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Kole visibly flinches. We never talk about the time he spent undercover with the League. We don’t ask questions, and he doesn’t volunteer answers. “The only person whose name I knew was Kayla’s,” Kole replies through tightly clenched teeth. “But that doesn’t mean Eve wasn’t around. I was Kayla’s project. I never met Ragnor, never even knew his name, but he was still a big part of it. So, just because I didn’t hear the name Eve, doesn’t mean she wasn’t hovering in the background.” Kole frowns, and his pace slows a little. He chews his lip for a second before saying, “Although… something in the way she spoke when she was in the van with me—” He glances in my direction. “When they took me from the warehouse to the hotel in Redrock.”

I nod; I knew what he meant.

“She said she’d heard a lot about me. That I was a legend.” He closes his eyes as if he’s trying to remember more details. “I can’t be certain, but I got the impression everything she’d learned about what happened had been second-hand—after the event.” He pauses, then adds, “How does that help, Luther?”

“I have a gut feeling that if we can find out who Eve is, and where she came from, we might figure out how to defeat her.” I smooth my palm over my head. “I don’t like the idea of relying on Kayla.”

Kole nods. “I agree. I just think you’re asking a lot for such a small timeframe.”

I shove my hands into my pockets and take a deep breath to steady the sloshing nerves in my stomach. “Which is why I’m hoping mine and Mack’s replacements forgot to revoke my access to the Sheriff’s database. Someone like Eve? She must be in there somewhere.”

I’m feeling confident. Perhaps because I have to or I’d go mad with nerves, and sadness, and whatever else is going on in my fucked-up head right now. But when Kole remains silent, the vein in his neck noticeably pulsing, doubt starts to creep in.

Am I just doing this to waste time? So I don’t have to think about what will happen if Nova doesn’t come back in time? Or at all?

* * *

Ahead, the cabin is dark. There were no shields or barriers in place, and there are no signs of life inside. Just as they promised, Rev and Sarah must have returned to town.

“We should have reached out to them,” I mutter. “We didn’t even tell Sarah that Sam was back.”

Kole hums his agreement under his breath. “It happened too quickly,” he says. “All of it.”

A sigh shakes my shoulders. How can a place that once brought us so much peace now bring so much sadness?

As if he’s thinking the same thoughts, Kole says, “Building this cabin with you was my salvation, Luther. I don’t think I ever thanked you for it.”

I shrug; strong, unfamiliar emotions pulsing beneath my ribs. “It helped all of us,” I tell him.

“I’m sorry it’s been tainted for you. I know it was always your safe haven.”

We’ve started walking toward the steps. Kole’s sudden openness has surprised me; neither of us are known for wearing our hearts on our sleeves.

“When Nova comes back, it will be a happy place again.” I stop at the bottom of the steps and look back toward the lake. At the end of the jetty, the light catches on the water and—for just a moment—I almost believe I can see Nova. Soft, and naked. Wrapped in a blanket while I sit behind her, watching the water together while we explore each other’s bodies properly for the first time since we admitted how we felt about one another.

I turn away and take the steps two at a time. The door isn’t locked. Inside, everything is as we left it.

Although it’s only been a short time since we were last here, somehow, I expected it to be covered in dust, weeds creeping up through the floor, birds nesting in the roof.

It feels like a lifetime has passed, and yet the cabin is proof it has barely been more than the blink of an eye.

Kole is staring at the corner of the room just behind the couch. He swallows hard and unties his hair.

Both of us look at the ceiling. I’m glad the laptop is downstairs. Already, the memories we created here are almost killing me. If I had to venture into the bedroom, I might implode.

It’s bad enough standing in the living room. Every inch of it reminds me of her; the way she looked dressed in my tee, parading around with that confident grin on her face, so different to when we first met her. The way she teased us all, made us hungry for her, then soothed us with her body and her brilliance. The way I tortured myself for all those weeks before finally admitting how I felt about her. The time I wasted. The moments I lost because I was too stubborn and fucked-up to face it.

All those things are bad enough; the thought of going upstairs and seeing the bed we shared with her is too much.

“I’ll fire up the laptop. You see if you can find any coffee.” I gesture to the kitchen, and Kole nods at me.

As he starts clattering around in the cupboards, I sit at the large oak table and open the computer. It’s old and far too slow but, eventually, it wakes up.

“No coffee,” Kole says, standing behind me. “But I did find these.” He puts a half-empty bottle of whiskey and two glasses down on the table.

“Make mine a double,” I tell him as he starts to pour.

* * *