Maeve shoots him a glare. “Now’s not the time to?—”
“It’s exactly the time,” Jace interrupts, eyes flicking between Lucian and me. “If we go running after her without knowing what’s actually happening, we could be walking straight into a trap.Why now? After all this time?”
Noah moves closer, his hands shoved in his pockets, his gaze never leaving mine. His voice is quieter than Jace’s, but there’s no mistaking the caution in it. “He’s not wrong. But…” His expression softens just slightly. “There’s a chance it’s real, and we can’t ignore it, either.”
Lucian hasn’t said a word yet. He’s standing a few feet back. When I finally look his way, he meets my gaze. I can’t tell if he’s already decided what we’re going to do—or if he’s still weighing whether this is a call we even answer.
When he finally moves, we all follow. He steps into the living room. He doesn’t look at anyone else. Just me.
“Sit,” he says, and it’s not a request.
I sit on the couch. The others follow suit without argument, scattering around the room—Maeve on the couch beside me, Jace leaning against the wall near the fireplace, Luca and Noah taking the other chairs.
Lucian stands in front of the coffee table, hands clasped behind his back.
“You all heard enough to understand the problem,” he says, voice low but carrying. “We have an unverified distress call from someonewith a documented history of manipulation and ties to our enemy. The likelihood of this being a trap is… high.”
Jace nods, vindicated. “Exactly my point.”
Maeve leans forward, her jaw tight. “And what if it’s not? What if she really does need help? You’re just going to leave her?”
Lucian’s gaze flicks to her. “I didn't say that. I’m just saying we must proceed with caution.”
Luca shifts in his seat. “How do we even know where she is?”
Lucian studies him for a long moment, then turns his eyes back to me. “Do you trust her?”
My mouth opens… then closes again.
“I…” I take a breath. “I trust the part of her that raised me. The part that read me stories and taught me how to braid my hair. But the rest… I don’t know anymore.”
Silence stretches.
Lucian finally nods once. “Then here’s what will happen. We will investigate discreetly. We’ll check out places Daniel has been for any clues. We’ll start with your old house. No contact with her until I say otherwise. If this is legitimate, we’ll act. If it’s not…” His tone hardens. “We’ll ensure she can’t put you in this position again.”
The weight of his words settles over me like frost.
Jace leans back, seemingly satisfied. Maeve squeezes my hand. Luca meets my eyes and gives the smallest nod, like he’s promising he’ll be there no matter which way this turns.
“Just one question,” Noah looks around us like it should be obvious, “how did she get your new number?”
12 RUINED
The house is quiet. The only light in my room is the dim golden glow from the lamp on the nightstand.
Maeve is sprawled out beside me on top of the covers, one hand tucked under her cheek, her hair a bright halo against the pillow. She’s not asleep—I can tell by the way her breathing shifts when I turn over.
“You’re awake,” I whisper.
“So are you,” she murmurs back, her voice soft, careful not to break the stillness too much.
I stare up at the ceiling. “I can’t stop thinking about her. About that phone call.”
Maeve props herself up on one elbow, watching me. “Because you’re scared it’s real… or because you’re scared it’s not?”
I swallow hard. “Both.”
She doesn’t rush me. She never does.
