She immediately recognized Sage’s higher-pitched voice but didn’t know if the other was Demory or Marcus. She glanced at Landyn.
He signaled to the side of the rocks and quickly lowered his body into a crouch. He started to move away from her.
She couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched him retreat, and fear began to overtake her. The thought of the man with the sword from before—the man who would have killed him—filled her mind, and she darted after him. She grabbed his arm tightly and turned him around.
As he stared at her, the focus and determination on his face softened. He took her hand into his. “I’ll go around the boulders,” he whispered. “Distract them.”
Dread bubbled inside her, and she shook her head. “The last time you ran off, I had to save you.”
A small smile curved the corners of his lips, and he tenderly brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “You won’t have to this time. Sage needs our help.”
She shook her head again stubbornly, determination gleaming in her eyes. “This time, we do it my way. We are stronger together.”
Landyn was silent, his gaze sweeping her face as if searching for something. He exhaled heavily and finally nodded in agreement.
“We’ll go around the boulder this way.” Raven’s blood boiled as she snuck forward. Sage was in danger, and Demory was the one responsible. Her teeth were gritted in determination; her fingers curled like claws, as if she could will away the danger threatening her family and the man she loved. It was time to find Demory and end his threat. Together.
They approached the boulder and hid behind it, listening.
“Point the way,” Sage’s voice came from the other side.
“We have to open these?” Marcus gawked. “It’s sacrilegious.”
“I don’t want to do it, either. Maybe…”
The distinct snap of a branch echoed in the night air. Landyn whirled, shoving Raven out of the way.
Raven landed hard on the ground and immediately rolled over.
Demory slashed his sword toward Landyn. When Landyn ducked, the sword crashed into the boulder, spraying tiny rock particles into the air.
Landyn drew his sword and took a defensive stance.
“You couldn’t just die,” Demory growled.
Raven climbed to her feet as the men circled each other.
Landyn clenched his teeth. “What do you want? You have the directions.”
“We can’t allow you to find it first. The Hawkes. The brilliant children of John Hawke.” Spite dripped from his words. “Sterling has men working on it. But I knew you would somehow come to the end first.”
“You planned to kill all of us?” Landyn demanded in disbelief.
Enraged, Raven yanked her sword from its scabbard.
Demory’s eyes glinted with self-satisfaction as he backed away. “That was the plan.” He held his sword before him.
Fury boiled in her veins. He had intended to kill her family, her love. She felt a surge of molten energy flow through her as her grip grew tighter on the weapon in her hand, which shook uncontrollably.
“It was easier to dispose of your father. You girls have proven to be…a challenge,” Demory said, grimacing.
“Father?” Raven repeated, scowling in confusion. “You didn’t kill him.”
“I wasn’t there. I didn’t plunge the sword in his heart but relished the tale and the planning.”
Raven’s mind raced as she tried to understand. Did Demory organize the assault on the caravan? Was he the one responsible for her father’s death?
“It wasn’t difficult to relay information to the king’s man,” Demory added. “Boucher was easily manipulated into killing John.”
