Lord Polwarth took her arm again, and she was surprised when he took her to the room she had claimed as her solar.

“We need to hurry,” someone said.

Snow was suddenly tugged forward and surprised to see an outline of a narrow opening in the wall. She was shoved through it, a musty odor assaulting her, and with someone close in front of her and someone close behind her, she was led precariously down the narrow stairs.

She thought of one thing with each step she took.

Tarass would rescue her.

Chapter 28

Tarass sped up the stairs, his heart pounding madly in his chest. When he heard Thaw’s frantic barks, he took the steps three at a time. It was Thaw’s soulful howl that made Tarass realize that Snow was gone before he reached the bedchamber door and threw it open.

“Find Snow, Thaw!” Tarass commanded as soon as he and the dog’s eyes met.

Thaw took off and Tarass raced after him, Rannock keeping pace behind them both.

Both men were puzzled when Thaw brought them to Snow’s solar and went to a section of one of the walls and began barking.

“The secret passage,” Tarass said, shocked and wondered how Polwarth would know about it. “I know where it comes out. Let’s go get Snow, Thaw.”

The pup didn’t hesitate; he followed after Tarass. Once outside, Tarass bolted for the back of the keep, Thaw staying right beside him, and as he rounded the one corner he saw the hidden door open. A man hurried out, tossing a torch to a pile of snow, the fizzled flame sending black smoke wafting into the air. His wife tumbled out behind the man, and Lord Polwarth grabbed her arm to stop her from landing face first in the snow.

Tarass let out a terrifying roar that his mum’s people would use when going into battle and that never failed to have the bravest of men cowering. It didn’t fail this time either. The two men with Lord Polwarth ran like the devil was after them, but Polwarth kept hold of Snow.

Thaw bolted past Tarass and launched himself at Polwarth.

Tarass didn’t stop him.

Snow’s eyes had difficulty adjusting to the change in light. She thought she saw Tarass running toward her, but there were so many gray blurs behind the larger one she couldn’t be sure. However, she was sure of the small gray blur that headed straight for her. It was Thaw.

Thaw might have grown some, but he was still a pup and when Snow felt Polwarth lift his leg to give Thaw a harsh kick and stop him from attacking, instinct had Snow reacting.

She swerved around and his leg caught her in the knee and sent her tumbling to the ground with such force that her arm was ripped out of his hand.