The Keeper’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“Struggling very hard not to kill you just yet,” Venn said. Then he slammed his fist into the Keeper’s jaw.
The blow was so powerful, the large man crashed into the wall.
The other guard in the room darted forward but Venn twisted, jerking a knife out of his belt as he dodged the guard’s grasp. He jabbed the knife into the man’s gut.
Zander helped pull Vera to her feet, the untied ropes dropping away. “Stay here,” he said, then he skirted around Venn’s fight to engage the guard who was standing over the children.
Vera’s eyes darted to the doorway, which was clear of anyone else—though for how long, she wasn’t certain. The fight was making a lot of noise.
Her eyes snagged on the keys hanging on a nail beside the door. She snatched them off the hook, holding the sling out of instinct as she darted for David Holm. There were a few keys on the ring, and she had to struggle with two in the first wrist-lock before she found one that fit.
“Who are you?” David asked, his voice rasping.
“Vera. We found your children and brought them here, looking for you.”
“We?”
Vera nodded, not looking behind her as Venn let out a roar. “Me and that man over there. Now hold still.” The manacle opened, and David’s arm dropped. He hissed, wincing as the deadened limb swung. She moved to the next, using the same key to unlock that manacle.
Before she could move to his ankles, he snatched the keys from her. “I’ll do this. Get my children out of here—please!”
Vera hesitated, but when he managed to get the key in the first ankle lock, she pushed to her feet. Cradling Rebecca—who was still crying—she eyed the room.
Venn fought two guards now, wielding two long daggers, and Zander was still fighting his one. The children were free, but huddled together on the other side of the room.
The Keeper. Where was—?
An iron hand bit into her arm, jerking her back until her shoulders hit a hard chest. A beard scraped her temple and hot breath fanned over her skin. “My blade is on the infant. Don’t struggle.”
Vera held still, her heart thundering in her chest. “Please don’t—”
“Silence!” the Keeper hissed. He twisted her around so they faced David Holm, who had frozen. Only one ankle was still manacled. “Throw the keys across the room,” the Keeper ordered. “Now!”
David did, his arm shaking. He kept the Keeper’s gaze. “I’ll stay. Just let my family go.”
“Vera!”
The Keeper whirled, bringing them both around to face the room.
Venn stood before them, breathing hard, his eyes like ice as he met the Keeper’s stare. “You are the second man to hold her like that,” he said, his voice like steel. “Do you want me to describe what happened to the last one?”
“Who are you?” the Keeper demanded.
“The man who’s going to kill you, if you hurt her.” Venn’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t win this. Let her go.”
The Keeper’s hold tightened. “My men will come.”
The corner of Venn’s mouth lifted, and his smile was utterly menacing. “Will they?”
Fates, she loved him.
The Keeper suddenly stiffened behind her.
David Holm’s voice was quiet but threaded with rage. “You know I’ll relish stabbing you with your own blade. Let her go.Now.”
Vera peeked over her shoulder. When the Keeper had twisted to face Venn, he’d put his back to David. The man still had one ankle shackled, but he’d managed to get close enough to hold a knife against the Keeper’s back.
