Page 41 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

I was lying on my bed, propped up on my elbow, chatting with Cleo and Tatum as they packed their bags for the weekend. Then Laney burst into the room, grinning ear to ear, waving a letter in her hand.

“Pack your bags, Thorny-Pie! You’re coming home with me this weekend,” she cheerfully announced.

I nearly choked on my own saliva, caught completely off guard. “W-what?”

“My parents heard about what happened to Hogboom and sent a letter inviting you to come along with me if we earned visitation leave. They won’t take no for an answer,” Laney said, already packing her bags.

Stunned, I slowly sat up and began packing my own bag, too shocked to even ask questions.

But instantly intrigued with the idea of escaping from the Wylder boys.

Laney’s hometown, Lanorcoast, is an utterly charming place. Nestled just past Jysper—the Wylder brothers’ hometown—along the main road, Lanorcoast has a warm, cozy feel despite being larger than the village Rhodes had taken me to.

The town stretched out for miles, with buildings draped in ivy, lavender, and delicate white flowers. I couldn't see a shore, but the salty scent of the ocean filled the air, and I could hear the sound of waves crashing nearby.

A spacious courtyard sat in the heart of Lanorcoast, surrounded by a lively plaza of shops offering everything from baked goods and meats to home furnishings. A small clinic was nestled between a floral shop and what looked like a small restuarant.

Children darted around, playing tag with their furry companions, while families gathered at small, circular tables along the edges, their laughter and smiles creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

As the carriage rolled into the plaza, Laney waved at a man working a vendor table, then eagerly tugged my arm, urging me to follow her.

A few roads down, we arrived at a charming two-story home with a small but lovely front garden enclosed by a white picket fence.

Laney pushed through the gate and ran up to the front door.

Before she could even knock, the door swung open.

An older man and woman immediately enveloped her in a warm hug.

I hesitated at the gate, a hollow feeling creeping into my chest. My throat tightened, making it hard to breathe.

I didn’t want to intrude on their family moment.

I kept my gaze on the ground, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

The sound of Laney’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see her waving me over.

Slowly, I walked toward them, trying to shake off my nervousness.

“Scarlet, these are my parents,” Laney said, leaning into her mom.

I managed a grin. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

Her father stepped forward to greet me, meeting me halfway.

He was of medium height, with white hair, stubble, and eyeglasses perched on the tip of his nose.

His warm smile made me feel welcome, but I was so focused on him that I didn’t notice Mrs. Salvitto until she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

My arms were pinned to my sides as she patted my back.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Scarlet. Come, come in,” she said, her voice full of warmth.

As we stepped through the front door, a large dog suddenly caught my attention, halting me in my tracks.

He had bounded over from where Laney and her parents stood, making a beeline for me with a wagging tail that drummed against the doorframe.

His coat was a beautiful blend of light brown with black streaks running down his back, while his chest and underbelly were fluffy and white.

He sniffed at my hands with a gentle and friendly demeanor, curious and welcoming.

I couldn’t resist kneeling down to rub behind his adorably floppy ears.

He looked like a mix between a shepherd and a labrador, strong and sturdy yet soft and affectionate.

The white hairs on his face marked his elder years.

“And this is Judge,” Mr. Salvitto introduced with a proud smile.

The night was full of laughter, music, and food.

Oh, so much food. The Salvitto’s loved to eat.

Her parents both took part in the kitchen as Laney and I sat on the stools by the counter island, sipping on wine served by her mom.

After dinner, we all chatted around the dining table, finishing off the wine.

“Papa, you will never believe that I’ve finally found someone who enjoys reading as much as I do,” Laney said as she hiccuped.

“You don’t say,” Mr. Salvitto said, unamused but slightly sarcastic.

“Yes! Scar and I stay up way too late reading together in silence. It’s a wonderful friendship,” she took another gulp.

Mrs. Salvitto chimed in with a tense voice, “You better not be staying up too late, Laney. Your studies come first, and you’re already not a morning person.” Laney looked away, trying to avoid that comment .

After several more hours of amusing banter back and forth, Laney and I went upstairs to her bedroom.

The room was nothing less than what I expected of her.

The walls were a soft ivory, with a fluffy rug in the center.

A desk, chest of drawers, and bookshelf adorned the space with a double bed in the center.

Her bookshelf was impressive, packed to the rim with books.

She even had books lying on the very top, spilling out on the sides, spewing into the floor.

A medium-sized portrait of her with her family sat on her nightstand, including a man I hadn’t met yet.

I gently picked it up and looked into their happy, smiling faces.

The man was taller than Laney, but they shared the same features.

He had his arm wrapped around her shoulders and only appeared to be a few years older than us.

“That’s Nash, my older brother.” I heard her unpacking her bag behind me.

“He didn’t attend Mageia, but he’s a water elemental.

Our parents don’t really agree with his chosen profession, but he’s an adult.

And they will always love him anyway. As long as he’s happy, healthy, and taking care of himself. That’s all that truly matters.”

I was about to ask what profession he chose when she continued, “Thank you for coming with me this weekend. My parents were excited to meet you.”

I set the portrait down and turned to face her, “I thought I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” I raised an eyebrow.

She winked. “You didn’t, but a non-choice of love.”

We settled in for the night and tucked ourselves into her warm sheets. A lot of the journey to Lanorcoast was uphill, so I assume the higher altitude lowered the temperature outside by enough to make a big difference. Her window was cracked open, and in came a blissful breeze of cool air.

I turned onto my side to face Laney and whispered, “Thank you.”

She opened one eye, “For what?” Her tone of voice proved that she was already almost asleep.

“Bringing me home. ”

She reached out from under the blanket and grasped mine, holding tight as she drifted asleep. Then, a drumming sound started to beat against my side of the bed. I slowly raised myself and peered over my shoulder, trying not to stir Laney or let go of her grip.

It was Judge, lying on his side on the floor with his back against the bed.

His tail was wagging, banging against the wooden frame.

He raised his head from the floor to look at me.

His neck was bent in a way that would be uncomfortable for a human.

His floppy ears fell backward, giving him the look of a pointy-eared dog.

He grunted and laid back down. I followed suit, turning back to Laney. Once I closed my eyes, it was maybe seconds until I drifted into a peaceful sleep.

With no nightmares chasing me.

One thing I’ve definitely learned about Laney’s family is that they love mimosas.

The following two mornings were filled with delicious breakfast spreads, cheers, embarrassing stories about Laney, and endless laughter.

The Salvitto family took me on a tour of their charming town, introducing me to practically everyone in Lanorcoast. By the end of each day, my feet ached from all the walking, but I didn’t mind.

I savored every moment here, and, if I’m honest, I found myself a little envious of Laney’s warm, loving family.

Maybe more than a little—though in the best way possible.

Like Laney herself, the Salvittos welcomed me with open arms from the moment we met.

They let me open up about my past at my own pace, never prying when I wasn’t ready to share.

Judge has been my loyal shadow since I arrived, even joining us on walks through town.

I’m unsure if it was our company he enjoyed or the treats he cleverly managed to get from every vendor we passed.

But his cold, wet nose did bring a deep bruise on my left ankle to my attention.

Yesterday, while we wandered through the vendors set up for trade, Laney suddenly tugged my arm and pulled me down a narrow alleyway.

She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, only adding to my confusion.

Her parents were busy chatting with a baker around the corner, and I had no clue where she was taking me.

We weaved through the rows of houses, using slim alleyways as shortcuts, our heels clicking against the cobblestone as we hurried along.

Laney finally stopped in front of an old, abandoned building. Thick vines clung to its crumbling facade, with wooden planks haphazardly covering the windows. The flowerpots on the sills held nothing but dried, wilted plants. The tan stone exterior was cracked, weathered by time and neglect.

With an exasperated sigh, Laney threw her arms out wide. “This is it!” she exclaimed.

I stepped up beside her, scanning the decrepit structure. “What... is?”