Chapter 23: The Mark

"Yes," I said.

It was the only word I had.

I said it to the kneeling King on the dirt of his own lawn, in front of nine packs.

I said it loudly enough that the Black Pines Alpha, at the back, took off his hat.

The sound that rose from the lawn was not a cheer.

It was lower than that, a long rolling howl.

It started in the Garrow ring and went round the circle ring by ring, until the lake threw it back.

Elias shut his eyes.

I got an arm around his back, and Junie got the other.

Between us and the keeper we walked him up the stone steps of the Keep.

He was bleeding and laughing at once.

He made it as far as the door of our room.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed, with the bandage across his ribs, and looked at me with those gold eyes.

"You should let the keeper look at that again," I said.

"In a minute."

"Elias."

"Maxine." He caught my wrist. "Come here."

I came.

I stepped between his knees, and he rested his forehead against my stomach and breathed in.

"Say it again," he said into the white dress.

"Yes."

"I want to hear you say what you want."

I put my hands in his hair and tipped his face up.

"I want to mark you," I said. "Tonight. Now.

Before anyone writes it down, and before anyone tells me I'm allowed.

I want your shoulder in my teeth.

I want everybody who smells you to know whose you are."

His breath went out of him in a rush.

"Then do it."

I pulled the ruined white dress over my head and let it fall.

I knelt on the rug between his knees, and undid his trousers, and took him in my mouth.

He swore.

His hand closed in my hair, shaking, and not guiding, only holding on.

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