Chapter 8: Bruises

Every head in the hall turned toward me.

I stood in the doorway in yesterday's clothes.

I hadn't even put the crown on.

"She came to my room after midnight," Imogen said. Her voice shook beautifully. "She said I stole her life. Then she hit me."

She held out her arms so the Council could see the marks.

"She held me down. I couldn't fight her. Nobody can fight her, you all saw."

That was the clever part.

Every wolf in that hall had been on their knees for me two days ago.

They believed I could do anything.

Garrick stepped up beside his daughter and put a protective arm around her.

"The Ironclaw Luna attacked an Ashenveil woman under this Council's peace," he said. "I demand she be chained until the Wolf Moon. Then tried."

A murmur went around the walls.

I saw people nodding.

Some of them were the same people who had nodded five years ago.

The Speaker looked at me over her folded hands.

"Well, child?"

"I never touched her."

"Of course she'd say that," Garrick said.

"Where were you after midnight?" the Speaker asked.

I opened my mouth.

I had been in my room.

With the Alpha of Ashenveil's mouth on mine.

I closed my mouth again.

Across the hall, I saw Tiernan standing by the high table.

His feet were bandaged inside his boots.

He was looking at me, waiting.

He would say it, I realized.

If I let him, he'd tell the whole Council where he'd been at midnight, in front of his intended.

I didn't let him.

"I'll show you where I wasn't," I said.

I walked across the hall toward Imogen.

Garrick stepped in front of her.

"Don't you go near her."

"Move."

I didn't use my wolf.

I didn't have to.

He looked at my face and he moved.