The deafening echo of the shotgun blast rang in my ears, leaving a high-pitched whine in its wake. Thick, acrid gray smoke billowed from the barrel of Kaelen's weapon, mixing with the dust of the shattered oak door.
I stood paralyzed for a fraction of a second, the heavy black cashmere coat Kaelen had thrown over my emerald silk robe slipping slightly off my shoulder. The master suite, which had been our absolute universe for thirty-six hours, now felt entirely exposed.
Kaelen stepped through the ruined threshold, his broad chest acting as an impenetrable shield between me and the long, shadowy marble hallway of the east wing. He moved with the terrifying, fluid grace of a apex predator entering a hunting ground. The tactical shotgun was tucked tightly against his shoulder, his silver
