I toss Tessa’s satchel on one of the mattresses and drop my own on the bedroll.

Jacey gives me a grateful look. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I feel as if I owe them both—Tessa because she’s helping me find Avalina, and Jacey because I’ve been misleading her about my relationship with Bram. She’d be hurt if she found out I’d trusted Tessa with my secrets but left her in the dark. Giving her the mattress assuages some of my guilt, if only a little.

“Hey there,” Talon says, poking his head into the room at the same time he knocks on the door frame. He hooks his thumb toward Bram, who stands beside him. “We thought we’d grab a bite downstairs. Do you want to come?” Then he looks around. “Where’s Tessa?”

Jacey rolls her eyes. “You just now noticed she’s missing?”

“There are a lot of us,” Talon says defensively. “And I’ve been rather focused on my growling stomach for the past few hours.”

“She was hoping to visit her childhood tutor who moved here a few years ago,” I say, grateful I can be honest, at least about this. “She stopped to make some inquiries about where he lives.”

“Well, she must have been sneaky about it,” Talon says. “I didn’t even see her slip away.”

Bram and I share a significant look. If Talon—who is one of the less observant members of our team—finds Tessa’s disappearance suspicious, what must Rasmus think?

Bram claps Talon on the shoulder. “I’m hungry too. Let’s eat.”

I only manage to pick at my food. I break off a bit of bread from the loaf, only to realize a few minutes later that I’ve rolled it into a ball between my thumb and forefinger without ever bringing it to my mouth.

Tessa has been gone too long. I shouldn’t have agreed to this plan. If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

My eyes keep darting to the door, hoping to catch sight of her. Rasmus stands at the back of the room, silent, watchful. He could help me track her down. It would mean giving up all hope of meeting Avalina, but it would be worth it to know Tessa is safe. Eventually the pressure building in my chest becomes unbearable. I start to rise, but Bram puts a hand on my arm. His gaze flicks toward the door.

Tessa.

Her cheeks and nose are pink from the cold. When she spots us, her face breaks out in a wide smile. Good news, then.

My breath sags out of me.

Talon hops up and grabs an extra chair from a nearby table, presenting it to Tessa with exaggerated chivalry. “Ah, there you are. We missed you.”

Jacey gives a derisive snort. “He just feels bad because he didn’t notice you were gone for an embarrassingly long time.”