"We have to find him," Jae murmured.
"Not now," Jess intervened firmly, crossing her arms in front of them. "You can't go outside. Wandering the woods could reveal this place's location. You have no idea how dangerous that would be."
"Then let me go," Caelan said immediately. "I'm used to wandering alone in the forest, I won't make a sound. And besides, Rong Ye won't show himself if people he doesn't know come after him."
"You're not going out, Caelan," Jess said, her tone sharper this time. "It's too risky."
"Why don't you want us to leave?" Jae asked, narrowing his eyes. His tone wasn't challenging, but it was suspicious. Something about Jess's attitude didn't quite sit right with him.
Before she could respond, the cabin's front door creaked open. A small, brown-haired boy walked in. His face lit up at the sight of Caelan and Jae, and he smiled curiously, but when his eyes fell on Jess, his smile faltered and faded. He froze in the doorway, staring at her in confusion.
