Finding the Center

The forest remained hushed around them, undisturbed, as if it had learned long ago how to keep what mattered safe.

Faye approached carrying two gun cases. One of them Lyra recognized at once—the same case Bianca had placed in her hands earlier, back in the study. Faye set both down with quiet precision, inclined her head, and stepped back without a word.

Bianca acknowledged her with a brief nod