Chapter 54

But as they helped each other up off the couch, something wasn’t quite right. “Hold on,” Lane said, looking around.

Remy kissed his cheek. “Hmm? What is it?”

Lane wasn’t sure. The fire still smoldered in the hearth—the flames had banked, but the embers still glowed. But the rest of the room around them seemed too dark all of a sudden. Why? Remy had turned out the lights earlier, so that wasn’t it. And the fire had burned down a little, but thatwasn’t it, either. Even the Christmas tree—

Frowning, Lane glanced at the Christmas tree. Its lights had turned off.

“The tree’s out,” Lane said. “It was on earlier, right?”

“Right.” Remy turned to look over the back of the couch, calling softly, “Braden? Is that you?”

Lane stood and listened. The door to Braden’s room was still shut; he didn’t think the boy had turned off the tree. He was probably fast asleep, eager for morning to come. The cabin was too damn quiet, though. Nothing Lane could quite put his finger on…