CHAPTER 458

Phoebe’s POV

“Save my sister!” I screamed, my voice raw. “Please! Please save my sister!”

Suddenly, I jerked awake, my chest heaving, soaked in sweat. I blinked against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, the harshness of my nightmare slowly giving way to reality. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the fear sticking to me, refusing to let go.

Everything rushed back to me all at once. The call from Lance last night, the fragments of hope he’d offered. Lance—my old friend turned journalist—had mentioned that he knew someone, an ex-member of Les Ombres Écarlates. His contact had ideas on where Emily might be. He had given me the names of three possible places, and today, that old connection was supposed to lead us through those dark corners of Paris.

I wiped my eyes, pulling myself together, and jumped out of bed. My legs felt shaky as I rushed to the bathroom, turning on the shower. I needed to move fast.

As the hot water poured over me, I went over Lance’