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“We’re her shoes gone?”

Neither answered.

“For fucks sake, Rafe. Was she wearing shoes?”

He lifted the phone again. “Vivienne.”

A pause.

“Her shoes. Check.”

I could hear movement through the speaker.

A door.

Voices.

Then Vivienne came back.

Rafe’s expression hardened. “Right.”

He ended the call.

“Well?”

“One pair is missing.”

Air finally entered my lungs. “Then she left.”

“Maybe,” Alaric said.

I turned on him. “She left.”

“I heard you.”

“No, you didn’t.”

I turned back in the hallway.

His hand caught my arm. “Where are you going?”

“To find her.”

“No.”

The word hit like a slammed door. I looked down at his hand. Then slowly back at him. Something changed in his face. He released me immediately.

“I’m going.”

“Nyssa—”

“She’s one of us.”

“I know.”

“No. You don’t.” My voice cracked.

I saw Bethany against that wall. Blank eyes. Hands shaking. I’m too broken. I saw myself lowering beside her. It’s me. Let me in.