Im Scarlet glanced around the lavish suite of Artemisia Palace. The room was a thousand times more extravagant than her little farmhouse, and she hated it with a great passion. Im still on Luna, actually.

Luna! Can I see? Is it even safe up there?

m, please stop screaming. Scarlet rubbed her temple.

Dont you tell me to stop screaming, Mademoiselle Too-Busy-to-Send-a-Comm-and-Let-Me-Know-Youre-Not-Dead.

I was a prisoner! Scarlet yelled.

milie gasped. A prisoner! Did they hurt you? Is that a black eye or is it just my port, because my screens been acting up lately milie scrubbed her sleeve over the screen.

Listen, I promise I will tell you the whole story when I get home. Just, please tell me youre still watching the farm. Please tell me I have a home to go back to?

milie scowled. Despite her hysteria, shed been a welcome sight. Pretty and bubbly and so far removed from everything Scarlet had been through. Hearing her voice reminded Scarlet of home.

Of course Im still watching the farm, said milie, in a tone that suggested she was hurt Scarlet had doubted it. You asked me to, after all, and I didnt want to think you were dead, even though even though everyone believed it, and I did too for a while. Im so glad youre not dead, Scar.

Me too.

The animals are fine and your android rentals are still coming you must have paid them very far in advance.

Scarlet smiled tightly, recalling something about how Cress had set up a few payments in her absence.

Scar?

She raised her eyebrows.

Did you ever find your grand-mre?

Her heart had built up a strong-enough wall that the question didnt knock the breath out of her, but Scarlet still felt the pang of remembering. It was impossible to keep away the memories of the prisons beneath the opera house. Her grandmothers broken body. Her murder, as Scarlet watched and could do nothing.

This and this alone was the one thing she dreaded about returning home. The house wouldnt be the same without her grandmothers bread rising in the kitchen or her muddy boots left in the entry.

Shes dead, Scarlet said. She died in the first attacks on Paris.

milies face pinched. Im so sorry.

A silence crept in, that moment when there was nothing appropriate to say.

Scarlet straightened her spine, needing to change the subject. Do you remember that street fighter who was coming into the tavern for a while?

milies expression lit up. With the eyes? she asked. How could a girl forget?

Scarlet laughed. Yeah, well. It turns out hes Lunar.

milie gasped. No.

Also, Im kind of dating him.

The view on the screen shook as milie clasped a hand over her mouth. Scarlet Benoit! She stammered for a moment, beforeIts going to take weeks for you to explain this all to me, isnt it?

Probably. Scarlet brushed her hair over one shoulder. But I will. I promise. Look, I should go. I just wanted you to know Im all right, and to check on the farm

Ill tell everyone youre safe. But when are you coming home?

I dont know. Soon, I hope. And, m? Please dont let Gilles put up a plaque about me.

The waitress shrugged. I make no promises, Scarling. You are our little hero.

Scarlet clicked off the portscreen and tossed it onto the bed. Sighing, she glanced out the window. Below, she could see the destruction of the courtyard and hundreds of people trying to put it back together.

Artemisia was beautiful in its own way, but Scarlet was ready for fresh air and home-cooked food. She was ready to go home.

A knock sounded at the door and it opened, just a bit at first, Wolf hesitant on the other side. Scarlet smiled and he dared to come in, shutting the door behind him. He was holding a bouquet of blue daisies and looking immensely guilty.

I was eavesdropping, he confessed, hunching his shoulders beside his ears.

She smirked, teasingly. Whats the point of superhuman hearing if you dont eavesdrop once in a while? Come in. I didnt expect you back so soon.

Wolf took another step and paused. He had a slight limp from the bullet that had hit his side, but it was healing fast. That was one thing to be said for the alterationsWolf had certainly been made to be tough.

On the outside, at least.

He frowned at the flowers, his ferocious teeth digging into his lower lip.

Hed left to go back to the house that morninghis childhood home. Though his mothers body had already been taken out to one of the great graveyards in the wasteland of Luna, it had been important to him that he see the house one last time. To see if there was anything worth saving there, anything to remember his parents by, or even his brother.

Scarlet had offered to go with him but he wanted to do it alone.

She understood. Some things had to be done alone.

Did you find anything?

No, he said. There was nothing I wanted. Everything from my childhood was gone, and she didnt have much, you know. Except these.