My heart stopped.
Grandmother stood at the edge of the balcony with a blade pressed against her throat.
The masked assassin held her effortlessly, one arm wrapped around her frail body.
Blood trickled down her neck.
"Grandmother!"
I took a step forward.
The blade pressed deeper.
She winced.
"Don't."
Her voice was weak, but the command in it was unmistakable.
"Don't come any closer, Aria."
My hands tightened around my blades.
Across the hall, Derek stood frozen.
His silver eyes remained fixed on the assassin.
I could feel his anger through the bond.
Hot.
Violent.
Barely contained.
Let me kill him.
His wolf's voice thundered through my mind.
Not yet.
Derek's gaze shifted toward me.
For one strange moment, I realised something.
He hadn't asked me to save Grandmother.
H
