The Tyrant's Pet novel · Chapter 15 of 32

Chapter 15: Her Terms

Ossian stepped past me into the road.

He didn't hurry.

The rider's horse backed two steps on its own.

"Tell your Council the packs can march," Ossian said. "I'll meet them at the river stones."

"Is that the Emperor's answer?"

"Yes."

"No," I said.

The rider looked from him to me.

So did half of Saltgate.

"It's not his answer," I said. "It's mine. Tell the Council I'll come to the Fork. In three days. On my own feet."

The rider bowed in the saddle, slow.

Then he turned his horse and the banner went bobbing off up the river road.

Ossian didn't look at me.

He walked back through the ward and into the kitchen.

I followed him.

So did Agatha, the woman with flour on her arms, and the newest tribute with a bowl of porridge.

"Out," Ossian said.

None of them moved.

"It's our kitchen," Agatha said. "We'll stay."

He turned on me.

"You're not going to the Fork."

"I am."

"It's a wolf ring. My law stops at the edge of it. If they keep you, I start a war."

"So don't start one."

"They'll put a knife to your wrist in front of every Alpha on the river and call it justice."

"Then every Alpha on the river will watch what comes out."

He stared at me.

"That's what you want," he said slowly. "You want them to cut you."

"I want them to see. Every pack below Tarrow has been burying children for two years. They think it's a curse."

I put both hands flat on the kitchen table.

"Every Alpha on the river is going to be in one room, Ossian. In ten days the dam breaks. I'm going to tell them."

The kitchen was very quiet.

The newest tribute set her porridge down without a sound.

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