The Apex They Could Never Own: A Werewolf Romance of Power, Possession, and Fate novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Mark on the Wrist

Dara's POV

The silver chain was locked to an iron ring set deep in the stone table.

Ansel stood up anyway, and the ring tore out of the slab with a crack that echoed off the east wing.

He didn't make a sound.

His wrists were burned open to the tendon, and he walked the two steps toward me on legs that had no choice.

I had never seen anything so awful.

Behind him, Lucas stumbled back with his hands up.

"Father," he said, high and thin.

"Be quiet, Lucas," Corbin said.

He hadn't moved from his stool, and for the first time he wasn't smiling.

"Well," he said. "There it is, then. Your first real Order. How do you feel?"

I wanted to hit him with a wrench.

I looked at Ansel's wrists, and I said the next thing very quietly.

"Stop. Stand still."

He did.

"Unlock the chain."

He bent his burned hands to the lock and did it.

Each Order I gave him made me feel dirtier than the last.

"Beautifully done," Corbin said. "Now you understand what you are, kiddo. Welcome to the Seat."

"I'm not a Seat," I said.

My voice shook, and I let it.

"I called the Answering. It's three days, and I'm on Highgate ground, and I know the law better than you think. You can't lay a hand on me till the Council sits."

Corbin's face did something small and unpleasant.

"No," he said at last. "I can't."

"Then I'm leaving."

"Of course. Take your hound."

I put an arm around Ansel's waist.

He was shaking, and so was I.

The guards parted on the path, and Corbin's voice followed us all the way to the gate.

"I'll see you at the Gathering, Dara. Sleep well. It may be your last."

The Brough truck was waiting at the road, with Dad at the wheel and Hattie hanging out of the passenger window.

Her hair had been hacked to her jaw, and she looked furious and happy and about twelve years old.

"You," she said to Ansel, and slapped his good shoulder hard.

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