Chapter 19 A Promise Before Moonrise #3
The day narrowed into preparation. Sava checked Cassie’s bandage twice, then a third time because Cassie said “it’s fine” in a tone that proved it was not.
Lucien arranged a call with her father that lasted seven minutes and involved Cassie lying just enough to keep him from trying to storm the east wing.
Aunt Linda shouted in the background that she had “found a candlestick with promise,” which made Cassie laugh until she had to hold the bandage.
I held myself away from her through all of it, not distant, just careful.
When she crossed the room, I watched the way her foot landed.
When her pain spiked, I knew before Sava did.
When fear rose under her jokes, I let the bond answer with steadiness instead of rage.
It took more control than violence ever had.
By late afternoon, the sky turned silver. The moon would rise before full dark.
Cassie stood at the balcony doors with her hands wrapped around a mug of tea she had not drunk. Her hair was tied back now. Her face had lost some color again, but her eyes were clear.
I came to stand beside her.
She looked out toward the darkening line of trees. “So this is the part where the heroine gives a brave speech.”
“You do not have to.”
“Good, because mine was mostly profanity.”
“That can be brave.”
She glanced at me. “You’re learning.”
“I have a good teacher.”
Her mouth softened, then steadied.
For a while, we watched the grounds below. Guards moved along the paths. Lanterns were being set near the old course, not enough to light it fully, only enough to mark boundaries and make the shadows feel intentional.
Cassie’s hand shifted at her side. I felt her wanting to reach before she did.
She felt me notice, but neither of us moved for one breath.
Then she slid her fingers into mine. The contact was small, hidden by the fall of the curtain, but the bond settled around it with such relief that my chest hurt.
“I’m scared,” she said.
“I know.”
“If you say no one will touch me, I’m going to believe you, and that feels stupid.”
“No one will touch you.”
She laughed once, but it broke before it became humor. “Great. Excellent. Very stupid of me, then.”
I turned my hand around hers. “Believing me is not stupid.”
“Bold statement from a man who didn’t tell me about the bonus murder wolves until this morning.”
“I deserved that.”
“Yes.”
She leaned her shoulder lightly against my arm, the uninjured side, and the wolf inside me went silent with the need to protect what had been given.
“I believe you anyway,” she said.
The words should have steadied me. Instead, they became another thing I could not fail.
A knock came at the door. Lucien entered, followed by Sava. Both had changed clothes. Sava wore dark field gear, her hair braided tight. Lucien carried a black jacket and a small pouch.
“It’s time,” Sava said.
Cassie’s fingers tightened once around mine. Then she let go. The loss of her hand felt like the first step of the hunt.
Sava crossed to her, checked the bandage, then placed the small pouch into Cassie’s palm. “Salt tablets, pain dose, and a whistle.”
Cassie looked at the whistle. “Is this because screaming ruins the ambiance?”
“It is because if you need me, you use it.”
“If wolves are chasing me, I feel like everyone will know I need you.”
“Use it anyway.”
Cassie nodded and tucked the pouch into her pocket.
Lucien held up the jacket. “For the walk down. You will leave it at the south gate.”
Cassie took it. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “You are welcome.”
Ronan entered last. He looked at Cassie first, then at me. No anger now. Only the hard, cold focus of an Alpha walking into a night with too many ways to lose.
“The council is assembled,” he said. “Evelyn is on the east terrace under guard. Malrec is with the witnesses. The challenge wolves have been searched and scented.”
“Silver?” I asked.
“None found.”
“That does not mean none carried.”
“I know.”
Our eyes met. For once, there was no argument between us because the same fact stood on both sides. Tonight, law would not be enough.
Ronan turned to Cassie. “You remember the course?”
“South gate, inner lane, bad air, dry creek if I can reach it, avoid moss, do not cross the boundary unless I want every ancient wolf in a five-mile radius to become even more annoying.”
Cormac’s voice came from the doorway behind Ronan. “A nearly flawless summary.”
Cassie closed her eyes for one second. “Of course you’re here.”
“I would not miss this.”
“That is not comforting.”
“It was not meant to be.”
Ronan stepped back. “We move.”
Cassie turned to me. I wanted to touch her face. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to tell her again that no one would touch her, but the words felt too small for what waited outside.
She saved me from choosing. She reached up, gripped the front of my shirt, and pulled me down into a hard, brief kiss. A claim made in front of everyone who thought the word belonged only to wolves.
When she released me, her eyes were bright.
“Find me,” she said.
The wolf answered so fiercely the bond flared between us.
“I will.”
Then she turned toward the door and walked out ahead of me, limping slightly, terrified completely, and still somehow making every old law on the island feel like it should be the thing afraid of her.