Chapter 48: The Sanctuary's Secret

Gabriel’s men closed in, but we weren’t ready to give up. With a desperate glance at Nathanial, I whispered, “Now or never.”

He nodded, his eyes flashing with determination. “Follow my lead,” he murmured back, then lunged at the nearest guard. The room erupted into chaos, punches flying and weapons clashing. Gabriel’s sneer quickly turned to a scowl as he realized we weren’t as easy to capture as he’d thought.

In the confusion, Jacob grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a hidden door in the corner of the study. “This way!” he shouted over the noise. We dashed through the door and into a narrow corridor, the sounds of the fight fading behind us.

We ran until our lungs burned, finally bursting out into the cold night air. The forest loomed before us, dark and foreboding, but also a place of refuge. Nathanial and Marcus were right behind us, panting but uninjured.

“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.

Jacob’s eyes were fierce. “There’s a sanctuary deep in the mountains,