"She was," confirms Isabella. "I didn't have to talk her into it at all. She didn't even ask for my name. She packed him a sandwich and shooed him away."

"That's only half an answer to the question I was asking. Does she, too, need protection? If she does, we can whisk her away instead of checking with Alleya a couple of times a year to see if a new child has been dedicated as the son or daughter of Canaan."