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Lore tripped up the winding stairs. It was too dim for her to see.

There weren’t any guards in the tower, but they still had to be quick. Asher had seen others coming toward the tower right before they had slipped in. And the wards being tampered with might have alerted whoever had created them.

They burst through the first door Lore recognized. The women were huddled together, just as she’d seen. They startled away, many of them scrambling back from the door, terrified.

“It’s okay. We aren’t here to hurt you. We’re rescuing you.”

“Lore?”

One of the women stood and took a hesitant step forward. She was the eldest daughter of the Burgs—the family who owned the tavern. The young woman ran into her arms, and Lore embraced her. She smelled of old sweat and fear.

It had taken Lore so long to get here. Too long.

“Emalie! I’m sorry I made you wait.”

Emalie stepped back, squaring her shoulders as she turned to the other women. “It’s Lore from back home. We can trust her.”

The other women stood now, and Lore realized that, through the dirt and grime, she recognized a lot of them. Not all by name, but their faces were familiar to her. They reminded her of home, but they weren’t looking at her.

They were watching Asher, who stood by the door facing the hallway. His twin swords were brandished as he scouted for danger.

The women, understandably, didn’t trust him. To them, he looked like the enemy.

“It’s okay. He’s on our side.” To Asher she said, “Asher, sheathe your swords.”

He was fast enough that, if anyone found them, he could pull them out in a heartbeat. If it got these women to trust them a little more, then it would be worth it.

“We have a way out of the castle. If you can hold on for a few more moments, we are going to grab the children and the—”

“I can hear the tower doors opening. They’re here.” Asher cut her off.

“Okay, change of plans. We need to— Finn?” Lore’s voice broke and her heart stopped in her chest.

Finn stood in the hallway, dripping blood. It was on his face, his neck, and across his stolen black uniform.

Lore raced past Asher, immediately trying to find the wound. “Where are you hurt? Finn, where are you hurt? I can’t—” Oh, goddess, she couldn’t lose him. Shewouldn’t. Her mind was racing, hysteria threatening to bubble out of her. Her hands were red.

Goddess, there was so much blood.

Finn reached out, gripping her wrist and stopping her hands from checking for injuries. He tilted her chin up with his other hand so she was looking at him and only him. “It’s not mine.Stop fussing. The Royal Guard has been alerted. I killed three of them, but more are coming.”

Lore almost fainted with relief. Finn’s steady heart pounded against her wrist where he held it, pressed against his chest. His calm gaze settled her a little. He wasn’t hurt.

Still, with the guard alerted, how was she going to get all the people from Duskmere out? “I’m glad you’re okay, but maybe, next time, don’t make such a mess?”

“A mess? I look lovely compared to them.”

Lore’s heart skipped a beat, and her stomach did a little flop at the tilt of his lips and hint of teeth. Only Finn would joke at a time like this. She couldn’t believe he’d followed them.

Then again, yes, she could.

“We have to split up.” She turned back to Emalie. “Can you lead the other women down? Grab the ones who are pregnant first. Go with Asher. He will take you to the woods. Hide there and I’ll be down soon. I need to get the children.”

Emalie led the others out.

“Lore!” Asher called her name from where he stood poised at the top of the steps. “If you don’t follow us soon, I will leave them to come back and find you.”