All Chapters of My Husband’s Brother Is My Mate?!: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

"I say we send her home."Elder Corvin's voice filled the council room like cold water. He was a tall, spare man in his sixties, with a long gray braid and a face like a hatchet. He stood at the head of the left bench, one hand resting on a silver-topped cane."Her father is a hostage. Her pack is a burden. Her heart, if we believe the Priestess, belongs to some unnamed man." He lifted his chin. "Every misfortune of the last month has her name on it. I propose that the Ashford wolves be sent back to their lands, and that the Luna's title be reviewed by this council."A ripple went through the room. Some murmured in agreement. Others shifted uneasily.I sat very still at Cain's right hand, my fingers digging into the arm of my chair. Beneath the table, my father's signet ring cut into my palm."With respect, Elder," Beta Dane said, standing. "The Luna fought in the village. She nearly died for our pack. She stood before the whole hall and took a Redfang strike.""She has also been pois

No one spoke.The torches hissed. The ford murmured. Somewhere in the reeds, a night bird called once and fell silent.I sat in the gravel beside my father's litter, my hand still in his, my mind blank. The world felt thin and strange, like a drawing in water."You knew," I said at last."I knew." My father's voice was a whisper. "Alina told me on our wedding night. She said she was born to the Redfang chiefs. That she had run from them.""Why?""Ask him."I looked up at Varek.He sat cross-legged on the stones, enormous and awkward, like a mountain trying to look small. His hands rested on his knees. The firelight flickered over his scarred face."She was nineteen," he said. "I was twelve. Our father was dying. He had promised her in marriage to the chief of a northern pack. A cruel old man. Twice her age."My chest tightened."She would not do it. She was proud, and stubborn, and she had a laugh you could hear across a valley." His mouth twitched. "She went to our father and said no

The fire burned all night.We built the pyre on the hill above the outer village, on a bed of pine boughs and white heather. The whole Ashford pack came. Even the Blackthorne wolves who had not trusted us stood in silence at the edges, hats in their hands, heads bowed. Orin lay in the center in his best gray tunic, his white hair combed, his hands folded on his chest.Elsie stood beside Mara, gripping her skirt so hard her knuckles were white. She did not cry. She only stared at the wood with huge, empty eyes.Mara knelt and wrapped both arms around her. "I have you," she whispered. "I have you, sweet girl."The child collapsed against her. Mara rocked her in the firelight.Behind them, Bryn stood very straight, arms folded, jaw tight. She did not speak. But when Mara looked up, red-eyed, Bryn quietly stepped forward and laid a rough hand on her shoulder.The two women looked at each other."Thank you," Mara whispered."You do not have to thank me.""I know." A tiny, crooked smile. "I

"Move!"Cain was already running. The whole council spilled after him, chairs crashing, boots pounding. I flew down the cellar stairs with my skirts bunched in both fists. Beside me, Rhys took the steps three at a time.The cell corridor reeked of damp straw and old iron. Torches sputtered. Two guards stood outside the last door, pale and tense."Open it," Cain said.The lock rattled. The door groaned.Roderick Hale lay on the stone floor, curled on his side. His gray hair was spread across the flags. His pale eyes stared at nothing. His lips were the color of slate, and a thin line of foam had dried at the corner of his mouth.I stopped in the doorway. My stomach turned.He looked small.Beside his hand lay a pewter cup, tipped on its side. A dark stain ran across the floor from it.Madam Ilse pushed past me with her bag. She knelt, pressed two fingers to Hale's throat, and shook her head. Then she took a small glass vial from her pocket, filled it with water from a flask, and tipped

"You are not supposed to be here.""I know."Rhys sat on the narrow cot in the cell, his back against the wall, his knees drawn up. The torch outside threw a bar of gold across his face. He looked tired. Pale. But when I slipped through the door Bryn held open for me, his whole face lit like a lantern.I crossed the cell in two steps and threw myself into his arms.He caught me. His arms locked around my waist. I buried my face in his neck and breathed him in, pine and smoke and warm skin, and my whole body shook."I am all right," he murmured. "I am all right.""You are in a cell!""It is a very nice cell.""Rhys!""They gave me a blanket." He pulled back and cupped my face. "Selene. Look at me. I am fine."I looked. His gold eyes were steady. His mouth curved in a tiny, tired smile."I should have said it," I whispered. "I should have told them you were with me.""No.""I could have saved you.""You would have destroyed yourself." He brushed a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "I w