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“Nothing we can do about it. I took a picture of it, and I’m telling you. I know it’s not much, but there are a lot of small things, and they will add up.”

“I’m sure they will.”

I nod, more to myself than anything. Soon, Forge starts snoring, so I roll over and go to sleep myself.

Whatever is going on, I am going to figure it out.

Chapter Twenty-One

Raewyn

I’m nervous, excited, and a little scared to go back to my village.

I want to see everyone that I miss, which is why I’m excited. I’m also nervous about how they will feel about me. Pierce and Forge say they were on my side and didn’t think I had anything to do with Tiger’s death, but people’s opinions change. Maybe they won’t want me there at all.

Not that I have plans to return for good. My future looks different than it did a few weeks ago, and that’s okay, but I would still like to visit. They’re all I have, and I consider them my family.

What’s bothering me the most is the fear. I’m worried all the memories of that day will come back and I’m going to freak out. Not be able to speak with anyone or get any of my things.

I still have bad dreams about Tiger and what I saw.

I still have that little rectangle thing that I should tell someone about. I trust Forge and Pierce more and more each day, but there is still a small part of me that thinks what if?

What if they’re involved?

What if this is the worst luck I’ve ever had, and I scent-matched with two men who were looking for me to kill me?

Would they have done everything they did if that were the case?

I don’t know. People do crazy things. They could be playing the long game. Gaining my trust so I’ll tell them everything I know.

I don’t want to think this way, because I don’t think it’s true, but I have to consider everything.

I don’t know how to figure this out, to decide if I should tell them or not. I want to because I think it should help, but I can’t stop the worrying.

The object that Tiger gave me is the only thing I didn’t tell Trina about. It’s the one thing I have kept to myself. Somehow, it feels important.

Maybe it’s important in the way that it could help solve Tiger’s murder, but that means it would have to be in the right hands first. If it ends up in the wrong hands, Tiger’s murderer may never be found at all. The person, or people, who did this, would get away with it. And I have the feeling that they’ve gotten away with things like this before.

I decide to wait until we get back to their house—my home. I’ll see how this visit goes. Maybe I’ll have a moment alone to ask the other villagers what they think. Trina said she trusted them, but it just doesn’t feel like enough. Not yet.

The moment we turn down the dirt road, I know we’re close. I’ve never been on this road this far away before, but I know it’s the one. We drive for a few more moments, Pierce going slow because there are a lot of bumps and large puddles after all the rain last night. When we reach the end, it all looks so familiar.

Emotion wells in my chest and tears fill my eyes.

Here, I have been many times. I’ve met those who go into the city to get things. I’ve seen them off as they leave for the last time. It’s the last place I hugged my parents before they left…

I can’t help but smile as Pierce puts the car into park and we get out. I stand there, looking around and taking in a deep breath. It smells like home.

“You okay, Rae?”

It’s the first time Forge used the nickname most of the villagers call me. I imagine he doesn’t know that’s what they call me and just wanted to use the nickname on his own, which is sweet.

“Just happy to be here,” I say. “I’ve missed everyone.”

“Then let’s go see them,” Pierce says.

I lead the way through the forest, following the invisible path to the village. It takes ten minutes or so before we’re popping out into the village center, which is just a small clearing that our houses are built around, at different distances.