I Will Never Be Yours novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Made Whole

Caspian brought the treaty to the Luna's wing himself, an hour before dawn.

He did not knock.

He stood in the doorway with the leather folder in both hands and waited until I said, "Come in."

Autumn was asleep behind the screen, wrapped in two blankets, her breath wheezing in and out.

I took the folder to the window so the light would not wake her.

"Page one I know," I said.

"Page two I signed in a hurry." He kept his eyes on the paper.

"Alder brought it to me at midnight with the seal wax still warm."

"And you trusted him."

"I read the first line and trusted the rest."

"Read it to me."

He read it low.

If the Alpha of Ironcrest died before the marriage was made whole, the pass went to the Crown's keeper of the pass.

No keeper was named, except in the margin, where a small neat hand had written Alder's initials.

His thumb lay over the bottom corner of the page, and I did not ask him to move it.

"Made whole," I said.

"The rite finished in bed." His voice was flat. "A wife and husband who haven't lain together aren't married in the Council's eyes."

"So my father had to die before I came to your bed."

"And you had to be gone before you could."

"That's why Alder carried me out and told me it was you."

"Yes."

"You read this before tonight."

"Weeks ago, in the vault, alone. I sat on the floor for an hour."

He lifted his eyes.

"I should have told you. I'm telling you now."

He was telling me part of it.

I could see that in the set of his jaw.

I filed it away, because I was too tired to pull at it yet.

"If I go to bed with you," I said, "the clause dies."

"Don't."

"The pass comes back to Ironcrest. It comes back to me."

"Sorcha, don't do it for that." His voice cracked on my name.

"I'll fight the Council a year before I let you think I took you for a clause."

"Rule one," I said.

"I know."

"Say it back to me."

"I don't touch you unless you say so."

I crossed the room and took the folder out of his hands.

I laid it on the chair beside my veil.

Then I took his scarred right hand and pressed my left palm against it, scar on scar.

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