will not play their game

Blood, rage, and revenge

She has only one chance

She will return to his embrace

No matter what it takes

CHAPTER 54

Aylana cast a reading spell on the door of the dilapidated building.

Zeydan watched the graceful movements of her fingers as she manipulated several strings of verdant magic.