Chapter 24: Caged No More

The Moon Fair came to Grimjaw on the first clear night of November.

Lanterns hung from the stone walls, and long tables ran down the middle of the courtyard, on the dirt where I had once stood alone.

Where Bree's cage had been, a bonfire roared.

Nobody had to be told to leave that spot empty of anything but fire.

Wolves from both packs filled the yard, and none of them had been asked to come.

Venomfang's black trucks lined the road outside, and their drivers were already arguing with Grimjaw's cooks about who made better stew.

I stood on the steps in a green dress with my father's ring on my finger and my hair loose.

For the first time in a year I was warm.

"You look nervous," Jonah said at my shoulder.

"I'm not."

"You're holding the railing hard enough to crack it."

"I'm about to meet someone."

"You've met her. You healed her."

"I met her in a sickroom and a Moot hall. Never at a party."

He laughed.

He had his black work coat on and no chain at his belt, and when I looked at him he smiled with the scar pulling up through his eyebrow.

"Ask," I said.

"May I put my arm around you?"

"You don't have to ask in public."

"I like asking."

He did, and I leaned into him.

Across the yard a high laugh rang over the music.

A dog barked.

A red-brown head came weaving through the dancers, and a lanky grey hound dragged its leash behind her.

Corinne Dray stopped at the bottom of the steps with her hair coming loose and her cheeks flushed.

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