Chapter 19: On His Knees at the Gate

Rhiannon's POV

Cade walked up to the Lycan gate on the morning of the betrothal feast.

He came on foot, in a coat that was too thin, and the guards would not let him past the outer bar.

The gate captain sent word up to me.

I went down to the courtyard with my hand on the pendant at my throat.

"I'll go with you," Soren said.

"No. Stay by the stair."

"Rhiannon."

"I want him to say it to me alone. You can watch."

He stayed by the stair with his arms folded.

Behind him, half the Lycan court had found a reason to cross the yard that morning, and I let them.

Cade stood outside the iron bar with his hands at his sides.

He had lost weight.

His beard had grown in ragged, and his hair was dirty.

Nothing was left of the Alpha who had called me a mistress in Moon Hall.

"Open it," I told the guards.

"Luna, he's..."

"Open it."

The bar lifted.

Cade came through two steps and stopped.

For a long time he only looked at me.

"You look well," he said.

"I am."

"I didn't come to ask you to come back."

"That's good, since I'm not."

"I came to ask for my wolf."

It was so plain, and so ugly, that for a moment I only stared.

"I lie on the cot at night and reach for it," Cade said. "It's gone. There's nothing there."

"You never asked how you healed overnight," I said. "You never asked why your wounds closed when I sat up with you."

"I thought I was strong."

"You were. On me."

His mouth worked.

"I didn't know, Rhi. I swear to the Goddess. If I had known..."

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