asked.
“Anna loves her poisons,” Ackley murmured. “And all those soldiers were given a sleeping tonic. I don’t know how she managed to give it to so many.”
“It could be Eldon,” Duke Ellington pointed out.
“I agree,” Idina said. “We plan to assassinate him and take control of the kingdom. It seems only logical he’d try to prevent us from doing so.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Ackley said. He came up behind Reid. “Give me the bow. I’ll take a turn keeping watch.”
After handing the weapon over, she leaned against the wall. Her head throbbed, her eyes stung, and it hurt to breathe.
“I’m sorry,” Idina said. “I’m sure this isn’t how you imagined your wedding night.”
Reid snorted. Her wedding night wasn’t on her mind right now. All she could think about was her home burning. And Dexter, who was out there somewhere, in danger. She couldn’t sit in the stables while he was trying to flush the archer out. She had to help.
Pushing off the wall, she went to the door.
“Where are you going?” Ackley demanded.
“To save my husband.”
Chapter Nine
“Then I’m going with you,” Ackley said, swinging the bow over his shoulder. After stocking up on arrows and finding a suitable sword, he picked up one of the shields.
Reid withdrew her twin swords. “Hurry up.” A sense of panic started to take root.
“When people hurry, mistakes are made. We need to be smart. I will lead the way, and you will follow behind me.” He pointed at the shield, making his point.
“Fine.”
“Reid,” Duke Ellington said. “I think you should remain here. Let Ackley handle it.”
Ten nasty retorts came to mind. As if she shouldn’t go out there simply because she was a woman? That she needed to let a man handle it? However, now was not the time to argue. Her father was simply worried about her well-being. She could understand that.
Instead of replying, she ignored him and opened the door. Ackley slid through it, lifting the shield. He clicked his tongue twice, and Reid assumed that was her cue to move. With her swords in hand, she exited the stables, keeping her body right behind Ackley’s. He headed south, remaining against the stables for cover.
The archer was somewhere to the east near the tree line.
When they reached the end of the building, Ackley whispered, “Ready?”
“Yes.”
He squatted, covering most of his body with the shield. Then he steadily moved south. Out in the open, Reid felt exposed. The shield suddenly felt too small for them both. She kept expecting an arrow to come their way. When Ackley moved, she moved. When he paused, so did she. It seemed like it was taking them forever to reach the tree line.
A loud moan cut through the night, followed by a rumbling crash. Reid jumped.
“Go.” Ackley jumped up, then took off running.
Reid scrambled to keep up with him. They made it to the first set of trees. With the trunks providing cover, they slowed.
“What was that?” she demanded, glancing over her shoulder. The sky above the castle glowed bright orange from the fire.
“I think part of the roof collapsed.” Tossing the shield on the ground, he headed deeper into the forest.
Trying not to think about the destruction of her home, Reid scrambled to keep up. “Why’d you run?”
“The castle served as a distraction. I used it to our advantage.”
Adjusting her hands on the hilts of her swords, she realized she was shaking. If she wanted to be of any use out here, she needed to calm her nerves so she’d be ready to fight. “Thanks for coming with me.”
Ackley shook his head. “I didn’t do it just to save your arse,” he said. “Gordon is out there, too.”
Helping Dexter had consumed her so much she’d forgotten about Gordon. “What’s the plan?”
“Either they push the archer forward, toward the castle, where my mother will spot him from her elevated position. Or they push the archer east and we lose him.”
“What about the soldiers?” How would they rouse them? Or did they simply have to wait for the draught to wear off?
“I’m counting on Harlan to deal with that.” He froze, head snapping up as he scanned the treetops above.
What had Ackley heard? Afraid to move, Reid examined the area, not seeing anything. She took a step back, bumping into someone. Before a yelp could escape her lips, a hand slid over her mouth, the tip of a knife pressing into her side.
She didn’t want to be taken hostage and used against her family, so she had to