THE POINT OF NO RETURN

I felt a new sense of fear as the successor's voice twisted through the area like thick, stifling smoke. His dark eyes gleamed with the same icy confidence I had grown to fear as his figure emerged from the shadows.

Bloodied and bruised but unflinching, Marcus changed his position, putting himself between us and the heir. He growled softly as he continued, "You're outnumbered."

The replacement laughed in a tone that was humorless and icy. "Am I?" he raised a hand in question. More of his soldiers came out of the jungle at his signal, their guns gleaming in the lantern's faint light.

Ethan was barely standing now, his weight pressing heavily against my side, so I tightened my hold on him. His face was pale, and he breathed heavily. I trembled as I said to him, "Stay with me." "We're not going to give up."