DAMIEN

The moment I turned, my breath caught in my chest.

The woman standing beside Isaac had long, dark braided hair and a slender frame. Even in the dark, I could see her features clearly. My heart pounded hard as I took in her face—she looked exactly like Keilah.

My mind raced with the possibility—could she be Keilah’s mother? That thought sent a jolt through me. But I had heard that Keilah’s mother was dead.

I glanced at Ralph, and when our eyes met, I knew he was thinking the same thing.

The woman spoke in the local language, her voice sharp and questioning as she looked at Isaac. Her...