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“I think it’s maybe a little sharp, a little warm.”

Lily smiled softly. “I suppose that makes sense.”

“What about mine?” Luka asked.

“Yours is kind. Good natured. But it could use a little less thievery.” She went to poke him again, but he ducked out of the way. “If you want grapes, I’ll get some. Try not to steal, but if you have to, don’t drag other kids into it.”

Lily barely finished speaking before Luka lost interest, kicking his pebble far ahead of them. He looked to her for permission then chased it out of sight when she gave it. She released a sigh, pushing her discomfort with the reality of her prolonged inaction to the back of her mind until the Wraith bothered her again, which it did as soon as it was quiet enough.

They blended in well here. It was far enough from Maivil that no one recognized her. They made a home. Lived in peace. Luka never brought up leaving, and honestly, Lily didn’t want to. It was easy staying put, even if Xavier and Reina’s fates haunted her dreams some nights. But what could she do, really? Getting back to the center of Eocera would be a challenge. No, it would be impossible without getting caught—

“Lily! Come quick!”

Lily froze before she tore up the hill at the pitch of his voice, not stopping until she reached Luka at the forest’s edge, rifle in hand.

“What is it?”

Her eyes roamed over their cabin, still in the one mismatched piece she rebuilt. The fire pit was out; the stream wasn’t flooded, nor had Theila fallen from the sky. Lily clenched her jaw, lowered her weapon, and flicked Luka’s ear.

“You can’t do that! I thought something was about to eat you.”

His brows came together, and he rubbed his head. “There was just…”

Lily crossed the threshold into their camp with Luka clutching the fabric of her skirt.

She’d caught sight of an animal, what she thought was a wolf, over the last few weeks, and she was hoping Luka finally saw it too, but there wasn’t any sign that an animal of any kind had rummaged through the camp. From what she could tell for the time of night, it was just as they left it this morning.

Wait, when did night fall? The sun had barely begun to set…

“Lily…”

“That’s enough.” She swallowed down the pulse rising in her throat. “You’re just trying to—”

“Miss Evelian?”

Her heart stilled at the unfamiliar voice. Luka’s hold on her intensified, practically crawling his way up her body. She spun around, noticing for the first time how terrifying the woods really were after dark.

Every bone and muscle in her body froze in unison. On the edge of the trees they’d come from stood a strange figure.

Panic pierced through her chest like stray gunfire.

Did they say, “Evelian?”

Whoever it was took a step forward, and for some inexplicable reason, everything shooting through her a moment ago vanished. She should be wary, backing away, even holding up her rifle in an attempt to frighten them off. She knew these things, yet she didn’t do any of them.

A chuckle echoed through the space between them. She took note of the depth of the sound, concluding it was a man even if it was too dark to see their build to confirm it.

“Apologies,” he said. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

Whatever was holding her fear back slipped away like a loose rope. “Go away,” she spat.

“There’s no need to get aggressive.”

“You sneak up on me in the dark, trespassing on my land, and expect me not to be upset about it?”

“Trespassing?” He made a thoughtful noise. “I don’t believe any of this belongs to you, Evelian. Didn’t you just say you weren’t a thief?”

Shit. He was watching them?