Luna’s innate loyalty was one of the reasons Max and Kellen elected to let the dog on Rae’s bed; they had not a doubt Luna would protect Rae with her life.

The problem was—with Mara Philippi on the loose, they knew there was a chance Luna would be called on to do her duty.

When Kellen and Rae had together gone on their perilous adventure into the Olympic Mountains, Rae had proved to be stalwart and loyal. Should Kellen now ignore Max’s wishes, take matters in her own hands, and tell her about Mara? Should she warn her of the need to be always vigilant, to be suspicious…to be afraid?

For Mara was a thing to fear. When Kellen first met her at Yearning Sands Resort, Mara had been the spa manager, a pretty, shallow, fit young woman who seemed committed to nothing more than winning the International Ninja Challenge. The image she’d created for herself convinced Kellen, and the whole staff, of her superficiality. Mara had set herself up as rival and friend to Kellen, but when the winter turned dark and storms isolated the resort, Kellen discovered the horrifying truths, and those truths had almost killed her.

She remembered the threat Mara had sent her. I’ll take everything from her, the way she took everything from me. I’ll make her sorry she betrayed me.

Mara was still far away, so whether or not Max agreed, perhaps this was the moment to set Rae on her guard. As Kellen searched for the words, Rae said in a dreamy voice, “I can hear the rain on the roof.”

Kellen looked at her daughter staring out at the showery sky and sea and clouds. With a pang, she realized Rae the child was becoming an adult, a painful process of confusion and wildness, that would someday result in a poised, beautiful young woman who didn’t need her anymore.

But not yet. Right now, Rae did need her mother, and Kellen didn’t have the heart to destroy Rae’s delight in this moment and this place. So Kellen dismissed her dark memories, and looked around for something to entertain them.

Unframed paintings covered the far wall, colorful works of crashing waves, soaring gulls, stands of redwoods and one rather sad portrait of a young man in a World War II US naval uniform, gazing out to sea. “Someone lived up here,” she decided, “and not just one of the servants.”

Rae rested her forehead on the windowpane. “I’d like to live here. It’s a wonderful place.”

Kellen ran her finger along the shelf’s edge. When it came away barely dusted, she said, “I never thought the housekeepers would get this far. They did a really good job. You could live up here.”

Rae turned. “Really?”

Seeing Rae’s hopeful face, Kellen cursed herself. “No. You’d be too far away, and it’s dark up here.”