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dwellings. The ones who would fight headed toward the edge of the meadow where they would be hidden from view, but with a clear sight of the forest. The horn blasts in succession told them they sh ould expect the enemy from the sea.
    If any of the Draugr clan broke through the Oiche Sith 's defenses, her clan would greet the enemy here. It would be a slaughter, but the enemy would first feel the sting of their weapons before they ended their lives. Her clan came armed with pitchforks, knives, daggers, swords, and bows and arrows.
    She spotted Talia by her brothers. She glanced at her with a nod. The blonde haired woman ' s choice of weapon was the bow. She had a lethal aim and had taken down deer with a single arrow. She was the last of the women of her family, too. Her two sisters were taken for the blooding, one last year and the other the year before that.
    " Do not take chances, " her father warned her.
    Adryanna 's lips curved. " Do not play the hero, " she warned him , and he chuckled.
    " My hero days are but done, but I will give it my best. "
    Their eyesight was limited in the dark, but the moon was nearly full and bright. As the light gave them leverage, the Draugr ' s vision would be better still. The moonlight would give their position away. 
    The sounds of the fight and the screams of the wounded drifted in the air back to them. A chill slid up her spine. Who lived? Who died? Was Bram among the ones injured? Her nerves were raw by the time they spotted a small Draugr hunting party break through the trees.
    She gripped her sword, her body tensing at the thought of using it.
    " Steady, daughter, " her father whispered. " Wait until they are closer. Do not give your whereabouts away. "
    Her heart pounded in her ears and sweat dripped down her back , even though the breeze blew cool against her skin.
    The Draugr warrior cry told them they were spotted. One of her clan, Daniel she thought, yell ed for them to charge. Adryanna ' s feet flew forward. As men were tossed aside with a sickening thud, Adryanna continued onward. She came face to face with one of the Draugr. His eyes were red as the blood matted to his hair and face.
    His gaze slid over her before he met her eyes. He chuckled. " A mere lass. " He spoke her language, but with a thick accent. " I will taste your blood this night and be stronger for it, my warrior lass. " He waved her forward, taunting her. Let him think she was easy prey. It would be his mistake. She waved for him to come to her.
    He threw back his head and laughed again. She blocked all thoughts from her mind except for the Draugr in front of her. She would take him down for her mother, for her clan , and for Bram, hoping against all that the gore he wore like an adornment was not the Oiche Sith 's, she ' d grown fond of.
    The Draugr didn ' t use his flitting abilities, but moved like a daywalker, believing he would take her down with ease.
    Her lips slid into a grin as she swung her sword low, slicing into the Draugr ' s calf, a deep cut that brought the fiend to his knees. He bellowed in surprise and pain as he went down. She moved in for the kill, but his hand swept out, his nails slicing into her thigh. She cried out and stumbled back, her sword falling beside her. Before she could recover, he was upon her, pinning her down.
    " I thought to make this pleasant, but I will make sure you suffer for wounding me. His fangs lengthened and he jabbed them into her neck. The pain shocked her and her vision blurred to black. This was nothing like Bram ' s bite. The blood drinker meant his words. He would make her suffer, but she wasn ' t dead yet. Her hand slid to her waist, where she strapped her dagger. Her hand gripped the hilt and she jabbed it with all her strength into the Draugr ' s back, then thrust upward . He bellowed as he jerked away, grabbing for the weapon, but unable to reach it.
    Adryanna scrambled away. Blood poured from the wound at her neck, but she couldn ' t stop to worry about