Caged No More: The True Heir's Wrath novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Oath Stone

The Moot hall of Venomfang held three hundred wolves, and every one of them turned to watch Bree cry.

She stood on the plank floor in front of the three Alphas with her hands folded over her locket.

Dane stood at her shoulder, grey-faced, with his wrist in a sling.

My side of the hall held a handful of Grimjaw wolves, the old one with the stick and the girl I had taught to read.

I stood in front of them with Jonah at my back.

"Alpha Dray's prisoner broke my mate's wrist," Bree said, sobbing. "She used some magic to do it. She is not herself. She hasn't been herself since the Rennick line gave her those eyes."

"Speak to the Moot, child," said the stooped Alpha of the north valley.

"She poisoned our tea," Bree said. "She poisoned Dane's coffee. I watched her do it. She wanted the seat back, and she wanted me dead for being Father's chosen daughter."

A gasp went through the hall.

The bald Alpha of the river pack held up one hand.

"Ivy Rennick," he said. "Answer."

I stepped forward.

I did not cry, and I did not raise my voice.

I laid it out in plain order.

"Ten months of Bree's tea," I said. "The healer has my blood in a glass, and the glass says what the tea was."

"A tonic," Bree said. "For her health."

The healer stepped out of the crowd and held up the vial.

The Alphas looked at it.

"The rogue who died in my courtyard named you," I went on. "He is dead. The wolves who heard him are not."

At the back, the old wolf with the stick spoke up in a cracked voice.

"I heard him say it."

"So did I," the girl beside him said.

"A rogue would say anything," Bree whispered.

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