“This isn’t a dream.” She finally released me, and she looked up at me fully with her big eyes. “I’m really here.”

“No, I’m dreaming. I saw the albino elk and—” I glanced around, but the white beast was nowhere to be seen.

Jem-Kruk and Sumi came over to us. Jem, tall and lean, his black hair loose and lush, with an easy smile on his handsome face; Sumi, her dark coiled curls braided tight to her scalp on one side only, her expression more baffled than happy. Her hand hovered near the PSG holstered on her hip.

“How did you know we were here?” Sumi asked, her eyes narrowing.

“I—I didn’t,” I stuttered. “I don’t. I’m still sleeping.” I gestured to my pajamas.

Jem tilted his head, his smile turning quizzical. “But you are awake.”

The air didn’t feel quite so cold anymore, I realized, although there was still a chill to the ocean breeze. I folded my arms across my chest, acutely aware that I wasn’t wearing a bra.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a long story, but we rescued Eliana and came here to hide from the Älvolk,” Jem said.

Eliana dashed off, running at a seagull and twirling about. She sang a children’s song I had heard before.

Sing, sing the heroes

The worm is full of flowers

Hush, hush the morning light

Down falls the darkest night

And now the end is ours.

“What’s going on with her?” I asked. “And why do you need to hide from the Älvolk?”

“She hasn’t been well enough for the journey home, and I’ve begun to fear that she won’t ever be if we don’t get outside help,” Jem said. “And since we don’t trust the Älvolk—”

“I told you that we shouldn’t,” Sumi interrupted.

Jem scowled and pushed up the sleeves of his cranberry-colored button-up shirt. A vest hung loose on his wiry frame and beaded leather bracelets adorned his wrists.

“Does it really matter, Sumi?” he asked wearily. “We’re here now.”

“Yes, we are, and Eliana’s singing to the damn birds like she’s bappers,” Sumi retorted indignantly.

“We both made the same promise to Senka that we’d watch over Eliana,” Jem said, growing frustrated. His hands were on his hips as he stared her down. “We’re both doing what we think is best. This isn’t a competition.”

“Okay, you are here,” I said uncertainly, since I still wasn’t sure if I was awake or not. “And you need help, and I need help. So why don’t we all go into Merellä and figure it out together?”

“We can’t just walk in,” Sumi said. “The cloaking spell won’t let us pass through without permission.”

“Okay, then ask the Mimirin for permission. They let you in before,” I said.