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The adrenaline that had fueled Abe through their frantic escape from Freya’s house had long since evaporated, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness.

Now, as the first rays of light pierced the horizon, his eyes burned from lack of sleep, and his muscles ached. But he couldn’t afford to relax. Not yet. Not until he was certain Freya was safe.

The stolen vehicle was a pathetic stand-in for his Guardsmen’s SUV—the suspension felt like a pogo stick, and the engine barely had enough power to blow out a candle. But he pressed on, steering them north to the remote north, where Freya’s old mentor lived. This woman was so off-the-grid she didn’t even have a phone or internet.

It was like trying to find a unicorn in a snowstorm.

Not much had changed despite hours of driving. Ghostly plumes of steam rose from vents in the earth, and the barren fields of lava formations still stretched before him. But here and there were patches of emerald moss and brave yellow poppies bobbing fearlessly in the wind that gave him hope.

He checked his watch. Almost eight thirty. By his calculations, they should arrive any minute now.

As he crested a last hill, a structure loomed into view. Abe eased off the accelerator. “Holy shit.”

Freya stirred at his words, stretching. “What.”

“Your woman’s house is just ahead.” Too late to mask the disbelief in his voice.

“She’s my mentor.”

“Whatever.” He couldn’t take his eyes off the structure at the bottom of the hill. “You sure she’ll be okay with us just rocking up?”

Freya gave a small tilt of her head. “We don’t have time to send her a letter.”

He gripped the wheel harder, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle in his stomach. “Going in cold then.”

He slowed the car on the approach.

The structure looked like it had been cobbled from the fever dreams of a mad architect. Its base was a traditional two-story stone cottage, the dark volcanic stone blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Yet, it was a chaotic jumble of additions that disrupted the rustic charm.

Metallic domes and spires jutted out at odd angles, giving the place a surreal appearance. Antennas of various shapes and sizes crowded the roofline, swaying in the breeze like bizarre metallic plants above walls that shimmered.

Freya had briefed him on her mentor. Professor Asta Eriksdottir, a gifted but eccentric biophysicist in her late seventies, was a world leader in ground-breaking research on the effects of EMF on human brain activity. According to Freya, she had even conducted self-experimentation, exposing herself to various levels of EMF to study its neurological impacts.

“Freya, are you sure about this? That house looks a little crazy .” He’d known their destination would be unconventional, but this was beyond anything he’d encountered in all his years in covert ops. “Sheesh. Are those Tesla coils lining the driveway?”

Freya made a small humming noise of agreement. “Asta has unique ideas about personal security.”

Abe snorted, guiding the vehicle to a stop a prudent distance from the house. “Yeah, I can see that. Any other surprises I should know about before we knock on the door?” His hand instinctively checked the sidearm concealed beneath his jacket.

Freya clocked his motion. “Just try to keep an open mind. Asta sees the world differently than most people. But if anyone can help us, it’s her.”

“Alright then.” Abe squared his shoulders. He was a SEAL. He could do this. “Let’s go meet the wizard.”

The morning air was cool as he exited the stolen SUV, a raw breeze lifting off the gray sea lurking on the horizon. He helped Freya down from the car, taking her hand as they walked toward the house. It felt comfortable—natural. She didn’t pull away.

Should he be bothered that it pleased him?

“When did you last see Asta?” Abe scanned the bleak landscape behind them. Nothing. This place was a volcanic wasteland. If there were a picture in the dictionary of the most removed house from humanity, this would be it.

“A few years ago. We’ve both been busy with our work.” Freya knocked on the door.

“Uh-huh.”

Footsteps sounded from the other side and then stopped. They were being scrutinized through the door’s fish eye.

Come on. Open up . They were so exposed here.

The sound of locks being undone echoed. Lots of locks. After what felt like an eternity, the door swung open.

Abe could have mistaken the figure on the other side for an alien life form. With silver hair and sharp green eyes, the woman wore what looked like a cross between a beekeeper’s hat and a finely meshed colander.

Her gaze landed first on Freya, triggering a squeal. “Freya, my dearest!” She seized Freya with metallic-silver gloved hands and planted a kiss on both cheeks. “It has been far too long.”

Freya’s face lit up with a genuine warmth he had never seen before, her usual mask of cool professionalism melting away to reveal a joyful smile. In that moment, Abe caught another glimpse of the woman beneath the scientist, and his heart skipped a beat.

“Asta! It’s so good to see you. We’re so sorry for dropping in unannounced, but?—”

Asta flapped her silver-gloved hands, cutting off Freya’s apology. “Nonsense! You’re always welcome here.” Her sharp green eyes locked onto Abe, narrowing behind the mesh of her bizarre headgear. “And what is this you’ve brought with you, heh?”

What?

Freya gave his hand a bone crushing squeeze. “Asta, this is—” but Asta was already in motion.

She whipped out what looked like a Geiger counter’s deranged cousin from a pocket in her worn, patch-covered dungarees. She began waving it up and down Abe’s body, muttering.

Abe shot Freya a concerned look, mouthing, “What the hell?”

Freya’s response was a tiny shake of her head and a look that said, ‘Just go with it’.

“Um, ma’am?” This was feeling like he’d stumbled into a low-budget sci-fi flick. “I’m?—”

“Quiet, please,” Asta studied the fluctuating digital display on her device. “I’m reading your electromagnetic signature. Fascinating…”

Freya shot Abe an apologetic look. “Asta, this is Abe. He’s a friend. He’s been helping me.”

Asta finished her scan, eyeing Abe as if was an interesting lab rat. “Well, Abe. All visitors must surrender their electronic devices before entering my property.”

Abe blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Your phone, smart watch, any hidden communications devices,” Asta lifted the lid on a box next to the door with a theatrical flourish.

Abe peered inside, his disbelief growing. The lead-lined interior wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Cold War bunker.

“They all need to go in here.” Asta tapped the box with a silver-gloved finger.

The implications of surrendering his phone in their current situation rattled through his mind. Hell no . “Um, I’d rather not.”

“Abe.” Freya unclipped her watch. “It’s okay. We can trust Asta.”

This wasn’t the Freya of cold facts and sterile lab reports, but a woman willing to open herself to human connection. And even though he might surrender his sanity along with his devices, he liked what he saw in Freya’s eyes far too much.

With a resigned sigh, he placed his phone and watch into the box, acutely aware of the comforting weight of his gun tucked against his back. At least that didn’t have an electromagnetic signature.

Freya did the same, her hand finding his again as soon as she was done. Unable to stop himself, he ran his thumb along the inside of her wrist. Freya sucked in an audible breath that made his heart stutter.

Was there more to this than his own crazy imaginings? Did she feel something, too?

Asta nodded approvingly, her eyes gleaming behind her mesh headgear. “Come inside, both of you.”