And that is all. The owl lost interest after that, and her thoughts only consist of her chicks and her mate.

I shiver. Judging by Maeve’s sudden change in behavior, I’m more certain than ever that she is possessed by the body walker. Her demeanor seems more like Ida’s than her own.

She went this way. I point toward the left fork in the path. Sebastian doesn’t question me. He knows I have ways of obtaining information that are beyond what others can do. The owl hoots a goodbye behind us, making Sebastian jump, but I keep him from straying off the path. My teeth are set on edge, clenched together, and I’m praying we find Maeve before it’s too late.

What do you think Ida wants us for? Sebastian thinks.

I shudder. I don’t know. Power, like Lady Aisling, maybe? I’ve heard her thoughts, and she clearly covets our talents.

Until now, I’ve tried to chalk up all our encounters with the body walker to coincidence. But every one of them has been connected to us in some way, and Ida has been close by for them all. First, the nice woman who let me have the last of the day’s flowers and her husband in the market. Then Jemma, Euna, and now Maeve. She’s been circling us, getting ever closer, waiting for the right time to strike so she can use us like Lady Aisling. No wonder she had such a keen interest in learning more about the Lady’s garden!

The sheer horror of that thought nearly stops me in my tracks. And it probably would’ve made me turn around if we were going after anyone but Maeve.

If Ida did take her, it was because of us. How can we abandon her to the same fate we had? We’re probably walking into a trap, but we can’t stomach leaving her behind.

The moon above provides some light as it trickles down through the trees. Even so, we still stumble over the occasional root and rock. The going is slow, and sometimes I pause to consult with the animals to see if they recall Maeve passing the night before. Thank goodness we were able to escape the Archives so quickly! Animals’ memories are not long, and if we’d had to wait another day or two, they would’ve already forgotten.

The result is a circuitous path around the mountains, almost as though the body walker either didn’t know where they were headed or didn’t want to be followed. Exhaustion begins to wear at my determination and focus. The moon is directly overhead now, its beams streaking between the branches to illuminate bushes and flowers and bark and odd leaves, all of which try to distract me from the task at hand. But Sebastian keeps me grounded, calling me back when my feet begin to stray. Our progress slows until we find ourselves in front of the yawning black mouth of a cave. Fireflies dance in front of the entrance, making it seem both deadly and inviting. I reach out to catch one in my hands, but Sebastian’s words stop me cold.