Page 114 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

“It may mean nothing,” Ronan said.

“It does not mean nothing,” I said.

His eyes cut to me but I didn’t look away. Silver had rules. Silver cut. Silver silenced. In the wrong place, under the right stone, it could turn old magic. It could wound a rite without breaking the circle where everyone could see.

Cassie understood my face before anyone explained.

“Silver under a rite stone would not be a mistake,” I said.

“And Evelyn?”

Ronan answered. “Evelyn has requested formal audience.”

Cassie’s expression changed. “Of course she has.”

“She denies involvement. She denied it through her envoy before Brenner was fully conscious.”

That made Cassie go still.

Good, she had a hunter’s mind when anger didn’t cloud it. She saw patterns. She heard what men tried to hide in tone. It made the wolf watch her with bright attention. It made me want to put myself between her and the room so no one else could notice.

I did neither.

Cassie looked at Ronan. “She denied a thing you had not accused her of yet.”

“Yes.”

“Convenient.”

“That word is becoming popular,” Lucien said quietly.

Ronan gave him a look and Lucien became silent again.

Ronan turned to me. “The council will hear her in the east salon in twenty minutes. Malrec is already demanding to attend.”

“Malrec’s office approved the gate code,” I said.

“And if I bar him without proof, I give him reason to turn half the room against me before Evelyn speaks.”

“Then let him come.”

Cassie shifted again. “I’m coming too.”

“No,” Ronan said.

“No,” I said at the same time.

She looked at me., I could feel her irritation before her mouth opened. I was beginning to understand that the mark didn’t create Cassie’s anger. It only made sure I could not miss it.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Did the two men currently deciding whether I get murdered just vote?”

Sava checked the monitor. “Her pulse is stable.”

Cassie pointed toward Sava without looking away from me. “Medical clearance.”

“That was not clearance,” Sava said.

“It sounded close enough.”