Chapter 9: Her Terms

I called my brother from the porch that night, with the note in my pocket.

He answered on the first ring.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Has he touched you?"

"Rhys, I read Odette's letter."

The line went quiet.

I could hear wind on his end.

He was outside, and I knew where.

He was on the Hollowmere side of the river bridge, because he had promised not to cross it.

"Which letter?" he said.

"The one that says you've paid her for twelve years."

He let out a long breath.

"Willa."

"Don't say my name like that. Tell me."

"Our father died, and she came to the house the week after the funeral," he said.

"She had a list. She said there were men who wanted a pureblood girl, and yours was the first name on it."

"And you paid her."

"I paid her every month, so it stayed off."

"For twelve years you paid the woman who sells girls."

"Yes."

"You never told me."

"You were fourteen."

"I'm twenty-six."

"And you're still my little sister, and I'd have paid her until I died."

He said it so plainly that my eyes stung.

"Why did you stop?" I said.

"Who says I did?"

"She does. The note says your money stopped. Three months ago."

"Because she doubled it," Rhys said. "I told her I'd think about it."

"I should have gone for her that day. I thought I had time."

"You were wrong."

"I know."

I pressed the phone to my ear until it hurt.

"Rhys. Why did a Cairnfell Alpha know my name?"

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