Chapter 12: Guards at Midnight

Cade got out of the truck before it had fully stopped.

I took one look at the ranch hands standing shoulder to shoulder in the yard, and I stopped waiting for him to tell me to stay put.

Beyond them, at the gate, eight Ironwood guards stood in a line with their hands at their sides.

Bram's uncle leaned against the hood of his truck in his long wool coat.

He had come to my husband's wedding in the same coat.

"Mrs. Haldane," he said.

"My name is Brandvold."

"Willa, then." He didn't smile. "I've come to collect the heir."

"The heir's in the house. She's asleep, and she's not going anywhere."

"The Council summoned the children to the platform for the full moon. I'm here to see that the daughter arrives safely."

"Eighteen days early?"

"A newborn with no pack and no healer." He nodded at the house. "Hanna Voll has no standing to keep her."

Cade stepped forward and the ranch hands stepped with him.

"My ranch is neighbouring territory," Cade said. "Hospitality law. Nobody crosses the gate without an invitation from me."

"I have a Council writ."

"Show it."

The uncle took a folded paper from his coat and held it up, and Cade didn't take it.

"It's signed by one elder," Cade said, reading it from where he stood. "The Council needs three."

"Two others will sign in the morning."

"Then come back in the morning."

The uncle looked at the guards.

"Cross the gate," he said.

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