Chapter 14
By the time I made it downstairs, the first thing I saw were bodyguards scattered across the floor, and Renric with his gun drawn.
“Stop!” I threw myself in front of Zion just as the barrel lined up perfectly with the center of my forehead.
“Elara?” Both men froze.
Renric stared at me in disbelief. “You’d… you’d rather die than let me shoot him?”
There was something almost amused in his voice, but his eyes looked hollow. I met his gaze without flinching.
Zion immediately pulled me behind him, but Renric slowly lowered the weapon and turned away.
“Take her and go.”
“Renric?” I couldn’t hide my confusion.
“Get out of here. I might change my mind any second.” His voice was flat, emotionless.
Zion kept his eyes locked on Renric as he guided me step by step toward the exit. Just as we reached the door, Renric called out one
last time.
“Elara.”
I turned back. We were too far apart for him to see me clearly, but his voice carried across the distance with perfect clarity.
“I won’t be able to protect you anymore.”
I turned and walked away. The moment we stepped outside, a single gunshot echoed from inside the house.
I spun around instinctively, but Zion covered my eyes with his hand. “Don’t look.”
I knew. Renric killed himself.
