The man who’d shouted after Sarah as she ran into Haldis Tactical was Tristan, Sarah’s husband and Shay’s father. He threw an apologetic look at Anika and grasped Sarah’s wrist.
“Sarah, let’s talk about this,” Tristan urged in a whisper, glancing at Sabine and her companions. “Be reasonable.”
Sarah ripped her arm free and kept walking until she stood inches away from the Arrow.
“All I want to do is tell Anika the truth.” Sarah glared at Tristan. “Stop acting like I’m crazy. I know what I saw.”
“What’s going on?” Anika looked from Sarah to Tristan.
“He came back,” Sarah told Anika through a breathless smile. “He came back to the mansion. He wants to come home.”
“Sarah—” Tristan started, but Anika held up her hand to cut him off.
“Who came back?”
“Shay,” Sarah said. “I watched him bring that girl to the back door. He dragged her through the snow.”
“Wait, what?” Connor’s skin went chalky. “Are you talking about Adne?”
Sarah threw a cursory glance at him. “I’m sure she’s fine. Shay wouldn’t hurt her. He’s not a monster. I know it.”
Sabine moved so she stood face-to-face with Sarah. “You saw Shay? At Rowan Estate?”
“In the garden.” Sarah nodded. She turned back to Anika. “Don’t you understand what this means, Anika? We have to help him.”
“Sarah,” Anika replied in a curt voice, “this isn’t the time. We should discuss this in private. Go to the kitchen and get some coffee. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“Fine.” Sarah pivoted around and left the room, leaving Tristan to gaze after her.
“I’m afraid I’m losing her,” Tristan said to Anika. “She’s getting worse.”
“You think she’s lying?” Connor asked. “That she just imagined seeing Shay?”
“How could it be otherwise?” Tristan rubbed his bloodshot eyes. Sabine wondered how many sleepless nights Shay’s father had passed since his return to the Roving Academy. “She can’t accept that Shay isn’t coming back.”
“I don’t disagree on that last point,” Anika told him. “But Sarah might not be lying about having seen a wolf.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Tristan shot Anika a hostile look.
“Go after Sarah,” Anika replied. “I’ll explain in a bit.”
Frowning, Tristan gave a brief nod and left them.
“What was that about?” Ethan asked as Anika drew a long, shuddering breath.
“I wish I could say I knew,” Anika answered in a clipped tone. “Strange things are afoot. You’ll understand what I mean when you get to Rowan Estate. It’s better if you see for yourself.”
Anika didn’t wait for anyone to answer. She drew herself up straight and walked with purpose from the room.
“You heard the lady.” Connor jerked his chin toward the portal. “Let’s go.”
Sabine followed Connor through the light-filled door. Her skin prickled in the charged air for a few seconds and then she stood in the immense foyer of Rowan Estate. The moment Ethan arrived at her side, the portal winked closed.
“I guess Mikaela isn’t joining us?” Sabine said, noting that the Weaver had closed the portal from the Academy side.
“She’s a pretty new Weaver.” The answer came from the top of the stairs. A woman with shining black ringlets and bright blue eyes looked down at them. “Still finding her feet. It’ll be a month or two before she’s ready for the field.”
“Tess!” Connor bounded up the stairs and caught her in a tight embrace. “What are you doing here? I thought you were still breaking down the Denver hideout.”
“I was.” Tess smiled at him. “And it’s broken down. Anika gave me a new assignment, starting now.”
Sabine and Ethan reached the top of the stairs as Connor asked, “New job, eh?”
Tess nodded. “I’ll fill you in later. You should go to Ariadne now. Shiloh will take you there.” She gestured to the young man standing beside her. He had the bearing of a warrior, strong-set shoulders and watchful eyes. His dark hair curled gently at his ears and the nape of his neck, and the pale blue of his irises contrasted sharply with the caramel shade of his skin.
“Shiloh just completed his Academy trials,” Tess told them. “He’ll be joining Haldis as a Striker.”
“Welcome aboard,” Ethan said, offering his hand.
Shiloh nodded, returning the gesture. “It’s an honor to be part of the team.”
He gave Sabine a curious look. She’d seen it before.
“Yep.” Sabine smiled a bit dangerously. “I’m the one who used to be a Guardian.”
Shiloh had the decency to blush, which made Sabine like him.
Looking to Connor, Shiloh said, “I’ll take you to Ariadne.”
He gave a quick nod to Tess and then led Connor toward the east wing of the mansion. Sabine started to follow, but Tess caught her arm.
“You’ll get to see her soon enough,” Tess said. “But there’s something else we have to deal with.”
Without further explanation, Tess descended the stairs. Sabine and Ethan followed her through the ground floor of Rowan Estate. Sabine knew this route well. Tess was leading them toward the kitchen.
When they reached the cavernous space of ovens, cooktops, and copper pots and pans, Tess didn’t pause but instead went right to the back door. Opening the door, Tess stopped before stepping outside.
“That’s quite the draft you’re letting in,” Ethan said, but Sabine heard the nervous edge to his voice. “You do remember that we pay the heating bills for this place now?”
Tess gave him a wry smile that quickly faded. “This is where they found her.”
“What are you talking about?” Sabine asked. She looked at the snow outside the doorway and saw it—the impression left there by a body. “You mean Adne? Who found her? What was she doing outside?”
“The morning patrol found her,” Tess answered. “She was unconscious and just outside this door.”
“Is she okay?” Ethan asked.
Sabine bit her lip, as worried as Ethan. In this weather it wouldn’t take long for hypothermia to set in. What could have sent Adne out in the cold?