Chapter 9: My Mother's Ring

Emrys drove me.

He didn't ask why. He grabbed his keys off a nail and had the truck running before I'd found my jacket.

Halfway to town he said, "Do you want me to come in?"

"It's a Ravensworth meeting."

"That's not what I asked."

I looked at him. His hands were steady on the wheel, his eyes on the road.

"Wait outside," I said. "If I'm not out in twenty minutes, I've killed somebody, and you should drive."

"Where?"

"Anywhere with pie."

The pack hall was lit up and full.

Folding chairs in rows, coffee in an urn, kids underfoot.

Lorcan stood at the front by the old stone hearth, talking about the orchard road.

Meriel sat in the first row in a soft lilac sweater.

Her left hand rested on her knee where everyone could see it.

My mother's garnet caught the light.

People had noticed. I could tell they weren't looking at it.

I walked down the center aisle.

The talk stopped. Chairs creaked as people turned.

[She came,] Lorcan thought, and the relief in it was so strong it was almost sweet. [She came. She's going to fight for me.]

I didn't look at him.

I stopped in front of Meriel and held out my hand, palm up.

"That's my mother's ring," I said.

She looked up at me with big hazel eyes.

"Lorcan gave it to me."

"Lorcan was keeping it for me. He didn't own it. Neither do you." I kept my hand out. "Give it back, please."

"Mirren." Lorcan came down off the hearth, smiling for the room. "Let's not do this in front of everyone."

[Yes. Do it in front of everyone. Make them see you want me back.]

"You started it in front of everyone," I said. "You put it on her hand at a pack meeting."

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