Chapter Seventy-six

Climbing to the top of the tree, I felt a sense of urgency propelling me upwards. Each branch I grasped seemed to promise a step closer to solving our problems, yet the anxiety gnawing at me made my movements jerky and rushed. I found a sturdy perch near the top, settled myself, and closed my eyes.

‘Louis,’ I called out through our bond, desperately trying to reach him. ‘Please, hear me.’

Nothing. Just emptiness. Panic started to bubble up in my chest, and my mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What if something had happened to him? What if Natasha had done something?

“Calm down, Angela,” I reminded myself,...