The boy looked like a tsunami of rage had erupted inside him. His gritted teeth held promises of brutally slitting my throat. But eventually, he put the dagger down.

I got up from the seat. “Now hand over the girl.”

“Not on my watch!” Declan growled, trying to stop me from walking over to Elena. When I evaded him, he yelled. “Guards! Stop him!”

His men came at me, but they were shocked to a halt as my men appeared from both sides of the room, blocking them from getting to me. ...