I Was Never Their First Choice novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Asta Walks Across the Hall

"Not in front of him," I said, and nodded at Kjell, who was already backing out of the stable. "Tell me here."

Asta shook her head.

"In the hall," she said. "I want it said where it was done."

"Asta, your feet."

"My feet are fine."

They weren't, and I knelt and unwrapped the rags without asking, and she let me.

They were cracked and bleeding at the heel.

I washed them from the horse trough with my own scarf, and neither of us said anything until I tied clean strips of linen around them.

"I walked because I couldn't make a horse go," she said. "Every time I turned it south, I kept thinking you would be on the road."

"I was on the road."

"I know." Her voice cracked. "I'm so sorry."

"Tell me in the hall."

At moonrise the pack filled the hall the way it had on the night of the lot.

People stood along the walls.

My father sat on the dais with my mother beside him and two guards behind his chair.

Kjell stood at the back with Bram, arms folded, a guest and nothing more.

Elias and Perrin stood near the door, still in their Academy greys, and nobody spoke to them.

My father rose.

"This is an irregular summons," he said. "My elder daughter has had a long journey and a hard season, and I will not have her humiliated, so I will speak for her."

"No," Asta said.

She had come in behind me on her wrapped feet.

← Chapter 15 · All chapters · Chapter 17 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend