Chapter 11: The Hargrove Dinner

Godfrey's long table had been set for thirty, and every candle was lit.

I sat where he put me, at his right hand.

The Council's witness was watching, and I wanted to see what Godfrey would do.

Hazel took the chair on my other side and put her folder under it.

Ronan sat across from us.

He hadn't spoken to me since the pack hall.

He looked as though he had not slept.

He kept touching something folded in the inside pocket of his jacket.

The Council's witness had the foot of the table, with her leather book beside her plate.

Godfrey poured my wine.

I put my hand over the glass.

"Of course," he said. "I forget."

He poured his own, stood, and rapped the glass once with a spoon.

"Family," he said. "I want to thank you for coming."

He looked down the table.

"Two weeks ago, my granddaughter-in-law stood at this table and announced she was leaving us."

Nobody breathed.

"I let it pass. I thought it was grief."

He set down his spoon.

"But Ivy Danforth intends to cut a bond that was made to pay a debt, and the debt is not paid."

"The Moon Right does not care about debts," the witness said.

"It does when the debt is written into the bond," Godfrey said.

He drew a folded paper from his coat.

"Section nine, signed by this girl's own hand. A bond made to settle a blood debt cannot be cut until the debt is paid in full."

I felt the blood leave my face.

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