Whose child is that?”
Genevieve’s smile disappeared.
“Elena’s.”
I stared.
“Elena has a child?”
“Had.”
I felt the old fear return.
“What happened?”
“That’s what Elena was told.”
Genevieve pointed toward the baby.
“Her daughter was born eight years ago.
Helixor told Elena the baby died less than an hour after delivery.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did she?”
Genevieve shook her head.
“I found her file while I was imprisoned.”
I stood.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
The celebration behind us suddenly felt very far away.
“Why would Valez take Elena’s daughter?”
“Because the baby carried the same genetic markers that made Elena valuable to the program.”
I looked toward the garden.
Elena was still there.
She stood near the oak tree, helping Blythe gather abandoned ribbons from the grass.
She had saved my children.
She had walked through rain with holes in her shoes carrying the only thing that
