Page 93 of Highland Ruse

“Is anyone there?” Delilah whispered.

Liv shook her head.

Delilah motioned for the other two women to come forward. They moved as one, their hands each clasping one another as well as a dagger.

If nothing else, they would be able to defend themselves. Though Delilah truly hoped it would not come to that.

They stalked up the dungeon stairs in a silent group. All four guards who had been stationed there lay unconscious on the ground, bound with a secure rope.

Their sleep was too deep, and Delilah knew Liv must have given them the sleeping draught Percy had concocted. It left the person hazy when they awoke and uncertain about the minutes leading up to their unconsciousness.

It allowed the women to remain anonymous without having to take lives.

Liv led them to the right rather than the left when they reached the next floor. Escape was so close, Delilah could almost smell the wet, sweet air of the overgrown garden.

They were halfway down the hallway when the baritone of multiple voices and the heavy tread of boots echoed around them. One of the women behind Delilah sucked in a gasp.

Delilah turned to them and indicated they remain quiet. The two nodded in unison.

“Go on ahead,” Liv whispered. “I’ll distract them.” She didn’t wait for a reply before slipping down the hallway toward the sound of the men.

All the women who worked together under Sylvi were experienced and confident enough that they could each handle her own.

Liv would be fine.

Delilah motioned for the other two to slip into the shadows of an alcove.

“I can’t find where the kitchen is.” Liv’s smooth Gaelic sounded in the distance. “Could you help?”

Someone said something indiscernible and Liv gave a giggle.

They were sufficiently distracted.

Delilah led the women to the door leading out to the garden. Her heart tripped a frantic beat.

Had Liv not been there to distract the men, they might have been caught. Even now, they still could be.

They were so close to freedom that it made her skin prickle with the prospect.

She pushed against the door and found it open, Liv having already picked the lock in anticipation of their escape.

Delilah charged into the garden and held the door for the other two, whose movements were more hesitant.

Torra stopped and stared up at the sky where the moon shone bright upon them. She drew a shaky gasp and pulled Leasa closer to her. “It’s beautiful,” she said in a choked whisper.

Delilah let the door slip closed with great care to ensure it remained silent.

Something hard gripped the back of her neck and squeezed.

Delilah’s body acted on instinct, grasping blindly for her assailant while she ducked her body forward and sent him sprawling over her.

One of the women gave a sharp squeak while another shushed.

The man looked up at Delilah in shock before her elbow came down hard on his temple. She didn’t have any rope to tie him with, but the draught tucked in her waistband would work nonetheless.

After quickly dumping the contents into his mouth, she gathered the other two women against her with Leasa at her left and Torra at her right. Together, the three of them ran toward the fence at the forest.

Donnan would be waiting for them. Freedom would be waiting for them.