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A thunder in my heart and a ravaging in my soul.

Elena. Elena. Elena.

I silently called out to her.

I’m here, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you.

I’d promised it to Silas, but this oath was entirely different.

I could feel the rest of the Crows searching almost as frantically. Their boots beating against the ground floor.

A coming army that would raze any enemy.

The thirst for their demise a sharp tang on my tongue.

Only I fucking froze when I stumbled up to the line of the trees that broke open to the river, and my heart tumbled out in front of me.

Elena and Penny were there in the downpour. Out on a smooth boulder that sat on the bank of the river. Penny’s back was to me, but I could see she had a gun pointed at Elena.

Elena’s hands were held out in front of her in a placating fashion.

What the fuck?

No. No.

I lifted my gun. Aimed. My finger on the trigger. Sweat poured down my brow.

I could probably get in a clean shot. But I couldn’t risk it.

Elena was too close.

But if Penny fired…

Why the fuck would Penny fire?

Oh God. Bile rose up my throat and terror gripped me solid.

Silas skidded to a stop at my side, and I felt Brody, Phoenix, and Regan at our backs.

“What the fuck?” hurled out of him in a whisper.

It was my exact same sentiment.

“Not sure I can get a clean shot.” It bubbled out on the horror I felt, my finger itching.

All while their voices floated on the air.

“He hurt me.” I heard Elena beg it. The plea in her voice. The torment that invaded.

While my heart twisted like a corkscrew in my chest with the words that dropped off Penny’s tongue. “Patrick would never do that.”

SEVENTY-TWO

TREVAN

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD

“I need you.” A sob cracked in Elena’s plea, the terror in her voice hitting him through his phone that he clutched to his ear.