We approached the cabin, and he unlocked the door. “Five minutes. That’s it.”

I looked into his hood, no longer able to see his face. “Thank you…for giving her the note.”

His annoyance was palpable in the air around us.

I stepped inside and found Raven sitting up in a little bed, reading. There was a desk with a laptop, a TV, men’s shoes on the floor.

She dropped her book with shaky hands and looked at me in shock. Slowly, her hands went to her face, her eyes glistening with tears, and her chest suddenly gave a jerk with emotion.

I lived in a palace with a butler and a private chef, and she was still here, still wearing the ugly work clothes, still forced into labor for someone else’s gain. It hurt more than I’d expected it to. “Oh my god…”

“Sister.” She scooted to the edge of the bed.

I rushed into her embrace, nearly knocking her over, and held on like the storm surrounded us once more, like it would blow us apart if we let go. Tears sprang into my eyes as I kept her close, as I treasured the person I loved most in this world.

The hug lasted a long time before she pulled away first. “How…how are you here?”

“I asked Fender to bring me.”

“It must be hard…to be here again.”

I saw Mom when I looked at her. I saw a strong person who only thought about others instead of herself. “I wanted to see you so bad… I guess I didn’t care.” The camp didn’t look the same, not without the snow.

Her hands grabbed mine. “I just can’t believe you’re here…”

I squeezed her fingers. “Me too.”

She inhaled a deep breath, her eyes watering with more tears, staring at our joined hands.

“Magnus continues to help you.” It was such a relief, to know that he looked after her when I was powerless to do anything for her. “I gave him that note and thought he’d rat me out, but he didn’t.”

She shook her head. “I’m living in his cabin right now.”

That explained the men’s shoes. “Why?”

“Only way he can protect me.”

I couldn’t believe that Magnus and Fender were brothers because they were so different. Magnus exposed his softness and allowed himself to be vulnerable. Fender was stubborn, holding on to his power like he’d collapse if he let it go. I didn’t understand it.

“I don’t know why he wants to protect me at all, because it’s not the same.” Her eyes started to water more, for a whole other reason. “He won’t forgive me for what I’ve done to him. And I miss him…so much.”

“He will, Raven.” Fender forgave me. Magnus would forgive her too.

Her bottom lip trembled.