Oden Read Online Free PDF Page A

sorry; we’re just trying to think of a way out of here,” I try to soothe.
    “Well, I am part of this, too, so there is no reason to keep it a secret from me.”
    “I know.”
    “You two are repulsive. You,” he points his finger at Mattie, “don’t speak to someone of Marduke’s… standing like that. And you,” now his attention changes to me, “should demand more respect. Why you… love a woman who treats you like garbage is beyond me.”
    “I think love is beyond your capabilities in the feeling department, unless it involves loving yourself,” Mattie mutters.
    When Ival glares at her, actually taking a step towards her in anger, I quickly intercede.
    “Ival, don’t—”
    His hand reaches out to me lightning fast, and before I know it, he has me against the wall in a choke hold. It appears his injuries are worse after running, but once he’s had time to catch his breath, he’s ready to fight.
    I wrap both hands around Ival’s, already able to pull his hand away so he has barely any pressure at all over my neck. If Ival hadn’t been injured, however, I wouldn’t be able to budge him an inch, even using all of my strength.
    I take a deep breath, opening my mouth to tell him to stand down, but I don’t get the chance before Mattie moves to his injured side and punches him hard in the ribs. He immediately lets me go, groaning in pain as he falls to his knees, his arms wrapped around him.
    In any other situation, I would have been in awe that Mattie has brought Ival to his knees like this and simultaneously terrified that her life would be over because Ival would never let someone live after knocking him down. Thankfully, he appears to be in too much pain to be focusing on his usual murderous rage that simmers under the surface of his everyday emotions.
    “Mattie was just defending me. Let it go, suck it up, and let’s get out of here. It won’t be long before this area is swarming with Claws, and we don’t have time for it. The sooner we are in the tunnels, the sooner we can get back to Jyin,” I tell him, moving to stand in front of Mattie just in case.
    I hold my hand out to him, ready to extend the offer of peace and help him to his feet. He ignores it, but when he eventually stands, he doesn’t make another move towards Mattie. She is smiling at him smugly, and I stare at her, trying to communicate without voicing it to not provoke him.
    When he begins stumbling forwards, I hold her back and lean close to her so Ival doesn’t hear me.
    “Ival isn’t someone you mess with, Mattie. We have to keep moving, and we don’t have time to be fighting with each other.”
    “I didn’t start that fight, Marduke. That was your asshole brother. I just ended it.” Her smug smile returns, and I have to hold in my exasperated sigh.
    “Please, just promise me you will stop antagonizing him?”
    “Never,” Mattie answers immediately, frustrating me until she throws herself in my arms. “If Ival is being a jerk, then I’m going to tell him. If he’s hurting you, then I’m going to kill him.”
    I can’t help smiling at her declaration. I would do the same to anyone who dared hurt her. I squeeze her body against me, savouring the fact that she is finally here.
    “Thank you for having my back, but Ival is not one to back off if—”
    “We need to… move now!” Ival yells, his words jolting me away from Mattie as I glance around us to see what threat is coming at us now.
    Up ahead, there are several Claws coming towards us.
    Ival jogs back our way, only one arm swinging while the other continues to hug his side. I take Mattie’s hand, and we sprint away from the Claws giving us chase.
    My heart almost jumps out of my chest when, again, I lose my grip on Mattie. This time, she pulls away from me and stops dead in her tracks. Ival has to dodge out of her way, almost crashing straight into her.
    “Mattie!” I scream, watching as the Claw gains on us.
    “I think… Did you see—?”
    I don’t