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All attention on me.

Exactly what I hoped.

It drew her far enough away that there would be no chance that I could strike Elena.

Only Elena did move, but instead of moving out of the way, she threw herself on top of Penny as she shouted, “No!”

They tumbled into a pile on the ground. Elena on top. The gun still in Penny’s hand.

“Elena!” It shot out of me in an eruption of horror, and I flew into action. Sprinting that way and flying out of the cover of trees to where Elena and Penny tussled on the ground.

Elena was mumbling, “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ve got you. Please let go of the gun.”

While Penny cried, “No, you took him from me. You took him. You stole him.”

I got to them just as Elena pried the gun out of Penny’s hand. She tossed it aside and threw herself back over Penny.

A shield.

A fortress.

And Penny. She was sobbing. Sobbing and sobbing as she cried, “It hurts. It hurts so bad.”

Elena hugged her fiercely.

Wholly.

“Oh, God,” she wailed.

“I know. I know. But you’re not alone anymore.”

“Elena, get back,” I begged, terror still sloshing through my veins.

She shook her head and clung tighter to Penny. “No. She needs me. She won’t hurt me.” Sorrow rushed out of them as Elena continued to cover her.

Penny’s sobs were so intense they rocked through me like blows.

“It hurts. It hurts so much,” she rasped as she clung to Elena.

“I know. Let it out. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay.”

“I never wanted to hurt you,” Penny cried. “I never wanted to hurt you. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t understand myself. What I’ve done.”

Elena brushed back her hair. “Shh. It’s okay. I know.”

Elena kept one hand on Penny as she turned toward me, her face full of tears and relief.

But most of all it was full of that inspiring belief. The love she held for people, for those in pain and suffering.

A shield in front of the woman who curled into a ball behind her.

“She won’t be harmed. Promise me.” Her voice was thin, her eyes daggers as she looked between all of us who’d run up to make a ring around them.

I swallowed over the lump in my throat and dropped to my knees in front of her. “I promise.”

When Silas, Phoenix, and Brody started to go for Penny, Lena pushed herself farther in front of her. Eyes wild as she stared them down.

“I mean it, no one will hurt her,” she rasped with fear still clogging her throat.