Elena.

The two guards immediately tightened their iron grips around Maxine's arms, yanking her forward. A flash of pure, unadulterated terror crossed Maxine's face, and I shook my head frantically, opening my mouth to scream.

"If you kill her, I will kill you," Killian snarled, a low, murderous growl ripping straight from his chest. The sound rolled across the clearing like thunder, powerful enough to rattle the branches of every tree in the surrounding forest.

I felt every muscle in Killian's body bunch up tightly beside me. He was coiled to strike.

His brother couldn't have cared less, flicking his fingers to signal his men to drag Maxine closer.

Maxine...