Over the phone, Sophia replied, "Strangely, I haven't been able to reach Eli these past few days," she said. After separating from Samuel, she had wanted to call Eli to explain that Samuel hadn't betrayed her. But she couldn't get through no matter how many times she tried. She was planning to fly to Rothmark to check on her after finishing her current work.

Samuel frowned, not suspecting anything had happened to Eliana, just assuming she was avoiding him again. Damn it. ...