25

Emily didn't realize how late it was until she glanced at her watch.

10:47 p.m.

She looked out across Crescent Lake.

The bonfire had burned down to glowing embers.

Only a handful of townspeople remained, laughing quietly around the fire while children slept on blankets in their parents' laps.

"I should probably head home," she said.

Kael nodded.

"You've had a long day."

"I don't think I've ever walked this much in one day."

He smiled.

"You kept up."

"Barely."

"I didn't hear you complain once."

Emily laughed.

"My feet might disagree tomorrow."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

The lake reflected thousands of stars.

Somewhere across the water, a loon called into the night.

It was the kind of peaceful silence that didn't need to be filled.

Emily finally smiled.

"Thank you."

Kael looked over.

"For what?"

"For today."

"For yesterday."

"For...everything, really."

"You've made moving here a lot easier than I expected."

His expression softened.

"I'm glad."

She hesitated before speaking again.

"I was nervous."

"About the job?"

"Everything."

"The move."

"Leaving home."

"Starting over."

She laughed quietly.

"I didn't tell anyone, but I almost turned the car around three different times on the drive here."

Kael looked genuinely surprised.

"You did?"

"I kept thinking..."

She shrugged.

"...what if I don't fit in?"

He smiled.

"I don't think you had anything to worry about."

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

Emily looked toward the dying bonfire.

"I've never had strangers make me feel so welcome."

"They aren't strangers anymore."

She smiled.

"I guess not."

---

They walked back toward town together.

The streets were nearly empty now.

Shop owners locked doors.

Volunteers folded the last of the tables.

Someone swept confetti from the sidewalk.

Grace spotted them from outside the bakery.

"There you are!"

Emily laughed.

"Weren't you supposed to go home an hour ago?"

Grace waved one hand dismissively.

"I was."

"What happened?"

"I started talking."

Kael chuckled.

"That usually adds another hour."

Grace pointed at him.

"Smart aleck."

She disappeared inside the bakery before returning with a small white box tied with blue ribbon.

She held it out to Emily.

"For breakfast."

Emily looked inside.

Four enormous cinnamon rolls still warm from the oven.

"Oh..."

"You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to."

Grace smiled warmly.

"No one should wake up after a festival without something sweet."

Emily hugged her.

"Thank you."

Grace patted her shoulder.

"Now get some sleep."

She looked at Kael.

"And you..."

"I know."

"Go home."

"Yes, ma'am."

Grace laughed.

"Good."

---

As they continued walking, Emily looked over at Kael.

"Does everyone in this town adopt people?"

He laughed quietly.

"Pretty much."

"I've been here less than a week."

"I know."

"I've already been fed by at least eight different people."

"That sounds about right."

She shook her head, smiling.

"It's kind of wonderful."

---

When they reached Emily's Jeep, she unlocked the driver's door but didn't climb inside.

Instead she leaned against it.

"So..."

"So?"

She smiled.

"What do you do when you're not working?"

Kael looked almost puzzled by the question.

"I work."

Emily laughed.

"I walked right into that one."

He smiled.

"I hike."

"I fish."

"I restore old furniture sometimes."

"You build things."

"I've seen the trail signs."

Emily looked impressed.

"You made all of those?"

"Most of them."

"What else?"

He thought for a moment.

"I read."

"What do you read?"

"History."

"Nature."

"Biographies."

She grinned.

"No mystery novels?"

"Not usually."

"You should."

"Why?"

"They'd surprise you."

He smiled.

"I don't mind being surprised."

Emily tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'll loan you one."

"I'd like that."

---

Neither of them noticed Noah sitting in his truck across the street.

He had one arm resting out the open window while eating the last of a funnel cake.

Lena climbed into the passenger seat.

"They're still talking?"

"They've been talking for twenty-three minutes."

She looked across the street.

"They don't seem to notice."

"They don't."

Lena smiled.

"They're getting comfortable."

Noah nodded.

"I've never seen Kael this relaxed."

"He laughs now."

"He smiled today."

"He danced."

"He absolutely did not dance."

"He swayed."

"That wasn't dancing."

"It was for Kael."

Both of them laughed quietly.

---

Eventually Emily climbed into the Jeep.

She rolled down the window.

"I'll see you Monday?"

Kael nodded.

"Eight o'clock."

"You always say eight o'clock."

"I like being on time."

She smiled.

"I noticed."

She started the engine.

"Goodnight, Kael."

"Goodnight, Emily."

She drove away, taillights disappearing around the bend.

Kael remained standing where he was until the last red glow vanished into the darkness.

Only then did he turn toward his own truck.

---

The drive back to the Crescent Moon Lodge usually took fifteen minutes.

Tonight...

Kael never made it.

About halfway there, he rounded a sharp curve near an old covered bridge.

His headlights caught something standing in the middle of the road.

He braked immediately.

The truck rolled to a stop.

The figure didn't move.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dressed in a long dark coat.

The face remained hidden in shadow.

Kael shut off the engine.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Finally, the stranger stepped into the moonlight.

It was Adrian.

"You've been following her," Kael said.

Adrian nodded once.

"I have."

"What do you want?"

"To keep her alive."

Kael studied him carefully.

"From what?"

Adrian looked toward the forest.

"You still don't know."

It wasn't a question.

Kael slowly climbed out of the truck.

"I know enough."

"No."

Adrian's expression was calm, almost sad.

"You know the stories."

"You don't know the truth."

A cool wind stirred the trees around them.

Kael folded his arms.

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

"Won't."

"The difference doesn't matter."

Kael took one slow step forward.

"If you care about Emily..."

"I do."

"...then stop speaking in riddles."

For the first time since they'd met, genuine emotion crossed Adrian's face.

Regret.

"I wish it were that simple."

He reached into his coat.

Kael tensed.

Instead of a weapon, Adrian withdrew a folded map.

He handed it to Kael.

"Tomorrow morning."

"Go here."

Kael looked down.

The map showed an old section of forest several miles north of Black Hollow.

One location had been circled in faded blue ink.

Hawthorne Falls.

Kael looked back up.

"Why?"

"Because someone else is already looking for it."

"For what?"

Adrian met his eyes.

"The answer to a question neither of you knows to ask yet."

Kael frowned.

"What question?"

Adrian took a step backward into the shadows.

"When Emily starts remembering things she shouldn't..."

His voice grew quieter.

"...you'll understand why finding that place first matters."

Before Kael could ask another question, Adrian disappeared into the darkness between the trees.

The road was empty again.

Kael stood alone beneath the moon, the old map still in his hand.

For the first time in years...

He felt as though he was no longer protecting Emily from the unknown.

He was racing against it.