Guinevere narrowed her eyes. "Or maybe that creep lied. Maybe he locked the door again and just doesn't want us to know." The thought made both girls uneasy. No matter how they looked at it, something about this place felt wrong. But then, as if on cue, they both thought of the innkeeper—the beautiful, warm woman with the soft voice. The memory of her made the fear fade a little, like a candle pushing back the dark. She didn't seem capable of hurting anyone. Selina frowned. "What if Anthony went outside, and she noticed the door open later? Maybe she locked it afterward, and her husband doesn't know." Guinevere nodded fast. "Let's ask her." Down the hall, Natalie and Cassian had already picked their room. "This one," Natalie said. The innkeeper blinked in surprise. "Really? That's the smallest one we've got. No one ever chooses it." Cassian's tone was flat. "We'll take it." The woman's smile twitched before she forced it steady. "Alright. But that room hasn't been cleaned yet. Why don't you wait in another one while I tidy it up for you?" Natalie shook her head. "We'll handle it." Both the woman and her husband had tried too hard to push them into a specific room. That was enough to make her suspicious. She wasn't about to walk into a setup. She would pick the room they expected the least. There was no way she would let them try anything funny. The smaller room was better anyway. It would hold heat, and with the temperature outside still dropping—maybe another seventy degrees before morning—it would be easier to stay warm. Their body heat and the pets' would keep them comfortable through the night. The innkeeper smiled sweetly. "Honey, you paid good money to stay here. I can't just let you clean it yourself. Let me take care of it. I'll be quick." Natalie's voice sharpened. "If you feel bad, refund the difference." The woman's face froze, then she forced a nervous laugh. "Oh, you're funny. Times are hard, that's all … " Her voice trailed off when she noticed Natalie's expression—a cold, silent warning. She sighed and gave up. "Alright. I won't argue. Rest well, and call me if you need anything." Natalie gestured toward the door. "We're good." The woman turned to leave, but before she could open the door, two female voices rang from the hallway. "Ma'am, have you seen Anthony?" "And did you relock the front door?" The innkeeper turned around, her candlelight flickering over Selina and Guinevere's anxious faces. She offered Natalie an apologetic smile before turning to the girls. "Let's step outside, dears. These guests need to rest." Natalie's voice broke through, cool and direct. "No, talk here. What's wrong?" The woman hesitated, meeting Natalie's sharp gaze. Selina and Guinevere repeated their questions, both talking over each other in worry.The innkeeper finally spoke. "Anthony came downstairs earlier. He asked if he could stay in the room next to yours. I said yes. He took the key and went up happy as could be. I haven't seen him since. "I never touched the door. My husband locks it every night. That's his job." Her brows knitted together. "Why? Did something happen?" Guinevere mumbled, "That's the problem—we don't know." Selina's jaw tightened. "Anthony's missing." The innkeeper gasped, eyes wide. "Missing? That's impossible." Selina crossed her arms. "We checked his room. Nothing. We thought he froze to death, but when we broke in, he was gone." The woman's voice softened. "Don't panic. Maybe he wandered into another room." Guinevere shook her head. "All the doors are locked." The innkeeper smiled awkwardly. "The doors are wooden. A hard kick will open them." Then she raised her hands quickly. "But please don't kick them. I'll have to fix them later. Come on, I'll grab the keys, and we'll look together." Selina's tone softened. "Thank you. We really appreciate it." The innkeeper smiled kindly, then closed Natalie's door as she left with the two girls. Natalie switched on a camping lantern, filling the room with a warm glow. She leaned against the table and said quietly, "Those girls trust her too easily." It made no sense. Someone went missing inside an isolated inn, and instead of being cautious, they ran straight to the owner for help. She should've been the prime suspect. Cassian frowned. "It's her presence. She has something about her. Makes people feel safe." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "You noticed too?" Cassian nodded. He didn't usually tolerate flirtatious women, yet he felt no anger toward this one. It was strange. Natalie's tone dropped, low and steady. "Let's keep our guard up. She's not what she seems." Cassian gave a short nod. "Yeah." He looked at their dog resting by the bed. "Lucky, you stay sharp too."