“Because there’s no reason to worry. She said it’s not surprising, given the stresses of relearning so much, that the most valuable asset I have, my words, should sometimes choke me.” Kellen took the ice bag and gingerly pressed it on her face. “She gave me relaxation exercises to do.”

“You should do them!”

“I am!”

“I haven’t seen you!”

Kellen took a long, calming breath. “There. You just saw me do one.”

Max stared as if he didn’t understand.

Patiently she explained, “Relaxation exercises aren’t like punching a bag. They’re mostly just breathing. Meditation. You’ve seen me meditate.”

“It’s not working!”

“It’s like the piano. I’m not good at them yet, but as long as I practice every day, I will get better—am getting better. I know that Rae and Luna don’t think so, but—”

In the kitchen, the back door slammed.

Kellen looked around. Luna wandered in looking desolate. “Where’s Rae?” she asked the dog.

Max strode to the front window and looked out. “She’s going for a bike ride.”

Kellen pushed herself to her feet. “She’s not supposed to. That’s what we were fighting about.”

“Why? Where’s she going?”

“She wanted to ride down to the Conkles’ to pick up the vegetables for tonight’s dinner.” Kellen joined him at the window and watched her little girl ride out of sight.

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“But what if—?”

“What if what? What if Mara is here? No! While we’re safe here, she’s gone on a wild goose chase, seeking us all over the world.”

“And maybe looking up her former murderous colleagues?”

“According to the report I got from Diana…before she disappeared…there’s nothing to indicate that. You know Mara better than anyone. Would she do that? When she’s at the bottom and has nothing to offer?”

Kellen didn’t take offense at his assumption she knew Mara better than anyone. The friendship between them had been fraught with rivalry, and in the end Mara had been willing and eager to kill her. But when Kellen looked back on the time she’d spent with Mara, when she added in all the facts that had surfaced, Kellen had come to know more about her twisted, devious mind, and understand the way she had fooled everyone so completely. “Mara has to be in charge. Mara has to be on top. She loves a challenge, but only as a chance to sharpen her teeth in the battle to win again. And—” Kellen was thinking out loud “—when she focuses on one single problem, she focuses completely. If she’s after us, after me, and we’re sure she is, right?”

“According to all reports.”