The sound of Elias’s protests followed Emilia and Raymond into the kitchen like an unwelcome storm. “How dare you!” Elias roared from the hallway. “You barge into my house, take my daughter, and now you invade my kitchen?”

Emilia ignored him, her focus entirely on Freya, who now sat slumped in a chair at the kitchen island. The girl’s face was pale, her eyes heavy-lidded and dull. She was trembling, her thin hands gripping the edge of the counter as though holding on for dear life.

Raymond placed a firm hand on Emilia’s shoulder. “Do what you need to do,” he said softly. “I’ll deal with him.” Without waiting for...