They were told to meet by the trailhead after lunch. A long path carved into the woods had been marked with ribbons, and the staff guided them forward in silence, their footsteps crunching against damp leaves and soft earth.

The air was cooler under the trees, thick with the scent of moss, bark, and something old—something ancient. Katherine breathed it in deeply as she walked beside Carolina, who was unusually quiet. Kingsley walked a few paces behind them. Devon was ...