Mia hesitated before answering the call—the number was unknown.

“Hello?” she said cautiously.

A distorted voice crackled through the speaker, low and menacing.

“You and Claus are meddling in things that don’t concern you. The Beast doesn’t appreciate interference.”

Mia’s pulse quickened. That voice—she’d heard its echo in the coded message they’d been decoding for days. Claus’s jaw tightened beside her, fury simmering beneath his calm.

“Who are you?” Claus demanded. ...