Page 45 of The Wolf

“…the girl you met before? The one you couldn’t find?”

Brine nodded. “She was on—on the ship. I pulled her out before it was blown to smithereens.”

Chesh’s face lit up with a sudden understanding that escaped Brine. “I spied a figure running from you just as I spotted you. I could tell it was a woman, but she was soaking wet and I couldn’t smell anything on her. But if Red was with you when you jumped ship, then it was probably her.”

Brine dragged a hand over his face, beyond irritated. Red was alive, which was something, and she hadn’t let Brine die, which was even more something, but then she left.

Again.

Just what was Brine supposed to do to get the woman to stay in one position long enough to talk to her?

Sweet poison, it was frustrating.

“How long was I out?” Brine moaned, as he finally managed to force himself into a sitting position. Chesh had spoken true; his leg hurt acutely, indicating that something was broken, but the break had indeed been reset and held together with a makeshift but very good splint. Brine would have to use averygenerous dose of mimkia over the next three days, but he really would be healed in no time. He patted down his chest, stretched his shoulders and twisted his neck. Everything ached, yes, but nothing else was injured.

Except his pride.

Chesh chucked another dead fish into the water. A fin slid in and out of view just on the edge of Brine’s vision, circling in on the tidbits. “About twenty minutes,” the cat said. “I tried to wake you but you wouldn’t budge. Did Red knock you out again?”

“Shut up,” Brine grumbled, hating that in his desperation to find her he’d spilled every detail of his encounter to Chesh like an untried youth.

His friend snickered. “So she did… brut she didn’t let you die, and even fixed up your leg. That’s something. She’s certainly an interesting woman, I’ll grant you that. Dangerous, clearly, and potentially mad, but interesting. And you said she’s beautiful?”

Brine glared at him and swayed dangerously when he managed to clamber onto his feet. “Stop feeding the damn sharks,” he growled, ignoring Chesh’s previous jibes. “We have work to do.”

The feline complied, throwing the rest of the fish to the shark or whatever other deadly creature was patiently waiting for the fires to go out on the burning ship before scavenging for fresh, roasted meat. He wordlessly slung an arm around Brine to help him hobble down the docks. There, Brine shrugged off his friend’s help before any of his grandmother’s men could see them. Needing help was a weakness for them. It wasn’t something the wolves of Betraz needed to see.

A look of disapproval crossed Chesh’s face. “If you say so,” he muttered, rolling his eyes, before taking a respectful step to the left. The docks were a mess, teeming with Old Mother’s cronies running in every which direction, unsure about what to do. Out on the sea, the ship was a smoldering ruin, no longer full of the sounds of screams and explosions but eerily quiet.

Brine didn’t want to think about how many men he’d just killed.

Despite the chaos on the docks, it was easy for Brine to spot the shifter in charge. He was the only one standing in a singular place, barking orders instead of doing anything himself. Brine charged at him, as fast as his leg would allow, and only stopped when he was face-to-face with the man.

“What do you want?” the man demanded, bristling, before making to bodily shove Brine out of the way. But then he got a good look at him, and he frowned. “Do I know you?”

“Probably not, but you’ll be glad to know me now.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I would like to offer my services, men, and ship to the Lady of Betraz to help recover everything lost this evening. For a price, of course.”

For a moment it looked like the shifter would punch Brine in the face. But then his expression broke, and he laughed heartily. “Do you know who you’re getting into bed with?” He chortled, the audacity of Brine’s offer clearly sufficient to break the tension of the ship exploding.

A slow grin crossed Brine’s face. “I guess that’s something I’ll find out in time, won’t I? In any case, I’m not rescinding my deal if scaring me off is your intention.”

“Then I guess we have a deal.” The shifter held out his hand, his shake strong and sure when Brine grasped it. Going by the way the man’s entire body relaxed, it was clear he was pleased by this turn of events.

I’ve no doubt made his job a whole lot easier,Brine mused,and given him leverage against being punished. Of course he’s pleased.

The first step of his and Chesh’s plan had been executed almost flawlessly.

Almost, because Red had been there, and now she was gone, and Brine had no idea if he would ever see her again.

For the sake of his duty, it was better for him if she disappeared entirely, like the ghost she was.

He knew that was the last thing he wanted.

TWENTY-ONE

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