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Alex moves closer to me and my hand finds his, squeezing slightly to thank him. Cordelia takes the phone from Alex’s hand and Kingston peers over her shoulder to read through.

The room descends into a new buzz of chaos, bees in a smoked hive, confused and frantic. Across from me, my father’s face twists and in the midst of chaos, he reaches inside his robes and pulls out a gun. It’s silver-plated, and it shakes in his hands as he points it at me.

Gasps echo through the chamber, some Keepers jumping off the dais to flee the sanctum. Time seems to slow.

I stare the gun down, watching the way my father’s hands shake. “So, you’re going to kill me?” I ask.

“You murdered your mother and now you’ll destroy The Snake. I can’t let you get away with it.” Rage blazes behind Jonathan’s eyes and in that moment, I understand he’s going to shoot.

And he does…

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Rowan

The shot ripples through the air, so loud it makes my ears hurt. For a second, the room stands still, everyone looking on with shock as my father’s bullet races toward me.

Time moves slowly. It’s true what they say: when you look death in the face, your life flashes before you.

I see it all, I see my mother. I see Hayden, Xander and I, little boys huddled in a corner, holding each other tightly, fighting off our tears. And finally, I see Alex, sitting at the bar in Summit—the most beautiful person I’d ever laid my eyes on.

If I die now, I think I don’t think my deepest regret would be not realising who my father was sooner. My deepest regret would be not getting enough time with my brothers, with Alex.

It’s just not enough time.

***

The shot rips through the air, too slow to be real, but the sharp sting on pain doesn’t come. It hits the granite wall behind me instead, flaring as it lands on the stone.

There is a blur of movement as Xander lunges for my father, knocking the gun to the floor before he can release another shot. He strikes him in the back of his head and his body slumps with a loud thud, barely missing the corner of the stone and splitting his skull in two.

“Oh my God,” someone exclaims.

“Somebody get some help in here!”

It’s unadulterated chaos in here, guards spilling in, shouts ringing out but I’m not paying attention. Jonathan could be dead for all I care.

I can only focus on one thing.

Alex.

I feel him pull me in, holding me so tightly I almost forget to breathe. He shivers against me, his hands clutching at my back as though he’s afraid I’ll slip right through his fingers.

“Are you okay?” He pulls away just enough to look at me, eyes wild, dancing with tears as his hands continue to search for any injuries.

It feels like a rock is lodged in my throat. My ears are ringing, the sound of Alex too far away.

“Rowan?”

My eyes search the room, landing on my father who is lying on the floor, Xander and a few guards looming over him. I can’t tell if he’s alive.

Cool hands cup my cheeks, and my head is turned to Alex once again. He looks terrified.

I should probably say something.

“I’m fine,” I say finally, my voice a little too calm for the moment. “It’s okay. I’m not hurt.”

But he doesn’t listen. His hands move desperately over me, feeling for wounds, his breath shallow, his eyes frantic with panic. I reach for his wrists, catching them in my hands, holding him still. His gaze locks onto mine, lips parted.

“Lexie, I’m fine,” I repeat, my voice firmer this time. “I promise.”