Aunt Millie jumped (with surprising agility for a senior citizen) up to the Merlin platform. She pushed the kid out of the way, grabbed King Arthur’s sword with both hands, and pulled it from the stone with a loud grunt.

The crowd cheered.

Lani laughed that annoying faux-teen giggle again. And just what do you expect to do with that? She leveled the gun at Aunt Millie.

The crow did the appropriate scared Oooooing.

I would have rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation had the gun not been real and the person holding it not really insane.

Aunt Millie! I warned.

Too late.

The gun went off, a crack shattering through the air. I held my breath, expecting Millie to fall, an ugly red stain through her midsection. Instead, she twisted the sword, the bullet pinging off the flashing steel.

The crowd roared with approval.

Lani look stunned.

Millie look stunned.

I felt faint.

En garde! Millie shouted, jumping down from her perch, her bony ankles showing between her balled socks and her powder blue slacks.

Lani, like the rest of the crowd, was momentarily stunned by the sight, and that was all that Millie needed, swiftly bringing the sword down on the hand holding the gun. Lani’s weapon clattered to the ground, and the tip of Millie’s sword went to the girl’s throat, the point making an uncomfortable indentation as Lani swallowed in fear.

The crowd went wild, cheering, clapping, screaming. I only caught a few people whispering to each other, Is that how the story really goes?

I saw Cal break through the crowd, a line of security officers behind him. They quickly descended on Lani, clasping her hands behind her back in a pair of cuffs.

Me? I collapsed into Cal the second he got within arm’s reach, clinging for dear life to his solid, comforting chest, the adrenaline of the moment leaving me weak, relieved, and feeling like my limbs were made of jelly. His arms went around me, holding me tight.

Jesus, don’t you ever do that to me again, Bender, he mumbled into my hair.

I hung on tighter.

When I finally loosened my grip, I looked up into his face. His dark eyes were a mixture of concern, anger, fear, and something else that made my stomach lurch into my chest.

He licked his lips and leaned in close. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. And I wanted him to, no doubts about it this time. In fact, I have never wanted anyone to kiss me so badly in all my life.

But at the last minute, he changed his mind, his eyes going guarded as he pulled away. An awkward vibe immediately filled the air between us.

Luckily, before anyone could comment on it, more security guards descended on us.

What happened here? one of them asked me.