I cant believe you kidnapped Prince Kai, she said, untacking the curtain on the front window to peek outside. Blue daisies in a window box were a solitary spot of color.

Emperor Kai, Wolf corrected. He was leaning against the wall, holding the hem of her shirt in his fingers. Winter was taking her turn in the washroom while the others had crowded into the kitchen, trying to cobble together enough food for everyone. Scarlet had heard someone mention rations, and it occurred to her that this tiny household wasnt meant to support guests, especially so many. Wolfs mom would be back soon from collecting that weeks supply of food, but of course, that was meant for only one woman.

Scarlet tried to imagine what this must be like for Wolf. To return home more than a decade after being taken away, a grown man with scars and fangs and the blood of countless victims on his hands.

And now with a girl.

Scarlet was trying not to think about meeting his motherit all felt too strange.

Emperor, right. She retacked the curtain. Thats weird to say, after eighteen years of listening to celebrity gossip feeds go on and on about Earths favorite prince. She claimed one of the lumpy sofa cushions, curling her legs beneath her. I had a picture of him taped to my wall when I was fifteen. Grand-mre cut it off a cereal box.

Wolf scowled.

Of course, half the girls in the world probably had that same picture from that same cereal box.

Wolf scrunched his shoulders against his neck, and Scarlet grinned, teasing. Oh, no. Youre not going to have to fight him for pack dominance now, are you? Come here. She beckoned him with a wave of her hand and he was at her side in half a second, the glower softening as he pulled her against his chest.

His brazenness was newso different from the shyness shed grown accustomed to. On the Rampion, Wolf was always pattering around his feelings, like he didnt want to risk the tentative trust theyd started to rebuild since Paris.

Now, when he kissed her or put his arms around her, Scarlet felt like he was staking a claim. Which normally would have sent her on a tirade about relationship independence, except she felt like shed claimed him a long time ago. The moment shed expected him to choose her over his pack, the moment shed dragged him aboard that ship and taken him away from everything hed ever known, shed made the decision for them both. He was hers now, just like she was his.

Except she wondered if everything had changed between them, once again. Shed figured he would come back to the farm with her when all this was over, but now hed been reunited with his mom, the only family he had left. Scarlet could no longer assume she was the most important thing to him, and she knew it wouldnt be fair to ask him to choose between her and the family hed been taken away from. Not now, and maybe not ever.

In the kitchen, a cupboard slammed, saving her from thoughts she wasnt ready for. Not when shed just found him again. She heard Thorne say something about freeze-dried cardboard and Iko accuse him of being insensitive to those without any taste buds at all.

Scarlet nestled her head against Wolfs shoulder. I was so worried about you.

You were worried? Wolf angled her away from him. Scarletthey took you, and I couldnt do anything about it. I didnt know if you were dead, or if they were He shuddered. I would have killed every one of them to get to you. I would have done anything to get you back. Knowing that we were coming here was the only thing that kept me sane. His brow creased. Though there were a couple times when I went a little insane anyway.

Scarlet nudged him with her elbow. That shouldnt sound as romantic as it does.

Dinner is served, said Thorne, coming out of the kitchen with a plate in each hand. And by dinner, I mean soggy brown rice and oversalted meat on stale crackers. You Lunars sure know how to live it up.

We were trying to only take things from the pantry, said Cinder, as she and Iko filed into the front room, though there was hardly enough space for everyone. There isnt much in the way of fresh food, and Mahas already given us enough.

Scarlet glanced at Wolf. I assumed youd never had tomatoes or carrots before because those things couldnt be grown here on Luna, but thats not the case, is it? They just dont ship them to the outer sectors.

He shrugged, without a hint of self-pity. I dont know what they can and cant grow in the agriculture sectors. Whatever it is, Im sure it cant compete with Benoit Farms and Gardens. His eyes twinkled, and Scarletto her own surprisestarted to blush again.

You two are giving me a stomachache, Thorne griped.

Im pretty sure thats the meat, said Cinder, ripping a piece of dried mystery meat with her teeth.

The food wasnt appetizing, but it was no worse than what shed gotten in the menagerie, and Scarlet ate her small share with relish. Winter emerged from the washroom, her dark ringlets still dripping and the too-short pants and ill-fitted blouse doing nothing to lessen her beauty. A hush fell over the group as she joined them, kneeling on the floor around the small table and scanning the food with sad, distant eyes.

Scarlet spoke first, pushing a couple of crackers across the table. I know its not what youre used to, she said, but you have to eat something.