I saw the knife rising toward Mother's throat, saw Fenris's twisted smile as he prepared to end her life. Time slowed to a crawl as I watched my brother's hand begin its downward arc.

Then a gunshot rang out, echoing off the stone walls like thunder.

A bullet hole appeared in Fenris's chest, blood spreading across his shirt. His eyes went wide with shock and confusion before he collapsed to the floor, the silver knife clattering across the stones. Mother's chair toppled backward from the ...