Page 241 of Lethal King

… Then plummets into the abyss.

A shot fires from the threatening muzzle.

“No!” I scream tears, watching in horror as Rian is flung back against the wall. A burst of blood splatters against the white paint.

My whole world collapses. But when he lifts his hand, a sliver of hope slices through it all.

Rian hasn’t been shot in the skull. His palm took the brunt of the bullet. For a moment, we both just stare at the wound in disbelief.

Then, he looks over at me.

Those ocean blue eyes sparkle with a wild furry, and an endless passion.

My fallen heart perks back up.

Kill him, I silently plead.

Rian’s blood-red lips twist into a snarl.

Tearing his gaze from me, he pushes himself off the wall and lunges at the guard. The fucker doesn’t even get another shot off before my lion’s big broad shoulder dig into his gut. The two men go flying to the floor.

I follow Rian’s lead.

Lifting my tied ankles off the ground, I gather as much momentum as possible. Then I throw my heels back into Leander’s limp dick.

I make direct contact.

“You bitch…” he grunts, crumpling behind me.

But he doesn’t let go. And before I can bite down on his hand, I feel the tip of his sharp needle break the skin on my throat.

“Fuck!” I cry out.

Almost immediately, I feel a heavy warmth fill my veins.

“Rozalia!”

Rian’s voice cuts through the thick heat.

My vision flickers. When I look over at him, I see that he’s gotten on top of the guard. But he’s not looking down at his victim. Those ocean blue eyes stare at me, endlessly gorgeous.

For a moment, everything slows.

I can picture all that we’ve been through together. I can feel all that we’ve done. I can imagine all that’s still to come.

Then, just like that, the moment is over.

The guard plummets a fist down into Rian’s injured hand, then chops at his forearm. It sends my lion falling to the ground. The guard jumps to his feet and scrambles for his gun.

A heavy dread joins the warmth weighing me down. I want to help so badly, but it feels like I’m back beneath those black waves, drowning.

“… Rian…” I whisper, calling on the last bits of my strength.

His name floats from my lips like a soft summer breeze. It’s the last thing I say before I feel my soul leave my body.

I watch as Rian crawls through his own blood, trying to catch up to the guard before he can reach his gun.

He fails.