At the front of the house, she hid behind a tree and scanned the area, searching for the three men. The one in the tree was easy to spot since he was on one of the lower branches, which exposed most of his body. He had his bow aimed at the front door.

With a dagger in each hand, she peeked around the other side of the tree. The man behind the boulder focused on the front door, his back to her. If she ran straight at him, she could strike him from behind. The hit would have to be hard and well-placed in order to do any damage. And she’d have to be quick before the man in the tree shot her. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to attack.

Rick’s axe flew through the air, startling Reid. After a sickening crunch, a man tumbled onto his side, an axe protruding from his head. Vomit rose in her mouth. She hadn’t even seen the third assassin hidden behind the tree about twenty feet away. Rick burst through the area, heading straight for the fallen man.

He must be running for his weapon—which meant he was exposed to the man in the tree. Whirling, Reid aimed her dagger at the archer, who already had his bow trained on Rick. Reid threw her weapon, the dagger striking the assassin’s arm. His head swung to the side, easily spotting her from his elevated position. A cruel smile twisted his lips.

Rick put his booted foot on the fallen man, his hands wrapping around the handle of his axe as he yanked it out of the guy’s head. The assassin behind the boulder had withdrawn his sword, and he stalked toward Rick.

Reid squinted at the archer in the tree. She only had one dagger left, so she couldn’t afford to throw it at him. There were several smaller rocks on the ground. Keeping her eyes on the archer, she squatted and picked up one the size of her hand.

The archer pointed an arrow directly at her. She hid behind the tree so he couldn’t strike. Her heart beat frantically as she readjusted the rock in her hand. Peering around the trunk, she breathed a sigh of relief the archer hadn’t moved from his spot.

Rick and the third assassin circled one another, neither sparing her a thought.

Sucking in a breath, she chucked the rock at the archer’s head as hard as she could, striking him in the temple. He fell from the tree, landing on his back, his bow snapping in two. Reid ran at him, dagger in hand, prepared to make the killing blow.