The air in the estate was too still.

Emma paced the corridor outside Elara’s room, her bare feet cold against the polished floorboards. Somewhere down the hall, Jack and Callen argued in whispers—discussing next steps, debating the risks of even keeping Elara on U.S. soil. Emma couldn’t hear every word, but she didn’t need to. The tension was loud enough to make her heart race.

Elara hadn’t spoken since yesterday. Not even to Emma. Not since the incident at the embassy, not since ...