Not the Bride He Wanted novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Fate Voids

Magnus was waiting up in the study when I got back.

I didn't take my coat off.

"Aksel says to ask you what you felt on the stone."

He closed the book on his knee.

He didn't pretend not to understand.

"Something happened on the stone," he said. "Yes."

"Tell me."

"On Sunday."

"Magnus."

"If I tell you tonight, you'll walk into that Council tomorrow carrying it."

He stood up.

"You need a clear head to beat your father. You've earned that fight. I won't take it from you."

"That's my choice to make. Not yours."

"I know it is."

"And you're making it anyway."

"Yes." His voice was rough. "Hate me on Sunday. I'll take it."

I slept in the cedar room with the door locked.

He didn't knock.

The Ridge lodge was packed to the walls by ten in the morning.

They'd pushed the supper benches back and set one long table across the head of the hall for the seven Alphas.

The Council's eldest sat in the middle with her white hair over her shoulders.

My father sat at the end of the table, in his good jacket, with his copper ring on.

Kirsten sat behind him in the front row, in white.

Not a dress.

A white sweater, white slacks, her curls loose.

Her mother sat beside her holding her hand.

I sat across the aisle with Tilde on one side of me and Magnus on the other.

We hadn't spoken in the truck.

The eldest read my father's petition aloud in her crow's voice.

Then she looked at me over her glasses.

"The Queen may answer."

My father snorted.

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