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“We thought we had a full concept of the layout and possible exits from the caves, but apparently there was another one. Either he found a new way out, or he’s deeper in the mountain. Either way, there was a rather bloodless end to this particular battle. Slaken’s gone with everyone he could move with him. He left behind alotof dead and a lot of terribly wounded people.Dad made the call to have everyone airlifted to a hospital no matter their condition. So, there’s no one coming here by truck.”

“Shoot,” I whisper, crossing my arms and looking down at the ground. I mean, it’s not like I’mdisappointedthat injured people are getting help elsewhere and being seen in more capable facilities. All of that is good. It’s just…

That maniac is still out there. And he’sstillgot his hostages.

This is nowhere near done.

“Do you have statistics?” dad asks, frowning at Cole. “On who was airlifted?”

“We should,” Cole says, glancing at the computer. “I’m sure it’s in the brief that my father worked up and sent out.”

Dad nods and sits down in front of his computer again, typing and pulling something up.

“So, what’s our next move?” I ask, stepping closer to Cole.

“A lot of that has to do with what your dad thinks – he’s in military command of this medical camp,” Cole says, nodding to him. “If the patients who are still here are well enough to be moved, then I’m encouraging dad to move this camp.”

I blanche at him. “Cole, don’t you think that’s…extreme? All because there are a couple ofkidsout there watching us?”

“Kids with ties to an extreme cult leader who is on the loose and getting increasingly desperate, Nadia –“

“These numbers are off,” dad says, shaking his head and studying his screen. Cole and I both turn to him, our conversation dropping like a stone.

“What?” Cole asks, stepping closer. “I’m sure he double-checked them…”

“No, not that they’re incorrect, Cole,” dad says, sighing and pushing away from the computer. “They’re off in that they’re…odd. Two hundred people airlifted, and still no children?Nogirls?Andno humans?” He shakes his head.

“Well, why is that odd?” I ask, my stomach sinking as I study my dad. “Wouldn’t he want tokeepthe future generations close? And the humans, if they’re his…servants or whatever. His slaves. He’d keep them too, wouldn’t he?”

Dad shakes his head. “I’m sure that hewantsall of them, but feeding them? Keeping them in order? Keeping themobedient?” He narrows his eyes, shaking his head, still trying to sort it all through. “I just…can’t fathom how not evenonegot away.Surely,there are those who were discontented, looking for a way out.”

I watch my dad, worried now too. He’s right – it’s just…too neat. The total absence of both groups in a huge rescue mission like that is bizarre.

“Something’s off,” dad murmurs, dropping his head in his hand and then massaging his forehead with his thumb and forefinger in the way he does when he’s got a stress headache.

“You’re right,” Cole says, sighing, hands going to his hips as he looks over at the phone. “Let me make a call. I’ll run it by dad, maybe Jude, and see what their perspectives are on this.”

Dad nods as Cole looks to me.

“I’ll update you when I’ve got updates?” he offers, brows rising. I nod and half turn towards the entrance, wanting to get back to work.

“Thanks,” I say, nodding to him. “For keeping me informed.”

Cole shrugs like it was only natural, reaching for the phone.

I leave the tent, heading back to the nursing tent, hoping that the steady work will help me get my mind straight.

Unfortunately, the work doesn’t do the job of distracting me. An hour or two slips by without any updates, and even while I keep my hands busy, my mind turns and turns over the problem. Wherearethe girls? Where are the humans? I try to put myself in their place, attempting to figure out what it is that I would do if I were them.

And an idea comes to me that’s…a little crazy, my heart filling with the fear that these children – wherever they are – must be feeling.

I jump when Cole says my name, spinning to see him standing there. He frowns at me as I press a hand to my heart, catching my breath. “I surprised you?” he asks.

“No, Cole,” I snap, giving him a half-hearted glare. “I’m just sostunnedby your good looks –“

He laughs, shaking his head at me and then glancing around the tent. But when he sees that no one’s close by, he nods towards one of the empty beds. “Got a minute?”

“I do, but can we talk over food?” I ask, grabbing my hoodie off of the desk and pulling it on, my hands slipping into the pockets to check that my little wolf carving is still there. I smile as my fingers slip over the wood grain, which is now becoming so familiar to me.