Page 40 of The Wolf

“Surprise,” Scarlet muttered.

Ari’s bright violet eyes widened as she pushed her dark wavy red hair from her light seafoam colored face. “By the gods, Scarlet! What the devil are you doing here?”

“Long story, but I need your help.”

Her half-human, half-siren friend stepped aside and waved them in. “Come in, come in.”

Scarlet stumbled inside, clinging to her charge.

The basement to the Siren’s Song was a safe place for those fleeing Arwen. Ari had long since left her own country to build a life here in Callmai. For years now she had been helping to smuggle refugees out of Betraz—perhaps one of the only good reasons for the city to exist.

“What’s happened?” Ari asked, concern painting face. “You weren’t due for another trip for another two months.”

“I know but something came up.” She opened her cloak to reveal Moses. “It was an emergency.”

Ari’s expression darkened and she stepped closer, running her hand across the boy’s forehead. “He’s too hot. Tell me what’s happened.”

“He had a fever a few weeks ago but I treated him for it.” Scarlet swallowed. “Arwen discovered what I had been doing and punished me by hurting the whole family. I barely managed to get the wee one out.”

Ari nodded. “Is he half-Talagan?”

“Yes.”

“And his parents?”

“Gone.”Because of me.“I couldn’t save them.”

“This is not your fault. This is because of Old Mother, not you. You must remember that.” Her friend’s eyes narrowed. “You look weary to the bone. Are you staying the night?”

Scarlet shook her head, and gently handed Ari the boy. He’d feverishly slept through their entire escape, blind to all that had transpired. Scarlet was grateful for it, though she could not imagine what the boy would go through once he awoke and everything had to be explained to him.

“I must be on my way. My mission in Merjeri has already taken longer than my stepmother expected. I can’t risk it.”

A flash of disapproval crossed her friend’s face before she leaned closer and pressed a kiss to Scarlet’s cheek. “Stay longer next time. I have updates for you on the last batch of folk you brought me. They’re thriving on the other side of the sea. Because ofyou.Focus on that when things get dark in Betraz.”

Scarlet offered her a tired smile. She was practically falling asleep where she stood. “Of course. Until then.”

She kissed the top of Moses’ head. “Be strong, little one.”

Forcing herself to leave the way she came, for some reason she felt heavier. It would be so easy to just stay here and never go home.

You can’t leave your friends behind—nor your people. Don’t be selfish.

Each step became stronger as she moved from the cloak of darkness onto better lit streets of the dock proper. The stores in the area were all still open despite the time of night. No one slept on this side of town.

She intended to visit two apothecaries—both favorites of her stepmother—in order to procure certain desirable elements of her favorite poisons to appease her. Maybe her punishment wouldn’t be so harsh.

When has that ever worked?

Arwen didn’t know the meaning of mercy.

Providing nobody had spotted Scarlet’s escape with the boy, she could safely return to the estate. The lie she had been building was ready—that she’d volunteered to help set up the orphanage but Lady Marianne had guards on her at all times, even when she slept.

It was a flimsy excuse, but Scarlet would have to sell it nonetheless.

Her gaze roamed the area and she paused on a new ship that had arrived during the time she had been inside the Siren’s Song. Her brows slashed together.

One of her stepmother’s.

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