“Sometimes you don’t know who the enemy is until they’re holding your hand.”
Ronan’s grip tightened on mine, and I felt the decision in his body before he made it.
He yanked me toward the door, hard enough that my shoulder screamed in protest. “Move,” he hissed.
Behind us, Kade choked against the stranger’s hold, his claws raking at the arm crushing his throat. His golden eyes locked on mine—rage, desperation, and something that felt like goodbye.
“No!” I fought against Ronan’s pull. “I’m not leaving him—”
“You think you’ll save him by staying?” Ronan’s voice was a low snarl. “He’ll die, and you’ll be next.”
The stranger’s head tilted, that smile never wavering. “You think you can take her from me, Ronan?”
Ronan didn’t answer. His body went taut, and then—faster than I could process
