Kieran's POV
Everything slowed, she moved faster than I could react. One moment, the assassin lunged and the next, she was there. Elara's body slammed into mine, knocking me back with more force than her small frame should've carried.
I stumbled back, heart lurching—then I heard it—the sickening sound of metal sinking into flesh. Her flesh.
My heart stopped.
I stood there, paralyzed, as blood began to soak her dress.
"Elara!"
Her eyes locked with mine, and a tremble passed through her lips before she collapsed into my arms. She was bleeding, too fast.
Her blood was on my hands. My mate—hurt, because of me. It was happening all over again, someone close to me was getting hurt because of me.
Fenrir snapped.
He tore out of me with a roar that shook the entire hall
