Page 60 of The Wolf

It was the fox who spoke, amber eyes keen but serious. “Keep quiet about what you’ve seen and heard tonight,” he said, voice soft and gentle. He watched Scarlet with interest, almost recognition. Did he know who she was? He made her feel as if he could pull all Scarlet’s secrets from her soul. “Can you do that?”

“I do not owe you a debt,” she replied frankly, her focus shifting to the dragon. “It is the dragon I’m indebted to.”

“This time it is one and the same,” the dragon rumbled, crossing his arms.

“My life debt canceled for my silence?”

“Yes.”

She looked between the two shifters and nodded. “I’ve been keeping silent all my life,” she said quietly, almost sadly. “What is another secret to pretend I do not know?”

The fox’s curiosity increased. “How I love a lady with secrets.”

“I’d like to be less intriguing.”

Understanding flitted across his face, and a small smile curled his lips. “I understand the sentiment. May you find some peace in your life.”

Scarlet blinked slowly at the stranger’s genuine words. Her chest warmed and she decided at that moment she liked him. He felt like a kindred spirit of sorts.

“I will leave you to your night’s activities,” she said and began backing away.

“Very well, then, Red,” the fox said. “I will trust that you’ll keep your word.”

“And if you don’t, I know where to find you,” the dragon joked, though to Scarlet’s ears he sounded entirely serious, despite the jovial look on his face. Not wishing to risk her good luck—if the fox was afriendof Brine’s,then he was a member of the Dark Court after all—Scarlet retreated from the pair of shifters as quickly as she could.

Brine was rigging the trials.

If he was an unconscionable killer, he would have taken the wolves lives. Instead, he knocked them out. He’d come back to the pack for a reason and it wasn’t to be a lacky for Arwen.

The Dark Court had no dealings with the Pack of Betraz.

Was Brine here on their behalf?

Either way, he was keeping secrets. Huge secrets.

Unease once again trembled in her chest.

Scarlet knew Arwen better than Brine did with all his years away from the pack. She was cleverer than anyone ever seemed to give her credit for. It was only a matter of time before Brine’s secrets were discovered. By someone who would use them against him.

By someone who would want to see him killed for them.

And you as well. You’re duplicitous.

Her heart sank. She was as culpable as Brine was now.

For some reason, the universe kept pushing them against each other despite the fact Scarlet wanted Brine as far away from her as possible. Deep down, she knew he’d be the death of her.

She had to do something.

To save them both.

TWENTY-NINE

SCARLET

Scarlet hated how long the celebrations for successful trials in Betraz lasted. There had been the revel in the courtyard immediately after Brine completed the trial. There had been two days of secret meetings, which of course Scarlet had not been part of. Now it was a celebration dinner for the residents of the manor, and then at the end of the week there would be a ball held in Brine’s honor. There he would choose a wife from the eligible women of the province.

After that, his position as heir to the pack would be secure.

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