By the time Damian received word and arrived with his soldiers, Audrey was already sprinting down the road with Amber clutched against her chest.
The bandits spotted the cavalry in the distance and fled back toward their hideout.
Audrey was drenched in blood from head to toe. The sight nearly knocked Damian off his horse.
Amber wailed between ragged sobs, "Daddy, they dragged the man away! They're going to kill him!"
Damian leapt down and grabbed Audrey by the shoulders, searching her frantically. "Who? Audrey, where are you hurt?"
Audrey collapsed into his arms, her whole body shaking as the tears broke free. "It's Cas. He saved Ammy, but the bandit chief dragged him off." She pressed her face into Damian's chest. "I'm not hurt. The blood is all his."
Damian stared at the trail of b
