Carol continued to chat with Maja, but this time, they ditched voice messages for good old-fashioned typing.

What a relief that Maja didn't bring up the Miller family, Carol thought. She had no idea how she'd explain that mess.

Maja had taken Beck's words to heart: if they needed help, she was there, but if they chose silence, there was little anyone could

do. They were adults; they knew the weight of their choices.

After responding to Carol's last message, Maja leaned back to rest. The room was cozy, the temperature just right, and Coco was

wagging its tail furiously nearby.

It had been ages since Maja had seen Coco, and she longed to pet her, but Beck was overly cautious, not letting any pets get too

close.

So, to keep Beck from worrying, Maja kept her distance from both Coco and Rocky, the aloof Siamese cat who seemed to look down

on everyone with a sort of detached disdain.

Coco had long accepted Rocky as the alpha, fawning over him shamelessly.

Maja sat by the window, a cashmere throw rug beneath her, hugging a pillow. A sudden drop in temperature had brought a flurry of

snowflakes outside. She was tired of asking for updates on lan, knowing disappointment was the likely outcome.

With just a month until Christmas, she buried her face into the pillow and let out a soft sigh.

Meanwhile, at the Windhelm border, Abner sat in a chair, gunfire echoing around him. This shipment had proved trickier than

expected.

That was a death

out,"

was about to load his gun

Boom! Boom!

two explosions, the boat quickly disintegrated, and Abner

his

down on his shoulders. "Took us ages to stop the bleeding. Don't start it

the hands away and, bracing against the wall, he staggered to his

"Where am I?"

was hoarse, remembering only clinging to a piece of driftwood before blacking

voice said. "My dad fished you

was no

massaged his temple. "My

nothing

on a

and comfortable.

Betrayed by his own men, it seemed. A bomb planted, no less. They probably didn't expect

really shouldn't move," the boy cautioned. "My dad called Queena to treat you. She's a genius,

back from studying

in his body, the room

boy was sun-kissed, clearly no stranger to outdoor life,

for my sis Queena, you'd be dead," he said, supporting Abner. "Dad thought you were a

word, Abner sat back down,

the bandages again, the boy shouted, "It's splitting

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