Stephen paused. "Did you find anything?"
"Mordo's lost his mind." Christine's expression was grave. "He's expanded the Ultron robots' patrols to every nonurban area on the planet. They're conducting a blanket search."
Stephen set down his fork, his expression calm.
"They won't find this place." Stephen took her hand. "Valnerina Valley has no modern communications towers, and the surrounding magnetic field even interferes with satellite signals. As long as we don't expose ourselves, they'll be looking for a needle in a haystack."
"But Stephen, what if..."
"There is no 'what if.'" Stephen cut her off, his gaze resolute. "I won't let anyone separate us, no matter the cost."
Christine looked into his eyes, and the unease in her heart gradually subsided.
She clasped his hand in return and nodded.
By evening, the cobblestone square in the center of the village was brightly lit.
Long wooden tables had been pushed together, laden with roasted meat, fresh cheese, large platters of pasta, and barrels of homemade red wine.
The cheerful melodies of an accordion and a guitar echoed through the night air.
Dozens of villagers sat around the tables, laughing, talking loudly, and raising their glasses to celebrate the year's harvest.
Stephen and Christine sat among them.
The villagers had accepted them, and they had become part of the community.
"Cheers! To sunshine, to grapes, and to love!" Giuseppe, the village chief, raised an enormous wooden tankard and shouted, his face flushed.
"Cheers!" everyone chorused.
Stephen took a long drink of red wine, the rich liquid flowing down his throat.
He turned to look at Christine a short distance away.
She was chatting with Mrs. Maria, doubled over with laughter, still holding half a glass of red wine, her cheeks slightly flushed.
He rose and walked over to her.
"Christine, could