Before she could react, she collided with a solid, unyielding frame. The impact knocked the breath out of her, sending her stumbling backward until she lost her balance and fell hard to the ground.
Cordelia didn't even have to see his face to know the man she was running from had caught up to her. She looked up at the silhouetted figure looming over her. The first thing that came to mind was to stand and run, but she didn't even get to take more than two steps when he yanked her back by the hair. He twisted a handful of her long strands around his fist, hauled her back, forced her head up, and made her look up at his furious face.
"Did you think you could run away from me, dear cousin? We haven't finished our discussion yet, have we?" he said in a voice that sounded as if he were speaking of casual things, but Cordelia knew better.
"Let go of me, you're hurting my scalp!" she hissed, trying to pull free, but it only made her head throb more.
