“Would you mind getting Isola for me?” Leelo asked. “I can’t be gone too long.”

“Oh, silly me. I forgot to mention that she left about an hour ago.”

Leelo blinked in confusion. “Left?”

“She went walking. Said she needed some fresh air.”

“Alone?”

Rosalie smiled. “I know. I was as surprised as you are. I think our girl is finally coming back to us. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

Leelo nodded and stared at Rosalie’s back as she went inside and closed the door behind her. She had seen Isola yesterday, and the girl had seemed no more like her old self than she had a month ago. Was it possible she’d made a complete turnaround overnight?

Leelo wrapped the eggs in a tea towel and started toward the hideaway. Not only did she no longer have Isola as an excuse to go walking, but she genuinely couldn’t fathom where Isola would go on her own. Every walk Leelo had taken her on had been like pulling teeth. Where could she possibly want to spend time by herself?

Fear washed over Leelo like snowmelt. The cottage. She ran, her breathing ragged as she sprinted down the path, no longer caring if she broke the eggs. If Isola discovered Jaren, if she told anyone about him...

Her mind raced with all the possible outcomes. Would Jaren tell her who had been helping him? Was it foolish for Leelo to go to him now, in case Isola was still there? She would know instantly who had been hiding Jaren, if she didn’t already.

She told herself to stay calm. It was entirely possible that Isola hadn’t found Jaren, and if she had, that she wouldn’t betray them. After all, she had done the exact same thing herself. But she might also be furious with Leelo for using her cottage, for putting all of them at risk if anyone else were to discover their secret. Isola had made it clear to Leelo how precarious her situation was, and Leelo had done exactly what Isola warned her against.

She was nearly in tears by the time she broke into the clearing by the cottage. There was no sign of Isola. It was late afternoon, and sunset was still a way off with the solstice having just passed. But evening always came to the cottage early, due to the height and density of the trees surrounding it. The windows were dark, the door closed. Most likely Jaren was inside waiting for her, maybe even angry with her for taking so long.

She crossed the clearing as quietly as she could and raised her hand to knock, when she heard someone clear her throat behind her.

Leelo spun to find Isola watching her, arms folded, her lips pressed into a flat line.