He Signed the Exile Order, So I Took the Wards North novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Bruises

Ronan met us at the kitchen door, in a clean shirt, with his arm stiff against his side.

He looked at Rhona, wrapped in blankets at the hearth, and then at me.

"No," he said.

"I haven't asked yet."

"You're about to. The answer is no."

"She's hurt."

"She's the Greyfell Alpha's mate."

"He hit her," I said. "Look at her face."

Rhona pulled the blanket up, and Ronan's eyes dropped to the bruise.

His jaw worked once.

"The Concord says a mate belongs under her Alpha's roof," he said, not unkindly. "If I keep her, Sterne can call it a kidnapping. He's looking for a reason to bring the Moot down on my hold."

"He's looking for me already."

"He's looking for both of you."

"Then give her three nights," I said. "Guest right. You can't turn away a woman who walks in bleeding."

Ronan's face was hard for a moment.

Then he sighed. "Three nights."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Keep her out of my hall."

He turned to go, and Rhona said very quietly, "Warden."

He stopped.

"I know what I look like," she said. "I know what you think I am."

"I think you're a woman with a bruise," Ronan said. "That's all I think."

He went out.

I sat down across the hearth from her and poured two cups of tea.

She took hers in both hands and looked into it.

"I brought you tea once," she said.

"You did."

"Willow bark. For your hands. I used to leave it on the ward-room step so you wouldn't have to thank me."

"I always did."

"I know." She breathed out slowly. "I didn't know he was married, Catriona. Not for three weeks. When I felt the pull at the east gate I thought it was the best day of my life."

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