Martha answered for him. "We're unharmed, but the eastern wing is burning. Silver Guards blocked the passage to the wine caves."
Through their bond, Casteel felt Nero's growing strain. His mate was holding back dozens of guards single-handedly, but even the wolf's supernatural strength had limits. The sensation of pain flickered across their connection—Nero had been wounded.
"We need another way out," Casteel said, lifting River into his arms. The boy clung to him, small fingers digging into his shoulders.
Martha nodded grimly. "The servants' tunnel. It leads to the orchards." She moved to a large cupboard and swung it aside, revealing a narrow passage beyond. "Lord Morven ensures all his staff know the escape routes."
Casteel hesitated, torn between the need to get River to safety and the pull of his bond with Nero. His mate was fighting against impossible odds to buy them time.
"Go," Martha urged, reading his expression. "I'll take the boy. You help that wolf of yours."
Before Casteel could respond, the kitchen door splintered inward. Three Silver Guards burst through, weapons drawn. Martha screamed, pushing River behind her protectively.
Casteel reacted on pure instinct, driving his borrowed sword into the first guard's chest before the man could raise his weapon. The second guard swung a heavy mace that Casteel barely dodged, the metal head smashing into a table instead.
"Run!" he shouted to Martha, who had already pulled River toward the hidden passage.
The second guard's mace came around again in a deadly arc. Casteel knew he couldn't dodge it this time—his position against the wall left no room to maneuver. He raised his sword in a desperate block, knowing it wouldn't be enough.
The blow never landed. Nero crashed through the kitchen door, slamming into the guard with bone-crushing force. His massive wolf form radiating fury as he positioned himself between Casteel and danger.
"Get the boy out," Casteel urged, already moving to help Martha with the secret passage.
Nero's acknowledgment came through—a pulse of determination tinged with pain. Blood matted his silver furwhere crossbow bolts had found their mark, but the wolf's healing abilities were already sealing the wounds.
The third guard turned to flee but found himself face-to-face with death. Nero's jaws closed around the man's throat with terrible finality.
"This way!" Martha called, having opened the narrow passage fully. She held River's hand, the boy's eyes wide with terror and awe as he watched Nero's wolf form.
Casteel moved toward them, but Nero's warning growl stopped him. Through their bond came clear intent—get River to safety while Nero held off the pursuit. More guards were coming; they could hear the thunder of armored boots in the corridor beyond.
"We go together," Casteel insisted, unwilling to leave his mate behind again.
Nero's transformation back to human form was swift but visibly painful. Blood stained his side where a crossbow bolt had penetrated deeply enough that even the wolf's healing struggled to mend it.
"I'll follow," Nero promised, his voice rough with exertion. "But someone needs to collapse the tunnel behind you or they'll track us straight to the rendezvous point."
Martha's expression hardened with understanding. "He's right. The passage has weak points designed to be brought down in emergencies."
Casteel felt Nero's determination—and the unspoken fear that this might be their final parting. "No," he said firmly. "River needs you."
The boy in question looked between them with tearful eyes.
Something in Nero's expression softened. He took a step toward them, then froze as shouts echoed from the corridor. "Go," he ordered. "I'll be right behind you."
Martha pulled River into the narrow tunnel, the boy looking back desperately as Casteel followed. The passage was barely wide enough for an adult to navigate, its low ceiling forcing them to move in a half-crouch. Behind them, they heard the crash of the kitchen door being fully breached, followed by Nero's battle cry as he met the new wave of attackers.
"He promised," River whispered, his voice small in the darkness. "He promised we’d be safe here."
Casteel knew he couldn’t explain to a child that despite their best effort some vows were broken. He could still sense Nero—alive, fighting, but growing weaker as wounds accumulated faster than even the wolf could heal them.
They had traveled perhaps fifty yards when the first explosion rocked the tunnel. Dust and small stones rained from the ceiling as the passage behind them collapsed. Martha urged them forward, her knowledge of the escape route guiding them through branching sections that would have otherwise left them lost.
"The main collapse will be ahead," Martha said grimly. "There's a support beam marked with red paint. Pull it down, and the entire section falls."
They reached the marked support—a weathered wooden beam with flaking red paint near its base. Martha pointed to a rope mechanism attached to the ceiling. "Pull that. It will trigger the collapse."
Casteel hesitated, his hand on the rough hemp. "We need to wait for Nero."
