Forged by Fate Read Online Free Page B

chased after them. Most people were walking outside since it was so beautiful. Or cramming last-minute for exams. Whatever the reason, it was eerily quiet.
    “Five-figure sign-on bonus. Six-figure salary. I’m thinking it’s a slam dunk, girl.”
    It was. She was jazzed about this chance to make some serious bank. Make something of herself. Her parents had dropped her off minutes after birth; what better way to show them by making it big? She’d much rather have parents here cheering her on, but she shoved that thought way down. Couldn’t go there.
    They turned the corner and the bright student center came into view at the end of the tunnel. The sun beamed through the massive skylight dome in the center of the room. Maybe ten tables were occupied, but everyone had their heads down reading or typing away on their computers.
    Except for the two strangers she’d met last night. They stood about thirty feet away, in all their six-foot glory, bulky arms crossed over their broad chests. And, of course, they were looking directly at Sadie and Dasha.
    Instead of the fear she expected, a subtle wave of peace settled over her, especially when her gaze fastened on Hazel Eyes. That same hint of cinnamon, unnamed spice, and pine… Sadie filled her lungs with the yummy scent. A trail of tingles zipped through her abdomen and settled below her belly button.
    “Mmm,” she hummed.
    “What?” Dasha asked.
    “Smells nice in here.”
    “Smells like grease. Like it always does.”
    Sadie cleared her throat and shook her head, disconnecting with Hazel Eyes. “Oh, well. I’m hungry.” Really, she wasn’t. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and she’d barfed all that up.
    Yep. She was dying. Had to be.
    “Why are they staring at us?” Dasha slowed as she approached the end of the hallway. “I know I should totally be creeped out by that, but I’m not.”
    “Well, I am. Let’s go.” Sadie grabbed her friend’s hand and tugged her back into the hallway.
    She ran smack-dab into someone.
    “Hello, Sadie.” A grim-looking guy gazed down at her and smiled.
    Fangs? Really?
    “Holy shit!” Dasha screamed.
    The man smashed his open hand against Dasha’s chest, slamming her into the wall, then grabbed Sadie’s arm, drawing her deeper into the tunnel. Where the hell was everyone?
    She twisted within his grasp to no avail.
    One centering breath later, she stabbed her elbow against the guy’s forearm, then punched his chin. It was enough to break free from his grip. She stumbled to the side and palmed the rough concrete wall to stay upright.
    He swiped at her with what looked like a long black talon, slicing her forearm, elbow to wrist.
    An all-encapsulating pain engulfed her arm, zipped up her shoulder, and burst into her chest. The wound burned as if her flesh melted from the bone. The agony dropped her to her knees so powerfully, surely her kneecaps had shattered.
    A blur slammed into the man who’d assaulted her. Another set of hands grabbed her by the shoulders. She rammed her fist into the man’s gut and rolled, fighting the darkness of unconsciousness tugging at her. She had to get to Dasha.
    “Hey. You. Stop.” A campus security guard sprinted in from the student center area.
    As she reached for Dasha, a figure appeared beside her, and she chanced a look. It was the guy who’d been with Hazel Eyes last night. Only this guy’s eyes flickered red. Ominous. Dangerous.
    “You’re not safe,” he said. “I’ll protect you while my brother takes care of that jerk who attacked you guys.”
    The guard approached, hand on his Taser.
    “You’ve got some badasses after you for some reason,” the dark-haired man said as he shifted his hair enough to reveal an emblem sewn along the neck seam of his shirt.
    The exact mark that appeared on her shoulder four days ago.
    Well, shit.

Chapter Seven
    Theo slammed his fist into the demon’s face and stabbed the Mavet through his chest, immobilizing him.
    Now he would get some