Page 35

Lazar may have put the order out for me and my friends, but I had no doubt who was actually behind it.

Sonya.

“We’re just trave—”

“I heard it over the walkie-talkies.” He kept his finger heavy on the trigger, stepping in farther. His appearance suggested middle age, though it was hard to tell with fae. “You’re the two who escaped from the border patrol, aren’t you?”

Air trickled out of my lungs with a little relief.

“Look.” I tried to call on my abilities to soothe and calm someone. “We’re not dangerous. We just need a place to rest, and then we will be gone.”

He peered around me, taking a better look at Scarlet, his bushy black eyebrows pinching together. He nodded at her. “She looks familiar. I’ve seen her someplace before.”

“No,” I scoffed, shocked it wasn’t me he pointed at. “Definitely not.” I glanced back at Scarlet, pausing on her for a moment. Sitting on the hay, her back pressed to the wall, arm around her torso. Fear whisked over her features slowly enough for me to catch before her walls went up. It tasted odd; a strange mix of alarm and fear slid over my tongue. She dipped her head, her hair curtaining her face, her lungs laboring.

“Please.” I went back to the man, my palms still displayed toward him. “She’s hurt. She needs a place to rest and heal. We will not cause you any problems.”

“Seems like you already have,” he mumbled, moving around, getting closer to Scarlet. I moved with him, keeping my body between them.

His mouth twisted, concern worrying his brow. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Cracked rib.”

“She’s fae. Why isn’t she healing?” He nodded at her face, the bruising and cuts from our fight with the bodyguards still vivid.

“Goblin metal.” I pointed at her wrist, sensing only truth would work with him.

He cringed, stepping back, but his gaze stayed on her. Completely transfixed. Whatever it was about her, it seemed to disarm him. He sighed, lowering his gun.

“Why are the guards out searching for you?”

“She lost her travel papers.” It was true, just not the full truth.

“So you ran from them? And got away?” He blinked at me in shock, really asking,You were willing to die for not having documents?

“It’scomplicated.” I shot a glance at Scarlet, using her phrasing from earlier.

“It must be.” He huffed out a clipped laugh. “The fact you escaped from them and got this far?” He truly looked awed. “Guess you deserve a drink for that.”

“Yes.” I practically melted in his hand, the need slamming into me, my mouth watering.

“Well…” He blew out. His attention traveled back to Scarlet. I could sense his skepticism rising when it landed on her, yet he seemed even more inclined to help her despite it.

Odd.

“Just my wife and me.” He made his way back to me. “We don’t have much, but you can come in and have someciorba radau?eanashe just made.” A soup named after the town ofRadau?iwhere it originated. A staple, especially during the holiday season. “And I have sometuica.” A plum brandy that was similar topálinka. Though each country considered theirs the one far superior.

“Thank you.”

His dark eyes met mine, and I could see the threat in them. If I did anything to make him regret this decision, he would kill me himself.

Dipping my head in agreement, all I cared about was to get Scarlet somewhere warm and some actual food in her belly.

“Okay.” He still seemed hesitant. “Follow me.” He clutched his gun and headed for the door while I turned for Scarlet.

“I’m fine out here.” She tucked tighter into herself. “I’m simply gonna go to sleep.”

“I’m not leaving you out here.” I crouched, cupping her face and tilting it up to me. “You need to get warm and have something to eat.”