Chapter 294: Elena Fights Back

Elena Ward's eyes were locked onto the gleaming dagger, its tip mere inches from her throat. Kyle Blackwell's twisted face loomed before her, the stench of blood clinging to him making her stomach churn.

"Five seconds..." she counted silently in her mind. Activating her healing force required five seconds—five seconds that could mean death ten times over.

But she had no choice.

Today, it was either Kyle Blackwell's death or hers. This demon had to die, even if it drained the last of her energy. The endless days under the influence of the energy serum, the humiliations under his threats—it all ended today.

"Die!" Elena lunged forward, her hands clamping onto Kyle Blackwell's wrist like iron vices.

He sneered. "Is that all you've got?" With effortless ease, he switched hands, the dagger slicing through the air in a silver arc aimed straight for her heart.

At the last possible second, Vanessa Ward threw herself in front of her sister. The blade plunged deep into her palm, blood gushing forth.

"Sis!" Elena's vision blurred with rage.

Samuel Jackson, like a feral cub, leapt at Kyle Blackwell, sinking his teeth into the man's leg. Kyle Blackwell roared in pain and kicked the boy away. Samuel's small frame slammed into the wall, a trickle of blood escaping his lips.

Seizing the moment, Elena barreled into Kyle Blackwell. They crashed to the floor, the shattering of dishes piercing the air. Kyle Blackwell's skull struck the concrete, leaving him dazed.

"You bitch..." He struggled to rise.

The door burst open. Two armed thugs stormed in, their guns trained on the sisters.

Vanessa, her bleeding hand still raised, shielded Elena. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

The gunshots exploded like thunder. Elena yanked her sister to the ground just as the windows shattered, glass raining around them. Miraculously, neither was hit.

Adrian Stone and Jay Kingsley charged in with reinforcements. Amid the chaos of the fight, Elena's heart shattered at the sight of Vanessa's nearly severed hand. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out silver needles, ignoring the risk of overexerting her ability as she worked to heal her sister.

By the time Adrian subdued the last attacker, Elena had collapsed, trembling violently, her lips tinged blue as if she'd been pulled from an icy abyss.

"Elena!" Adrian scooped her up and carried her to the inner room. He wrapped her tightly in his military coat, but her shivering didn't cease.

"Cold..." Her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Without hesitation, Adrian unbuttoned his uniform and pressed her icy hands against his warm chest. Elena clung to his heat like a dying traveler desperate for water.

"Better?" His deep voice rumbled near her ear.

She gave a weak nod. Every time her ability was drained, only Adrian's warmth could revive her. This strange "side effect" left her both embarrassed and dependent.

"I can't... keep doing this..." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Adrian tightened his arms around her. "My warmth is always here for you."

Elena rested against his solid chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. In that moment, she realized she was no longer alone. Someone would take bullets for her. Someone would guard her with his life.

It felt... good.

Outside, Kyle Blackwell lay bound in the corner, his venomous gaze fixed on the inner room as he snarled in frustration. But everyone knew—in this battle between life and death, evil had lost to justice.