If You Leave, I Leave novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Settlement

"Moved to a Luna who isn't afraid of it," I said to Corwin the next morning. "Is that true?"

We were sitting on the edge of the west wing bed with the curtains still drawn.

He did not try to deny it.

"By blood, on the Moon Stone, at the sealing," he said.

"Any willing Luna can take the Tether from the one who is leaving."

"Does it save you?"

"It saves the wolf."

"And you?"

"I would be bound to her," he said. "My father offered it to me three weeks ago. I told him no."

I waited for the rest.

He looked at me with his steady grey eyes.

"I told him no, Aveline. That's all there is."

I believed him, and it surprised me how much I did.

That evening the Crown launched Aldenmoor House in the glass atrium of the palace, with five hundred guests in white and gold.

Verity stood on a low stage under hanging lanterns with the silver wolf pinned to her collar.

The King sat in the front row.

Tilda sat in the third with her two hired models on either side of her, eating canapés.

"They're on retainer," she whispered to me. "I'm making them stay."

Corwin stood at my shoulder, close enough that I could feel his warmth.

He had not touched me since the morning.

I wanted him to, and I hated that I wanted it in public.

Verity took the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming," she said, in her softest voice.

"Before we begin, there's something I'd like to do that isn't about fashion."

The lanterns dimmed.

A steward carried out a white velvet cushion, and on it lay a long cream envelope.

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