“I’m trying, I promise.” I stood. “I saw Rae crying and I guess I brought myself back here.”

Everest’s face fell. “Celina.” He rushed over and pulled me into his arms.

“My love?” Auryn’s voice held a sharpness in it that made both Everest and I look.

Akecheta’s lines flashed across his face. He flinched. “We must return to Issale. Now.”

Everest’s face paled. “Are you sure you will be safe there? With Rae?”

Auryn whimpered but she leapt over to Rae and waved her hand in front of his face. His black hair changed to bright, fiery red. His skin lightened and freckled. “Green or blue?”

“Green.”

She changed his eyes to green. “You remember how to control them, right?”

He nodded. “You match?”

She changed her own appearance to match his. “I match. Remember, your father is now our friend. You cannot call him —”

“I know, Mamman.”

Then I realized what was happening. They were going to Issale and arriving with new identities. “Rae, do you shift?”

He grinned. “I do. Mamman cannot.”

I looked to my daughter, my heart climbing up my throat. “Do they let you stay there?”

She dove for me, wrapping me in a tight hug. “Trust that I am safe, Mother. For you already know I survive to see you again.”

I kissed her cheek. “Be well. Be careful.”

Akecheta nodded to me from the door, but those lines kept flashing.

“Bye Meemaw.” He hugged me, then held up his thumb with my ring on it. “Thanks for my hungry heart.”

I held up my necklace. “Thanks for my shells. I love you. Now go. Be careful.”

Everest hugged all three of them, whispered words in another language, then sighed. “Look for me, for I shall come to you.”

And then they were gone. Everest just stared at the sky. I hurried over and leaned into his side, wrapping my arms around him. He held me tight. Then I noticed the giant eagle flying high in the sky.

“I have so many questions.”

“As do I.” He chuckled and looked down at me. He pulled me inside and shut the door. “Sit by the fire, your body has caught too strong a chill.”

My stomach growled in response.

He smirked. “I shall fetch you something to eat. Perhaps that Is why you cannot move where you need to.”