“How could you even think such a thing?” our mother demanded.

“What accusations?” I cut in, wanting to deflect him. “Rose was just looking for clarity and I told her the truth. I failed her this afternoon, and I’m willing to pay for that, but I don’t think she actually believes I helped the boy now. That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? You think he’s your brother.”

“He’s your brother too,” I snapped.

“Says who? A man who abandoned me?”

Our mother turned and left us, crying into her hands.

Our time beyond the perimeter had divided my brother and me and built a wall between us. It was almost as if all the years we’d had before didn’t exist.

What had the Fury done to him?

“I’ve done nothing wrong, brother,” I lied, suppressing my frustration.

“I pray for your sake that’s true, sister,” he bit back, and stepped out of sight.

I SPENT HALF THE NIGHT PRAYING THAT JAMIE wouldn’t take his search beyond the perimeter in defiance of Rose’s instruction to stay within. Claude was with him, and I knew the guardian would be loath to venture beyond the red marker at night. But still . . .

I finally fell asleep and dreamed of Eli. In my dream he was a Fury. A kind one at first, but at the end of the dream, he grew fangs and destroyed Bobbie and then went after my mother.

I woke with a start and hurried downstairs to find my mother drinking tea, dark circles under her eyes. She brightened and asked me how I was feeling. Hugged me and told me she was proud of me. When I asked her why, she smiled. “That’s Ben’s grandson inside of you,” she said. “I think he would be as proud of you as I am. Not just because you’re carrying our grandbaby, but because of who you’ve grown up to be.”

I think I found a whole new love for my mother in that moment.

But my mind was mostly on the boy.

“Did they find Eli?” I asked.

Her eyes drifted to the window. “No sign of him, Jamie said. They’re already going house to house.”

I nodded, trying not to sound too interested. “I hope they find him. I can’t imagine him being alone out there.”

“No. But I’m not sure being found will be good for him. Or whoever helped him.” She looked at me. “These are dangerous times.”

“The worst,” I said. And then, after a pause, “Do you think he really is my brother?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know, but I don’t think Ben would lie.” She looked away, eyes misted. “Sometimes I wonder if I was a fool to resist him the way I did.”