Chapter 20: Oath Night

On the ninth night the whole realm stood in the Stonering with torches.

Four thousand wolves ringed the standing stones, packed shoulder to shoulder up the sides of the bowl.

The Moonstone sat on its black altar in the center, pale and dull.

For three nights Wystan had refused every cup his son's physician poured.

He sat in his chair at the altar's edge with the blanket over his knees, wide awake, watching his son.

I stood at the ring's north edge in a white dress, beside Madoc.

My mother stood at my other shoulder with Hild.

She had not said a word since dusk, but her hand had found mine in the dark and stayed.

Across the ring, the other half of the realm stared at us.

They stared at Madoc's neck.

He had left his collar open on purpose.

The mark I had put in him showed plain above his shirt, dark and raised, the outline of my teeth.

"They're counting it," I murmured.

"Let them."

"You're enjoying this."

"Very much."

A horn sounded, long and low.

The old elder with the white braid walked into the center of the ring and raised her staff.

"The Gathering of Alphas calls the Oath," she said.

"The crown swears on the Moonstone with its Luna beside it. Alpha King, come forward."

Hadrian came out of the crowd in his black coat, with Cecily on his arm.

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