Gideon returned with Adeline and Micah to the clearing where they had left Tiger. To their surprise, Tiger was already waiting for them, leaning casually against the trunk of a massive pine tree.
"Byron confessed," Tiger said, straightening up as they approached. "He said he was paid to take people to the hills. But he has no idea what happened to them after he dropped them off. The woman who hired him wore a thick veil and paid him handsomely." Tiger then explained the specific pattern of the lunar cycles Byron had been instructed to follow.
"Caelum didn't mention that other people come to the fountain," Gideon said, his brows knitting together in deep thought.
"Maybe because he never noticed them," Adeline suggested softly. "With us, it was a completely different situation. Caelum recognized us because of you. He and his pack naturally stay far away from the cursed water, so they wouldn't be patrolling the perimeter for ordinary people."
