Raina tried to run forward, but two guests held her back, whispering frantically, “Don’t! He’ll kill you! Don’t move!”

Aaron was clutching his side, face twisted in pain, but he still looked up at Blade with fire in his eyes.

“Fuck you,” he spat, blood pooling in his mouth.

Blade crouched beside him.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you for that stunt,” he murmured, just loud enough for Raina to hear. “But I like making people watch what they can’t protect.”

He ...