*Estelle*

It was nearly 3:00 a.m. when we finally made it back to the village. I was tired and I could tell that Gabe was too. We’d barely reached the cobblestone walkway before Val was running to greet us. The look of relief on his face made me feel guilty.

“Thank the Goddess you found her,” he said excitedly.

“She was on her way back, actually,” Gabe said.

I might have imagined it, but he sounded pleased.

Val smiled at me. ...