Chapter 23: The Moon Night

The black rock was warm under my bare feet.

It was the same flat shelf over the Blessing Sea, at the same hour, with the same full moon rising out of the water.

Seven o'clock. I had been counting it in my head all day.

Last time I had stood here alone in a white robe, and my brothers had stood on the shore with their arms folded.

Tonight the shore was full.

The whole of Ashgrove stood along the water in the dusk, with lanterns.

Drew stood at the front in the Alpha's chain, and Ellis next to him, grinning.

Rowan stood a little apart from them. He had his hands folded in front of him, and his eyes on me.

On the other side, down the cliff stair from Stormhold, came the Lycans, in their grey and silver.

And between them, a line of women I did not know.

There were eleven. The oldest leaned on a stick, white-haired and straight-backed, in a plain blue dress.

Lucan had told me on the boat.

"They were sea-girls," he said quietly. "Every one of them walked into this water."

"My father took them out. They have lived free on my south shore ever since."

"Did anyone ever tell them they were allowed to go home?"

"Every one. Eight went and came back."

The oldest woman looked at me and nodded, very slowly.

I knew that nod. I knew exactly what it meant.

*You walked in. You are the one who walked out.*

Lucan came across the rock to me.

He wore plain black with no crown, and his arm was out of its sling.

He stopped in front of me with the moon behind him, and the sea.

"I did not ask," he said.

"You did not."

"You asked me. I have been told by my lieutenants that this is unprecedented."

"Good."

"I accept."

I laughed, and my eyes went hot.

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