“Traitor,” the man yelled before the tip of a sword protruded from his belly.

Astor twisted to avoid being split in two as the second guard raised a giant broadsword. With an agility that only small men had, he lunged toward the rebel who was still gasping for breath and pulled his weapon free before rounding on his fellow guard.

Their blades clashed, sending the ring of steel echoing down the hall.

Helena backed away until her back hit the door. She inched sideways to where her knife protruded from Callum’s neck and yanked it free. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across her face. She wiped it, her sleeve coming away stained with crimson.

She clutched the knife to her chest. That was two. She’d killed two people now.

But she knew there would be more. It was for her family. There was no other choice.

The guard’s fight ended with Astor slicing his blade through a gap in the underarm of the other guard’s armor. He collapsed to the ground and was still sputtering for life when Astor bent to rip a ring of keys from his belt.

Helena tried to back away, almost forgetting about whoever was in that room, as Astor’s eyes found hers.

“Don’t move,” he growled with a shake of his head. “I’ve been standing here for the past hour waiting for a distraction that would stall the rebels who were sent to check on us every quarter hour. But you… we have little time because others will have heard the fight.”

She didn’t know what was going on, but as he jammed the key into the lock, she couldn’t move.

He opened the door, and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Edmund.”

She tried to run forward, but Astor blocked her way.

Edmund sat slumped in a metal chair in the corner of the darkened room. Shackles ringed his ankles, chaining him to two iron hooks on the wall. Blood-streaked blonde hair stuck to the bruises on his face.

Hours.

She’d seen him only hours ago.

“My brother will pay for this,” she said to herself.

Astor grunted. “The rebels found him in this state.” He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “This was your father’s work.”

Her face dampened with tears of betrayal. Neither side in this fight was worth dying for. It was the only thing she knew.

Just as her mother said, her family was more important than any crown.

And Edmund was as much family as anyone.

She pushed past Astor to stop at Edmund’s side. He lifted his head as if noticing her for the first time. “Len.” A smile slid across his face. “How good of you to come.”

“What’s wrong with him?” She looked to Astor for answers.