Chapter 77

Mara's POV

Severin told Ronan to get me out of the chamber. Ronan's hand moved toward my wrist, then caught it against his chest.

Everyone was watching. I remembered Ironwood's oath hall and the years when a husband's hand on my arm meant the argument was over. Ronan knew that history. His fingers curled into his shirt hard enough to tear it rather than close around me.

“Ask me,” he said.

I knelt just beyond his reach. Release answered under my skin, but the seat held an entire room. If I threw my strength against it, I might knock people down and leave Severin sitting. I needed Ronan to find his own hold on the route he had agreed to carry for seven days.

“What do you reject?” I asked.

He was breathing in short, painful pulls. Severin leaned forward,