Claiming the Spare Twin novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Challenge for the Seat

"Leave it, Hester," I said. "I'm fine."

I did not take my eyes off my father's wrist.

Across the rope I felt Dorran go still, holding himself back.

"He's brought a blade into the ring," I said, loud enough for the whole field. "Taped to his arm, and wet with the same root."

"A healer's lancet," my father said. "I'm an old man. I was afraid."

"Of me?"

"Of a girl who has been wolf for a week and thinks she can break the pack in half."

"Show them the tip," I said.

He rolled the sleeve down.

"Cold Creek will see for itself," Hester said, and her cane rang on the ground. "The ring is open. First to yield, in either skin."

Nobody moved.

My father came across the grass toward me with his hands loose at his sides.

He was calm.

He was a big man, heavy through the chest, and he walked like a man nobody had refused in fourteen years.

"Last chance, Til," he said, very softly. "Walk out of this ring. Take your Ironwood and your river land and go. I'll let you."

"You'll let me."

"I've always let you."

"You poured me a cup every morning for fourteen years."

"And you were happy," he said. "Weren't you? You had a nice quiet life."

"I had no wolf."

"You had no pain."

He said it with such terrible sincerity that I almost laughed.

He struck the moment I opened my mouth.

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