Chapter 9: Nineteen Days

A Greenhaven enforcer was waiting for me in the castle courtyard the next afternoon.

He wore the green-and-grey pack coat I had mended for sixteen years.

I knew his face from the autumn feasts.

He didn't bow.

"Luna Winslow," he said. "The house elder requires you at the pack supper tonight. I have a car at the gate."

"The supper is on the twenty-seventh."

"It's been moved up."

"By whom?"

"By the house elder. I'm to bring you at once."

"I'm a guest of the Crown," I said. "I'm not coming."

I turned to go.

His hand closed around my wrist, hard enough to hurt.

"The elder said you'd be difficult." His voice stayed polite. "She said not to leave without you."

"Let go of me."

"It's an order of the pack."

"I said let go."

There were servants crossing the far side of the yard. A scullery maid dropped a bucket, and nobody picked it up.

Then a shadow moved at the top of the stairs.

I didn't see the King come down.

I only heard a low sound, and it wasn't a human one.

The enforcer heard it too. He turned his head.

Evander stood two steps from us, with both fists open at his sides.

"Take your hand off her," he said.

His voice was quiet. The whole yard heard it.

The enforcer's face lost its color. His hand did not move.

"Your Majesty, this is a pack matter. She is my Luna by registry. I have the house elder's..."

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