"Mother!"
Dominic's voice vibrated through the dungeons as he stormed down the long stone corridor, his heavy footsteps striking against the damp floor while his eyes searched frantically through the dimly lit cells.
Then he saw her.
Charlotte was sitting at the far end, tucked into the dark corner of her cell with her back against the cold wall.
"Dominic?"
She sprang to her feet, hurrying toward the bars as her fingers curled tightly around the iron.
"Mother!"
Dominic crossed the remaining distance in two long strides, his hands gripping the iron bars opposite hers. His eyes moved frantically over her. Her dress was soiled from sitting on the ground, the fabric crumpled and caked with dirt, but that was all.
There was no blood. No bruises.
His eyes snapped to her face. "How dare Rodrigo do this to you?" He slammed one hand violently against the iron bars. "How dare he! Oh, I am so going to kill him, even if it is the last thing I do."
