Cold. Too cold.

  “How long did you say it would take?” Mo hollered, looking back over his shoulder.

  Sten stood motionless, wide-eyed, staring out over the vast tundra before them. “Soon,” he said quietly. “Have patience.”

  Mo turned back to the white plains, scanning the horizon. Nothing.

  “That’s it. I’m going back inside.”

  “There!” Sten shouted, nodding toward a figure emerging from the wasteland.

  Mo chuckled as he walked back to him. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I told you she’d be back soon.”

  As the figure drew closer, her shape sharpened. Anna. The same as before.

  “You didn’t have to wait outside,” she said.

  “Are you all right?” Mo asked, placing a hand on her arm and guiding her toward the cabin.

  “Never been better,” Anna said with a smile.

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  Inside, the cabin was warm. They shed their coats and sat by the fire. Sten poured her tea, both men watching her, waiting.

  “So?” Mo said.

  Anna grinned. “I made it back. But it’s always the same date. I can’t change it, no matter how many times I go.”

  “Did you reach the train station?” Sten asked.

  She nodded. “Further. I made it into the city.”

  “This is incredible. What was it like? Must be odd”

  “It was. It was beautiful. And dirty. As usual”

  “Did you see her?” Sten asked urgently. “Was she alive?”

  Anna nodded. A tear slipped down Sten’s cheek.

  Mo looked away. He couldn’t watch people cry.

  “Could you warn her?” he asked.

  Anna shook her head, hands clenched. “No. The palace guards stopped me. I tried to swim the canal, but…”

  She exhaled softly.

  “That’s when I arrived back here. I must have drowned.”

  “You have to go back,” Sten said suddenly. “You have to warn her. You finally made it into the city, you can do it. I know you can.”

  Anna straightened, though her hands trembled slightly.

  Mo noticed. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “I’m good.”

  Then she turned to Sten. “I will. Don’t worry. We will stop this assassination, even if I have to die a million times. I will save your sister. I keep my promises.”

  Sten smiled faintly and stood. “Yes. I know you do.”

  He pulled on his heavy coat. “I have to attend the Ceremony of Flowers. I’ll be back tonight.”

  Anna and Mo nodded.

  “Be safe,” Sten said before stepping out into the cold.

  The fire crackled softly.

  Mo shifted awkwardly. He never knew what to say when they were alone.

  “So,” he said at last, “would you like something to eat?”

  “No.” Anna’s voice was sharp. “We can’t waste time. I can make it there and back before he returns, if we work quickly.”

  She crossed to the fireplace.

  Mo stood, watching.

  Anna picked up the poker and turned, holding it out to him.

  “Here,” she said.

  “Kill me.”