Page 240 of Lethal King

32

Rozalia

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Leander snaps.

The needle he has pressed against my throat digs into my skin as he seethes behind me. I hold my breath. Anything to keep that morphine from seeping into my veins, from making me useless.

Rian is in trouble.

I need to help.

Outside, I can hear a battle raging. It rattles the windows like an earthquake.

“I’m putting an end to this fucker,” the guard sneers. “Once and for all.” He wants to pull the trigger so badly.

But he’s just a lackey. A servant. And he won’t do anything unless his master tells him to.

“He’s mine to kill,” Leander spits. His hand is shaking. I can’t tell if it’s from rage or fear.

It doesn’t matter anymore.

My heart is ready to implode.

“… Rian…”

He’s been shot. Twice. It doesn’t look like his wounds are fatal, but if someone doesn’t stop the bleeding, then that’s not going to do him much good. He’ll bleed out on the floor in front of me.

Then, I’ll be alone again.

I don’t want to be alone again.

“Does that mean you’re going to let the girl go?” the guard asks. The snide remark gives me hope that I might be able to pit the two men against each other.

Anything to get closer to Rian.

Anything to save him.

I just want to see those ocean blue eyes again. They’re trained forward, fixed on the barrel pinning him to the ground.

I can see him waiting for an opening. He’s shaking with anticipation. He wants to look at me too. I can feel it.

“I… I…” Leander stutters, stumbling over his own thoughts. I want to send my heel into his crotch and my teeth into his hand, but I can’t risk it.

One prick from this oversized needle and I’m done for. I’ll be a slobbering mess until it’s too late to do anything. The doctor said so himself.

That fucking doctor.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him cowering in the corner. He looks like a scared child, when just minutes ago, he was ready to tear me from limb to limb.

Pitiful.

“Fucking speak,” the guard curses at Leander. “Make up your mind or I’ll make it for you.”

“How dare you speak to me like—”

Before Leander can finish, Rian takes advantage of the distraction. With a roar that shakes the room, my lion grits through his pain and grabs onto the guard’s gun.

My heart jumps.