"What is it?"Iasked.“Isthere a problem?”
The priest's expression didn't soften.
"I need the two of you to come with me,” he said, not answering my question.
My stomach dropped.Itfelt as though someone had poured an entire bucket of ice water down my back, making me shiver with a cold dread.
"What?"Iasked."Why?"
Beside me,Korfrowned.
"What's this about?Ineed to put these packages in the car first."
“Go on—theMoonWidowandIwill wait for you.”FatherMacKaitywaved him off.
Kor hesitated, as though he wasn’t sureIwas safe, butInodded at him.Hewalked rapidly to the car and began putting his packages in the trunk.Ashe did,Iturned to the priest beside me.
“Father, what’s this all about?”Iasked quietly.
FatherMacKaitygave me a long look and the seriousness in his faded blue eyes made my pulse begin to race again.
"I think you know what it's about, lass."
I opened my mouth to protest thatIabsolutely did not know what it was about, but beforeIcould speak,Korwas back.
“All right, let’s go,” he said.“Butwhere are we going?”
FatherMacKaitydidn’t answer.Heonly nodded at us and said,
"Come with me—we've no time to lose."Hisgaze moved between us."TheCouncilofEldersis already convened."
And suddenlyIknew, with terrible certainty, that my perfect day was over.
THIRTY
VIVIENNE
There didn’t seem to be any choice.Ifelt like the eyes of the entire town were on us asKorandImade our way to the town hall—a dinky little building that doubled as a bingo parlor and the meeting lodge for theOrderof theBenevolentGrayWolvesMen’sClub(forPackmembers only.)
As we walked into the hall,Inoticed that it was already half full—Isaw plenty of townspeopleIrecognized and all of them were staring atKorand me with accusing eyes.Atthe front of the hall, on the shallow stage that was two steps up from the main area, theCouncilofElderswere sitting at a long table.Theylooked like a quartet of ancient crows, waiting to pass judgment.
I wanted desperately to takeKor’shand and squeeze it—to feel his warmth for reassurance—butIdidn’t dare.Itwouldn’t look right to be seen holding hands with a handsome youngAlphawhen my husband wasn’t cold in his grave yet.
Kor must have had the same thought, because he didn’t reach for my hand either.Buthe walked close enough beside me that his arm brushed my shoulder, and the back of his hand touched mine.Itwasn’t much, but it helped.
“Ah, there they are.”ElderLearybeckoned for us impatiently.“Wellcome on—come up here, the two of you.”
We walked up to the foot of the stage and stopped, as though by mutual consent.Korfrowned at theCouncilofElders.
“What’s this about?”he demanded.“Whatdo you want with me andVivienne?”
I heard murmuring from the crowd at our backs and wished that we were back atWolvertonManor, eating waffles again.Oranywhere, really, where we weren’t so obviously being judged.
“That’s enough, young man,”ElderLearysnapped, givingKora withering look.“You’veboth been called here today because there have been complaints made against you.Veryserious complaints,Imight add.”
“Complaints?Aboutwhat?”Korsaid, frowning.Hedidn’t seem cowed at all, andItried to draw courage from him.
“Well…perhaps we’d best let the plaintiff come forward,”ElderLearysaid.“Harris?Comeout here and state your case.”
