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I bit my tongue, her statement sounding identical to when I begged her for Zan’s life. But this was different. Rowan was a monster even if he was just a man. He wanted power. The control. He would never give it up. Keeva would create his army of Shadows. Life for the humans and Shadows would never be peaceful.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed out, raising my eyes to look at her. “I can’t let him live.”

“No—”

She screamed when I pressed my nails into Rowan’s stomach, breaking his skin. He jerked slightly, too weak to try to push me away. I pressed harder until the little blood he did have left began dribbling out.

“This is for Keeva,” I hissed vehemently. “You used her. For me. For Zan. For all the Shadows PARA killed. For the humans who cower because of your laws. It all changes now.”

His mouth opened in a silent scream as I dragged my fingers up his stomach, ripping his skin open even more. He writhed, agony covering his face. Keeva was still screaming, but it was turning into cries. I reached his chest, his blood covering my fingers as I pressed harder, making sure I didn’t kill him. He would die from this injury. But not right away.

I wiped his blood on his shirt and stood up, my heart pounding furiously. I should feel guilty. For killing a human. But I didn’t. He wasn’t a good person, and I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not even when I met Keeva’s tear-stained face.

Before I could say a word, something nefarious rippled through me. I sucked in a ragged breath when my chest wenttight. But this panic wasn’t mine. My eyes snapped to the door.Zan. He was in trouble. It was exactly how I felt when Amaros had taken him. I was halfway to the exit before Keeva stopped me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” she growled. “I can have PARA in here in an instant.”

I wasn’t sure how she’d be able to pull that off, but I didn’t hear any bluff in her voice. I clenched my hands, my pulse thrashing.

“Rya,” I finally said stiffly. “Go outside with some others. Help Zan. Please.”

She frowned. “I’m not leaving you alone?—”

“I’ll be fine,” I promised, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice. “She can’t kill me. We’re connected. One can’t live without the other.”

Rya didn’t move, indecision sprawled across her features. Keeva looked at her and the other Shadows near her, straightening her spine.

“Stay here,” she ordered. “With us.”

“Go,” I nearly screamed. “Please. I promise, I’ll be okay.”

With a curse, Rya began running, pushing the door open and disappearing outside. About thirty others followed, and I watched them go, hoping they could help Zan before it was too late. Keeva’s eyes landed on Rowan, and she let out a quiet sob as she fell on the floor next to him.

When she bit into her wrist, I stiffened. How could I forget that she could heal?

“No,” I yelled, sprinting the few steps and crashing into her.

“Let me heal him,” she snapped as we rolled across the tile floor. “His heart is barely beating.”

“He doesn’t deserve to live,” I huffed out, blocking her hit when she threw her fist at my face. “You heard him. Why are you still fighting this?”

“I don’t care,” she growled. “You made him say that. He loves me.”

“He was entranced. He had to tell the truth.”

I caught her ankle when she tried moving for him again. With a hard yank, I pulled her back to the floor. She let out a shriek of fury, diving at me. The Shadows were circling us, but none of them intervened as we exchanged blows. Our strength was evenly matched since I’d fed, and I refused to let her heal Rowan. I should have just killed him.

“Keeva, listen to me,” I grunted out when her next punch cracked one of my ribs. “PARA doesn’t have to be in charge. You and I—we can make this world how it should be. Freedom. Peace. We can make sure that happens. We were born to do this. You believe what we read, don’t you?”

“I believe that Rowan has taken care of me my entire life.” She swung at me again, and I rolled out of the way. “He knows best. PARA knows best. They always will.”

Fuck. Panic swallowed me. Had they gotten into her head that much? What if she never trusted me? How could we both survive in this world?

She grabbed me by the throat, lifting me from the floor before I broke her hold by slamming my fist down onto her elbow. She let out a howl when her bone cracked.

“Stop fighting me,” I pleaded, my voice rough. “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re the only blood I have in this life. I want us to be a family. Think clearly, Keeva. Please.”

“Rowan is my family,” she screeched, ramming into me and slamming me against the wall. “Not you. You have my face, but you’re nothing but darkness. Wrapped in evil. You want Rowan to suffer? You kill PARA members. Side with vampires and Kanes. You will never be my family. I gave you a chance, and you fucking ruined it.”