Connor pressed his hand onto her shoulder. “Hang on, Adne. I don’t think she means offense. What are you talking about, Calla?”

I shook my head, not wanting to dig myself into a deeper hole where I’d be suffocated by doubt and regret.

“No,” Ethan said. “Tell us. You know the Keepers. What’s bothering you about this?”

The strength in his voice pulled me out of self-pity. I tried to remember who I was, or at least who I’d once been. A leader. A warrior.

“It was a trap,” I said.

“Obviously.” Ethan nodded, his eyes narrowing while I spoke. “And a pretty good one.”

“But not as good as it could have been,” I said slowly.

“Keep going,” he said.

“Wraiths,” I said simply.

Connor left Adne’s side and took a few steps toward me. “What about them?”

“Why weren’t there any wraiths?” I struggled to keep confidence in my voice despite the new, sickening fear that snaked through my gut.

No one answered, but everyone’s eyes were on me.

“Think about it,” I said. “They knew we were coming, but we only fought Guardians. I didn’t see any Keepers, and without Keepers there are no wraiths.”

“What are you getting at?” Ethan asked.

“Where were the Keepers?” I replied. “Why weren’t they part of the ambush?”

“Didn’t want to get their hands dirty,” Connor grumbled.

“No,” Ethan said, a shadow of concern passing over his face. “She’s got a point. Why wouldn’t they use their most effective weapon if they wanted to make sure we didn’t escape?”

“Maybe they were around but not in the building,” Adne said, sweeping tears away with the back of her hand. “I’ve never opened an inside door before today. They could have been waiting for us to make a run for it once we left the club.”

“Maybe,” I said, but fear continued to swarm over my skin. “But then why aren’t they down there looking for us?”

No one answered.

“Well, it’s not going to do us any good to wait here and find out,” Connor said. “Adne, open a door. Let’s get back to Denver.”

“Right,” Adne said. “Just do the job. Like nothing’s happened.”

She turned away from him, sulking. Not a good sign. My unease grew by the second. We needed to get out of here and Adne’s grief was slowing our escape. She might be gifted for her age, but she was still young and now it showed. Connor grabbed her shoulders, whirling her to face him. He took her chin in his palm, leaning close to her.

“You’re not the only one who lost someone today, Adne,” he murmured,resting his forehead against hers. “I loved your father too. So did Ethan.”

I looked away, feeling uninvited into this intimate moment.

“But you’re the only one who can get us out of here,” I heard Connor say.

I cast a sidelong glance at them. Adne had pulled away from him and was drawing the skeans from her belt.

“I know,” she said, and began to weave.

Bryn shifted forms and came to my side.

“That’s amazing,” she whispered, watching the door emerge from strands of light.

I nodded.

She took my hand. “I’m sorry I walked away from you, Calla. There’s just so much that’s happened.”

“Don’t apologize,” I said. “It’s all my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” she said. I was surprised by the hard edge in her voice. “If the others stayed behind, they’re fools. And it isn’t your fault.”

“But Ren . . .” When he’d kissed me, I’d felt how much he still wanted me, and from the way my blood had caught fire, I knew at least part of me still ached for him. The knowledge caught me by surprise, stealing my breath as I relived those horrible first minutes in the cell with Ren. I could still see the pain in his eyes when he’d thought he had no choice but to hurt me.

“No,” Bryn said, her voice plowing through my flurry of thoughts. “Calla, I don’t know why you left Vail, but I can guess. Ansel and I were guessing a long time ago. I don’t blame you for following your heart.”

“There’s more than that,” I said.

“I’m sure there is,” she said. “But even if there wasn’t, it wouldn’t make leaving wrong. And you still wouldn’t be to blame for Ren’s choice. That’s all it is. His choice.”

I looked at her, stung by the love in her eyes. The forgiveness.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“What in life is worth a sacrifice, if not love?” She smiled sadly.

“You sound like Ansel.”

“Like attracts like,” she said, and I flinched.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, not wanting to tell her I’d heard that said before. That Ren had spoken those very words to me, and in remembering them, I now realized it was his way of telling me that we were meant for each other. The memory smoldered in my chest like lit coals, burning out much too slowly.

“I can’t wait to see him.” I realized Bryn had been in the middle of a sentence.

“I’m sorry?” I said, shaking myself free of the past.

“Ansel,” she said. “He’s there, right? In Denver?”