Chapter 9: The East Door

Ewan's POV

I knew what I was at midnight, standing in the dark corridor outside her door.

I was a man who had watched a girl cut her own family loose, and had stayed behind a bench with his arms crossed.

I had told her the reason. It was a good reason.

It was still the worst minute of my life.

Every wolf in that hall had been looking at her sister, and she had known it, and she had cut the cord anyway.

I had been the only one looking at her.

I had felt it the instant she crossed the floor, a hard clean tug under my ribs that was nothing like a scout's interest.

Mate.

I had no right to the word. I hadn't said it, and she had said not until she asked.

So I stood in the corridor with my back against the wall, and I did not go in.

Her door was unlocked. That was the third term, and I kept it.

Daphne had been given the guest room at the far end of the east wing, with two guards outside her door.

She had cried herself to sleep an hour ago.

I had told the guards not to let her near Thea's room, because one touch had nearly killed Thea, and neither of them could be trusted with the other.

At half past midnight the east door downstairs opened and closed.

It was a small sound. Hinges.

I had been awake for three days. I heard it anyway.

I pushed off the wall and went down the stairs without a light, barefoot on the cold stone.

The east door stood open an inch.

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