The Werewolf King's Regret: Punishing the Wrong Daughter novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Kneel

The great hall was full by the second bell.

I walked in through the side door, with Perrin a pace behind me, and every head in the room turned.

A hundred wolves in the hall's best wool stared at the girl they had watched whipped nine days ago.

Perrin had warned me that the court breakfasted together on the day a betrothal was announced.

He had not said it would feel like walking into a pit.

The king sat at the high table, with his bandaged hand flat beside his plate.

Odessa sat at his left in a blue gown, with a ring of pearls in her golden hair.

My father sat at the foot of the dais with his wide hand on the table.

He did not look at me.

"Linnet Marwood," said the steward, and rapped his staff. "You are summoned by the Lady Odessa."

"I came," I said.

Odessa rose, and the room went quiet for her.

"My sister has been shown great mercy," she said, and her voice carried to the rafters like a bell. "The king has allowed her to nurse his nephew, though she raised her hand against him. I only ask one small thing in return."

She spread her gloved hands.

"That she kneel, and ask pardon, so this wound can heal in all our hearts."

A murmur of approval ran down the tables.

It was almost beautiful.

I stood where I was.

"Linnet," said my father, low and warning. "Kneel, girl."

"I will not."

The murmur broke into a hiss.

I let it break.

"I did nothing," I said. "So I have nothing to ask pardon for. I'll tell you what I'll ask for instead."

I looked at the king.

He looked back with pale eyes, hard as river ice.

"Ask the boy," I said. "Bring Ewan here, in front of all of you, and ask him what he saw in the kitchen before the feast. Ask him in plain words. Let the whole hall hear what he says."

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