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I had been planning to bring Mom the cure and then confess I took on a serial killer, but she knew before I had my prize. I had been hoping she was asleep because she was sick and should be. She’d also be less angry if I was sewn up and could hide my bruises by stealing some of her makeup.

Of course, I was her daughter, and I knew better. She was waiting, and she had the whole scene set. She was waiting in the same chair she always sat in when I had to walk home after they let us out of the cells, but she had the candle flickering for extra effect.

“Lucy Argent, I swear to the gods?—”

Before she could really get going—and once she got going, it was difficult for her to stop—Basselt stepped forward. Did this man value his balls? Because Mom would rip them off with her teeth.

“I know you want to go she wolf to your cub and no one is stopping you, but she needs to be stitched up. You can call your healers and they will find out her secret, or I can do it. I know how.”

Neco growled. At a fucking wolf. What was he even doing here? Basselt bared his teeth and growled right back.

“I’m not interested in cubs. Use the rational part of your brain. You need a healer to sew her up so it scars less. I already know her secret. I’m a lot older than you and have seen more breasts.”

Neco just snorted.

“Doubtful. I’ve lived in a brothel since I was ten.”

“It’s also not your decision,” I said. “I trust Basselt. I’d rather him see my tits than you. If you can’t deal with it, then leave.”

Neco looked like I hurt his feelings. I didn’t want him to treat me any differently now that he knew.

If he ever wanted to explain things, I’d hear him out and decide if I wanted him back in my life, but Neco never did that.

Neco Argent grew up around strong women.

He needed to stop treating me like I was helpless.

“You all let her get hurt?” Mom snapped.

Oh, damn. Now she was mad at them instead of me. That was going to change really fast when she found out I was brawling again, but with a serial killer this time. Neco puffed up his chest.

“We got there as soon as we could, but she caught a serial killer and he got the worst of it. She won the fight,” he said proudly.

Mom rubbed her temples and started coughing. Her cough wasn’t as bad as it had been. Blood wasn’t coming up as much, but I’d need the cure soon.

“ Your mothers might be proud you won a street brawl, but somehow, I doubt that. My child’s strength is in her cunning. Stop dragging her into fights.”

“Mom, they didn’t. I did this. I was the one who went to Folcard for the cure.

Neco did nothing but help me and protect me.

We had a whole plan to check in with each other and Basselt was there to let us know which direction the Ghoul was heading if he even hit up Lower Cutwart.

I was the one who messed up and dipped into the alley to see if he was already inside. ”

I started gritting my teeth as Basselt sewed me up and he was being as gentle as possible. Mom wasn’t done, and I didn’t really expect her to be.

“And was all of this worth it? Ollie said this man was one of them.”

I told Mom the entire sordid tale as Basselt sewed up the wound in my chest. Basselt saved me again before she pointed out what everyone was thinking, but not saying.

“Even if her father refuses to honor his end of the contract, I can harvest the herb within the next few days because of this rainstorm. If Lucy hadn’t gotten involved in all of this, you both would have been a target because this man thought Lucy was Lance and his competition.

Folcard got around and the Ghoul managed to find out exactly who and where. ”

“Why was he rolling around in the girls’ beds?” Ollie asked. “I get we’re never going to understand why he was pissing in the house, but didn’t we all think it was the daughters who were of marrying age who were the reason behind all of this and not the sons?”

“I don’t know this man, but I can answer,” Mom said.

“Everyone thinks I slept with Folcard because I was stupid and trying to better my station. I wasn’t.

He would have made my life so much more difficult if I’d said no.

That’s not exclusive to Guttertown. It’s all over Nestran.

If it’s going to be worse if you say yes than if you say no, then people say no all the time.

“As shitty as they treat women, they can’t continue their lines without us.

They need us. The Ghoul wouldn’t have had a title to court them with, so I’m guessing after he took out his half sibling and any witnesses, he was arrogant enough to present his hand and a future title to their pretty sister and think they’d accept just because he thought he’d be a Baron. ”

“Momma would agree,” Neco said. “I kept asking why she didn’t send him away the second time because we both knew she’d end up at the brothel and she said it would be worse for us. He mostly ignored me, but if he’d ever laid a hand on me, she would have kicked him out and dealt with it.”

“You need to get to bed,” Mom said. “Get this done with in the morning. Whether he gives you the cure or not, your business is concluded. If he tries to screw you over and draw you into another contract, say no. Basselt sounds like he has it covered.”

“I do and I agree. I’d personally love to see you screw them over, even if it’s just a little.”

“I’m going to stay outside your door,” Neco said.

“No, you aren’t. I’m not helpless because you just found out I don’t have a penis.”

Neco deflated.

“I was hoping we could talk.”

Arseholes and traitors. Every last one of them. Even Mom got up and left me with Neco. I was honestly raw and in a lot of pain. If he was about to dump it on me that this was just a job for him and he would go back to avoiding me, this was a shit time to do it.

All of this just made me realize how much I missed him. It would destroy me all over again if he decided to drop me again.