Chapter 13: The Black Forest Cabin

Odette moved first.

She crossed the stone with her hand out and her voice gone soft.

"The chain, Mara," she said. "It belongs to the pack. Give it to me before someone takes it from you."

I reached behind my neck and undid the clasp.

The silver was warm from my skin.

I did not give it to her.

I walked past her to the black chair and laid the chain on the King's knee.

"It belongs to the Holt pack, Your Majesty," I said. "It was never mine to keep. It is not hers to wear."

The King looked at the chain, then at Odette's empty hand.

"The elders of Holt will decide who carries it," he said. "Miss Hallowell will not be asked."

Odette's hand stayed in the air.

Behind her, Bastian was still on his knees, and his mother was still screaming his name.

I did not look at either of them.

I had given that man six years, and I had nothing left for him to spend.

Elias had come out of the second row.

He stood at my shoulder with his hand pressed to his side, and a dark stain had spread through his shirt.

"You tore the stitches," I said.

"Yes."

"The healer told you to stay in bed."

"I came anyway," he said. "I would again."

The King raised one finger, and two guards brought a sleigh to the foot of the steps.

I drove, because Elias could not.

His cabin stood at the edge of the Black Forest, one room with a stove, a narrow bed and a shelf of tin jars.

The whole place smelled of pine.

I sat him on the bed and pulled his shirt over his head.

The bandage was red along the bottom edge, and I cut it away with his own knife.

The stitches had pulled, but they had held.

"You're not dying," I said, and my voice shook.

"No."

"Good. I would have been furious."

His mouth moved. It was almost a smile.

I put my hand flat on his chest, over his heart, and felt it pound.

"Elias."

"Yes."

"Rule two," I said. "You never lie to me, not even to be kind."

"I remember."

"Then tell me what you want."

He did not look away.

"You," he said. "On this bed, in this room. In any room you will have me. For as long as you will have me."

My knees nearly gave.

I unbuttoned my dress with hands that would not hold still, and I let it fall.

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