Chapter 53

They left their clothes in the greenhouse and shifted, allowing Maeve and Marcel to bound into the forest line. They teased and chased one another playfully, jumping over rocks and ducking beneath branches as though they had no cares in the world. 

Lorenzo could feel the stress that had been weighing on him disappear further and further, the longer he spent in Arla’s presence, and Arla felt more content than she had been all week.

Maeve screeched to a stop, sniffing the air. Marcel slowed down and circled back to her, taking in a deep breath also, but not picking up anything out of the ordinary.

“What is it, Maeve?” asked Marcel.

“Rogues.”

“I can’t smell any rogues. Which direction?”