If You Leave, I Leave novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Bare Hands

The first scream came from a woman in the third row.

Fur was pushing out along Corwin's forearms, dark and thick.

His jaw lengthened and his coat split across the shoulders.

On the stage, under the hanging lanterns, the heir to the Alpha King was changing.

Five hundred guests and every camera in the kingdom watched him do it.

"Guards," the King said.

He did not shout it.

Twelve guards ran in from the side doors with spears tipped in silver.

They fanned out along the front of the stage and levelled the points at Corwin's chest.

"Kill it before it finishes," Verity said.

Her voice carried clearly through the hush.

"Please. Before it turns on the court."

The guards looked at the King.

The King looked at his son.

Corwin was on his knees on the boards with his head down, and his claws gouged the wood.

"Hold," the King said.

It was not mercy.

He wanted the crowd to see.

I let go of Corwin's hand and stepped in front of him.

A spear point stopped an inch from my breastbone.

"Lady, step aside," the guard said, and his voice shook.

"No."

I turned my back on the spears.

I knelt down on the stage in front of Corwin, and put both of my hands on his face.

His skin was burning.

His breath came hard and ragged against my wrists, and his eyes were silver, with a black, narrow shape moving in them.

The wolf looked at me.

"Corwin," I said.

Nothing.

"It's Aveline. Look at me. I'm right here."

A growl built in his chest, low enough to shake the planks.

Behind me, somebody whimpered.

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