- 9 hours ago
Moonbound The Mating Decree Ep.19 SM
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Blood moon. Stained glass. I sit on the wedding bed. The door slams. Two rogues stagger in. Fur half-rotted.
00:07Mange weeping down their faces.
00:09Pretty thing.
00:10The first one, Rass.
00:11Lucian said play hard.
00:13I lift my eyes. Cold. Steady. No fear. You picked the wrong bride tonight.
00:17Three days earlier. Thornwood Manor. Rocky Mountains. Snow. Stone. A silver wolf's head carved over the hearth.
00:24I'm on my knees in front of the fireplace. Polishing an old hunting blade. Footsteps behind me.
00:28Selina. The elf is back from the council. Bad news? He hasn't taken off his coat.
00:34I slide the blade home. I've hidden here for three years. Three years since the council put my name on
00:41the black list and every bounty hunter started counting my teeth.
00:45A safe house. A kind family. A girl who calls me sister. I thought I was done. Outside, a wolf
00:51house. Long, wrong announcement.
00:54And somewhere south, the moon turns the color of old blood. My wolf stirts. For the first time in months.
01:06Edmund walks into the great hall with snow still melting in his beard. One night at the hollow and his
01:12hair has gone white at the temples.
01:13Margaret stands.
01:15Edmund.
01:16I named them.
01:17I named them.
01:17Alara freezes by the fire.
01:18I stood on the council floor and I named Blackridge. Every girl they've taken.
01:23Hooves outside. Hard. Fast. The doors blow open. A council courier. Black cloak. Silver pin. Sets a sealed rotor on
01:32the table.
01:32Mating decree. By order of the high council.
01:35Edmund breaks the seal. Reads. His hand starts to shake.
01:38Father, what does it say?
01:40You are bound to Lucian Blackroad. Seven days. Blood moon.
01:44Alara's knees go. Margaret catches her.
01:47She just had her first shift, Edmund. You told the council what he does to women.
01:52I know.
01:53Then do something!
01:55Refuse and the pack is skinless by sunrise.
01:58Alara is crying without sound.
02:00I stand in the shadow of the archway, silent. My wolf, quiet for three years, stirs beneath my skin.
02:08Then I speak before anyone can see me. I'll take her place and marry him.
02:12The words cut through the air like steel. She doesn't have to go. No hesitation. No tremor.
02:22My hand closes around the silver comb hidden in my apron, fingers tightening until it hurts.
02:27I say, voice steady. I will go in her place. I will fulfill the decree.
02:32Silence.
02:34I turn to Alara. I'll go in your place. She stares.
02:38You're a maid. I'm whatever your father says I am.
02:41Edmund. Margaret. Both of them heard. Edmund says...
02:45Selina, do you understand what you're offering?
02:49Yes.
02:50He will not be gentle.
02:53I'm counting on it.
02:54His hand flies to her mouth.
02:56Edmund holds my eyes a long moment.
02:59Then he turns and pushes open a door I've never seen open before.
03:08The hall of blood oaths.
03:11He cuts his palm over the bound book of the Thornwood line.
03:15Red drops onto my name written new.
03:20From this hour, you are blood of my blood.
03:24Bone of my bone.
03:27Daughter of Thornwood.
03:30Selina.
03:31He looks up.
03:32The pages drink the blood.
03:34Margaret lays a silver comb, a moonstone, and the family hunting knife into my hands.
03:38Alara sobs into my shoulder.
03:40My hand on her back is steady as carved stone.
03:43Tires squeak outside.
03:45Doors slam.
03:46Edmund's head comes up.
03:47He's here.
03:48Already?
03:49The front doors blow open downstairs.
03:52Where's my bride?
03:53Lucian Blackridge.
03:54Amber eye.
03:54Grey blue eye.
03:55Cold smile.
03:56Four men behind him.
03:57Drunk and grinning.
03:58I walk down.
03:59Slow.
04:01Guys find me.
04:02Slide.
04:02Land.
04:03There you are, sweetheart.
04:05Heard you were pretty.
04:06Looks like they fed you wrong.
04:08I stop three steps above him.
04:10Tilt my head.
04:13Lord Blackbridge.
04:15His tongue runs over his teeth.
04:18Come give your husband a kiss.
04:23My fiancee.
04:24My fiancee.
04:26The hall of blood oaths is still wet behind me.
04:29They said you were charming.
04:34I tilt my head
04:37I see they meant loud
04:39His grin slips half an inch
04:43Careful, sweetheart
04:49You were the one shouting from the foyer
04:51A few of his men stop laughing
04:53He crosses to me
04:54Close, closer
04:56Bourbon and something sour
04:58Like fear under cologne
05:00My wolf flinches at the smell of him
05:02Nothing, he smells like nothing
05:05No inner wolf
05:06I file it away
05:07He lifts a strand of my hair
05:09Rolls it between his fingers
05:11Like he's pricing it
05:12You know what happens to brides who talk back in my house, sweetheart?
05:19Enlighten me
05:20They learn
05:22He leans to my ear
05:24Low
05:25I've got brothers waiting for the wedding night
05:27Real friendly boys
05:28They love a new bride
05:32Especially the ones who think they're clever
05:35I'm sure they do
05:38You should be afraid
05:39I turn my head until my mouth is at his jaw
05:42Smile
05:43Try harder
05:45For one second
05:47Lucian Blackturd doesn't know what to do with his face
05:50He laughs too loud
05:51Drops my hair
05:52Steps back
05:54Seven days, Thornwood
05:55He snaps his fingers at his men
05:57Burn the dress she's wearing
05:58I'll pick out the next one myself
06:03The doors slam behind him
06:05Edmund is shaking on the landing
06:07I don't turn around
06:09He didn't deny the wedding night?
06:11No
06:13Good
06:14Dawn
06:14White bannets
06:15Snow on every pine
06:16I stand on the send-off stone in a moon-pale gown
06:18The silver comb pressed flat in my hair
06:19Behind me, Thornwood
06:20Across the courtyard, the Black Ridge Convoy
06:22Black SUVs
06:23Black furs
06:23Lucian lounging against the lead car like he's bored
06:25Edmund mounts the stone beside me
06:27He draws his ceremonial blade
06:29Opens his own palm
06:30Margaret makes a small sound
06:31Doesn't stop him
06:32Blood beads
06:32Drops
06:33Pisses on the cold stone
06:34His voice carries across every alpha and beta
06:36By Luna's breath and my own blood
06:38I swear this oath
06:40He lifts the bleeding hand to the moon
06:41If a single hair on my daughter's head is harmed
06:44If she weeps once in that house
06:46Thornwood will not petition the council
06:48We will come for Blackrog with teeth
06:50And we will not stop until the line is finished
06:53Wind moves through the pines
06:55The pack representatives lower their heads
06:56The oath has been heard
06:57Lucian's smirk thins
06:59Edmund turns to me, quietly
07:00Come home, whatever it takes, come home
07:02I will
07:03I step down, cross the snow, past Lucian
07:05Who reaches for my arm
07:06I let him take it without looking at him
07:07I climb into the car
07:08The window darkens
07:09Lucian slides in beside me
07:11Bourbon and that nothing smell
07:12Smile, sweetheart
07:13You're a married woman
07:14Am I, my lord?
07:16Tonight, you will be
07:18Enjoy the wedding day
07:19The wheels crunch over white snow
07:21I turn my face to the window
07:22Through the tint
07:23The blood moon is rising again
07:25Fat, red, watching
07:28Blackbring Manon
07:29Stained glass
07:30Blood moon bleeding red across the floor
07:32I sit at the wedding bed
07:33Veil down
07:34The moonstone at my throat catches the red light
07:36The door slams open
07:37Lucian
07:37Bourbon soaked
07:38Two rogues behind him
07:39Fur weeping mage
07:40Eyes hungry
07:41There she is
07:42He crosses the room
07:44Grabs my jaw
07:45Tilts my face up
07:46My pretty little thornwood bride
07:49Take your hand off me
07:50In thirty minutes
07:51The guests come up to see how the wedding's going
07:53His grin widens
07:55They're gonna find my new wife
07:56Rolling around with two of my favorite strays
07:58Won't that be a story?
08:01Have fun, sweetheart
08:02He lets go of my jaw
08:04Walks out
08:05At the door
08:06His hand on the lash
08:07His fingers tremble
08:07Just once
08:08So fast a normal wolf would miss it
08:10My silver bright eyes catch it
08:11The bolt drops
08:12Iron on iron
08:13Like a funeral bell
08:14The rogues lick their teeth
08:15Pretty thing
08:17Lucian said play hard
08:18I lift my eyes
08:19Cold
08:20Steady
08:20No fear
08:21You picked the wrong bride tonight
08:22Then stop talking and start regretting it
08:27The first rogue takes a step
08:29He told us you'd cry
08:30Said the thornwood girls always cry
08:32Did he?
08:33Said you'd beg
08:34You sound experienced
08:35Lord Lucian's been generous
08:37He lickes his lip
08:39Three alpha's daughters last winter
08:41Sweetest little
08:42Generous
08:42I stand
08:43The silver comb slides from my hair into my palm
08:45Six inches
08:46Silver tip
08:47Bright as a star
08:47The rogues stop laughing
08:49I move
08:49I'm airborne before the first rogue gets his hand up
08:51Thighs around his neck
08:52Twist
08:53Crack
08:53Drop
08:54Pivot
08:54The second hasn't drawn his nade
08:57Silver tip drives up under his jaw and out the back of his skull
08:59Two bodies on the floor
09:00Silence
09:01I wipe the comb on a dead man's collar
09:03Slide it back into my hair
09:08Crack the window
09:09Outside the cold pond glints under the blood moon as I throw them in
09:13One after the other
09:14No hesitation
09:15No sound but the splash
09:18I return to the bed
09:20Smooth my skirt
09:21Sit
09:22Down the hall
09:22The guests are still laughing
09:24And then I hear footsteps turning toward my door
09:28Downstairs
09:28Lucian nods at a maid
09:30She gasps loud enough to carry
09:33There's a man in the bride's room
09:35Heads turn
09:37Forks freeze
09:38What?
09:39A man, my lord
09:41Voices
09:41I heard
09:42Lucian stands
09:44Draws his blade
09:45Loud enough for the cheap seats
09:47My bride
09:47In my house
09:49On my wedding night
09:51Murmurs
09:52He swings the blade
09:54I'm gonna gut whatever rat she dragged into my bed
09:57And then her
09:58In front of every pack on the west coast
10:02The crowd surges up the stairs behind him
10:05He plants his boot on the door
10:07Kicks
10:08The door cracks open
10:09I sit at the edge of the bed
10:10Veil neatly back
10:11I look up
10:12Mild
10:12Puzzled
10:13My lord
10:13You're shouting
10:14His blade lowers an inch
10:18Where is he?
10:19Where is who?
10:21Don't
10:22It's my wedding night
10:23My voice carries
10:24Sweet as honey
10:25And you've brought half the west coast into my bedroom with their swords drawn?
10:29I tilt my head
10:30Is this how Blackridge throws a wedding?
10:32Someone in the back of the crowd snorts
10:34Then a room of Alphod's trying not to laugh
10:36Lucian's face goes white
10:37Then red
10:38His hand comes up
10:40Strikes his son across the face
10:45Lucian hits the floor
10:46Mouth bleeding
10:47His hand is still raised
10:49Lucian is on the floor
10:50Mouth bleeding
10:51The room goes silent
10:52On your feet
10:54Lucian scrambles up
10:56Out
10:56Father
10:57Out
10:57He goes
11:00Vivian troth hands over her mouth
11:02My son drinks too much on his wedding night
11:04Forgive him
11:06Forgive us
11:07And forgive a father's request
11:08Nothing of what you saw leaves this house
11:12Out of respect for the council
11:13And the council's brother
11:15The crowd thins
11:16Cassius turns to me
11:17I have not moved
11:18He sits beside me on the bed
11:19Casual
11:20Like an uncle
11:20Selina
11:21You're a clever girl
11:22Thank you
11:22Voice for my ears only
11:24That father of yours
11:25Edmund is an old wolf
11:26Old wolves get tired
11:28Old wolves misstep
11:29A pause
11:30Old wolves die
11:31I need his eyes
11:32That sounds like a threat my lord
11:33Good
11:33Then you'll recognize it
11:35When it arrives
11:36Morning
11:37The doors bang open without a knock
11:39Mrs. Hollands
11:40Sixty
11:41Grey
11:41Skinny as a switch
11:42The old beta of Blackbridge House
11:44Three big she-wolves at her heels
11:46Switches of white birch in their hands
11:48Up
11:49Eyes down
11:50Throat out
11:52I'm at the window with a cup of tea
11:53Excuse me
11:54Every new mate submits to the house Luna's beta
11:57On the morning after the bite
11:58You drop your eyes
12:00You bare your throat
12:01You take the mark of this pack
12:03She holds up a silver-tipped queer
12:05Or this beta puts it on you
12:07Pass
12:08Her lip curls
12:09The lady sent me
12:10Vivienne says you'll learn your rank in this house
12:13Mrs. Hollands
12:14Or you'll be taught
12:17She reaches for my wrist
12:21I catch her index finger
12:22Bend
12:25Snap
12:27The scream cracks every window in the room
12:29The other she-wolves freeze
12:31Birch switches clatter to the floor
12:34Not one of them moves to her beta
12:36They smell it
12:37Whatever just stood up in this room outranks them
12:40And their wolves know it before their heads do
12:43I set my teacup down
12:45Stand
12:46Tell your Luna I don't bare my throat
12:48Not in this house
12:50Not in any house
12:52One finger for one bad morning
12:54I lean in
12:54Send Vivian next time
12:56I have nine left
12:57Maeve appears in the doorway
12:59Eyes wide
13:00Pack a bag
13:01I say
13:01We're leaving
13:02My-my lady
13:03I step over the birch switch on my way out
13:05In the front drive
13:06One of the Blackbridge drivers is already waiting
13:09Engine running
13:10Door open
13:11He doesn't meet my eyes
13:12My lady
13:13The mountain roads ice over fast this time of year
13:15Let me take you down myself
13:16I nod
13:17I get in the car
13:19He shuts the door behind me
13:21Tires crunch over gravel
13:23The black hedge gates roll past in the side mirror
13:26Mrs. Hollands is still howling somewhere back there
13:29I lean back against the leather
13:30Cold smile
13:32May have opened
13:34Steps back fast
13:35Sir
13:35Lady
13:36Edmund
13:36Margaret
13:37Snow on their shoulders
13:38We're coming home
13:40Right now
13:41No
13:41Selina
13:42You had rogues in your room
13:43We heard
13:43Who told you
13:44One of their maids
13:45Found the bed empty
13:46Ran to us
13:47Then Lucien doesn't know yet
13:49Selina
13:50That's enough
13:50You're done in that house
13:52Father
13:52I pour him a bourbon
13:54Three days
13:55Give me three days
13:56For what
13:57For Cassius to make a mistake
13:59Margaret's knuckles go white in her lap
14:02You'd risk
14:03He told me you were going to die
14:05In my ear
14:06On the wedding bed
14:07He's already coming for you
14:09Going home doesn't save anyone
14:10Selina
14:11Edmund's face goes still
14:13Three days father
14:14If I'm wrong
14:15You've lost three nights of sleep
14:17Edmund drinks
14:17Sets the glass down
14:18What do you need from us?
14:19Stay home
14:20Don't take meetings
14:21Don't sign anything
14:22Don't even take a walk past the property line
14:23Done
14:24Margaret kisses my forehead
14:25You'd better come back to us for your safety Selina
14:28I will
14:28The door clicks shut
14:29I cross to the window
14:31Seattle below
14:32Somewhere up in the Black Pines
14:33The Black Ridge estate
14:34Three days
14:35Cassilus
14:36I let the silence stretch
14:37We'll find out who breaks first
14:39Midnight
14:40I drop over the Black Ridge perimeter wall
14:42Between two suite patterns
14:43Forty seconds to the cedar line
14:44Two minutes to the main house
14:46Master suite first
14:47I crouch under the bay window
14:49Cracked open an inch
14:50Cassius likes his air cold
14:52Vivian's voice
14:53And Edmund
14:53You said you'd handle it
14:54I am
14:55Three council alphas are signing this week
14:57Embozzlement
14:58A human girl found in his forester's cabin
15:00Witnesses we own
15:01He's been clean for forty years
15:03He'll be dirty by Friday
15:04And our boy?
15:05What about him?
15:06His condition
15:07If anyone in that house smells it on him
15:09Then we make sure nobody in that house can
15:12A glass sets down
15:13Silence
15:14I move
15:15I slip the latch
15:17In cedar
15:18Gun oil
15:19A wall of leather spines
15:21Two forged letters
15:22Volkov seal
15:23Not close enough for forensics
15:25One behind the painting
15:26One inside the desk bible
15:29Out the window
15:30Over the wall
15:31Blood moons past its peak
15:33Friday Cassius?
15:35No
15:35A beat
15:36You don't get till Friday
15:37Thornwood Manor
15:38Snow coming sideways
15:44Boots on snow
15:45Long grey coat
15:47Amper eyes
15:48The gate guard steps in front of him
15:50Sir
15:50This is private property
15:52I'm here to see my aunt
15:53The lady isn't taking
15:54Tell her Kyle's home
15:55The guards changes
15:56Mr. Thornwild
15:57Aye sir
15:58Please come in
15:58Inside
15:59By the great hearth
16:01Edmund crosses the room slow
16:02Ten years
16:03I know
16:04Your father's chair is still there
16:06A long beat
16:07Edmund doesn't move to embrace him
16:09Kyle doesn't expect it
16:10Why now?
16:11You named Blackridge on the council floor
16:13My father's killer was at that table when you spoke
16:16I saw him on the live feed
16:17He didn't blink
16:20Ten years I waited for him to blink
16:22He didn't
16:23Until you said Blackridge
16:24Edmund's jaw tightens
16:27You think Cassius
16:28I know Cassius
16:29I came to prove it
16:31Margaret appears in the doorway
16:32You stayed away too long
16:34I'm here now
16:34Edmund pours three bourbons
16:38You should meet your cousin
16:39My cousin's twenty
16:40Not that one
16:41The new one
16:42Kyle's eyebrow lifts a quarter inch
16:44Tell me
16:45Morning
16:45Snow muffles the Thornhood drive
16:47I step into the front hall
16:49He's by the hearth
16:49Back to me
16:50He turns
16:50Amber eyes
16:51Tall
16:52Quiet
16:52The kind of quiet that's been earned somewhere ugly
16:54My wolf stops
16:55Lies down
16:56I haven't felt her lie down since I was a cub
16:58We don't move
16:59Edmund clears his throat
17:00Selina
17:01My nephew Kyle
17:02Kyle my daughter
17:03Daughter
17:03Kyle's mouth lifts at one corner
17:05When was the wedding?
17:06Last week
17:06Congratulations
17:07Don't
17:08His smile widens a fraction
17:09He crosses to me
17:11No rush
17:11Stops in my space
17:12Wolf close
17:13The kind of close you only get with kin
17:15You're carrying a kin kill
17:16I don't answer
17:16Back of the neck
17:17Right side
17:18The vertebra under your wolf's jaw
17:19I don't answer
17:20He lifts a hand
17:21Slow
17:21Telegraphed
17:22May I?
17:23I say nothing
17:23His thumb presses
17:24Exact
17:25Into the knot of fire
17:26That's been burning behind my skull
17:27Since the wedding night
17:28The pain drops
17:29I exhale before I can stop myself
17:31How did you know?
17:32Lucky guess
17:33Try again
17:33He meets my eyes
17:34I'll tell you when you tell me your real name
17:37He steps back
17:38Bows his head a quarter inch
17:39Walks past me
17:40The fire stays gone
17:42Edmund is watching us like a man watching weather come in over a ridge
17:45Kyle Thornfield
17:46Note to self
17:47Be careful
17:48Thornwood cold pond
17:49Ice on the edges
17:50Cedar smoke from the house
17:51Kyle's already there
17:52Two glasses
17:53A bottle of bourbon between them on the bench
17:55You drink Woodward?
17:55I drink what's poured
17:56He pours
17:57Slides it over
17:57I sit
17:58Not close
17:59Not far
18:00You came back because of your father?
18:01His jaw tightens
18:02Cassus killed him
18:03That's a serious accusation
18:05I'm getting proof
18:06He looks at the ice
18:07You're not just a maid, Selina
18:08You move like someone who's been hunted
18:10You smell like silver
18:11His eyes find me
18:12And there's a name on the council black list
18:15With hair like yours
18:16I sip again
18:17You're not going to deny it
18:18I'm not going to confirm it either
18:19Fair
18:20A long quiet
18:21Cedar smoke
18:22The pond ticking under the ice
18:24I won't ask
18:24Not tonight
18:25Why?
18:26Because I'm asking you to trust me with something
18:27And I haven't earned it yet
18:29I look at him
18:29His wolf is quiet
18:30Mine is too
18:31The Thornwood bell tower strikes twelve
18:34He pours me another
18:35Doesn't ask if I want it
18:37Black Ridge estate
18:38Night
18:38I drop through Lucian's bedroom window between heartbeats
18:42Empty room
18:43Closet door cracked
18:44Light behind it
18:46Wrong color
18:47Cold blue
18:48I follow
18:49The closet's a false back
18:51Stairs
18:53Down
18:53Smell hits me halfway
18:55Old blood
18:56Silver salt
18:58Fear sweat
18:58My wolf
18:59Flattens her ears
19:01I keep going
19:02The room opens at the bottom
19:04I stop in the doorway
19:05Silver hooks on the walls
19:08Silver bands
19:09Silver needles laid out on velvet like jewelry
19:12Twelve women
19:14Chained
19:15Bare-shouldered
19:16The silver collars are eating into their necks
19:18Where the skin's gone thin
19:19Wolf girls and human girls
19:22Mixed
19:23I count silk slips
19:24And one daughter of alpha tattoo
19:26I recognized from a missing persons brief
19:27Two summers ago
19:29Lucian's voice
19:30Around the corner
19:31Croning
19:32I press myself flat to the wall
19:34One of the girls sees me
19:36Blue eyes
19:37Hollowed out
19:38She doesn't react
19:40Doesn't hope
19:41That's the worst part
19:43She's been here long enough to know
19:45That anyone new is just another mouth
19:47I lift one finger to my lips
19:49She blinks once
19:51Slow
19:52I memorize the room
19:54Door count
19:55Light source
19:56Hook spacing
19:57Where I'd put a body if I needed to
19:59Then I back out
20:00My wolf is screaming behind my teeth
20:04I climb back through the window
20:06In the snow
20:07I lean against the cedar wall
20:09And let myself shake
20:11Once
20:11Just once
20:14I'm coming back for you
20:16All of you
20:20The hollow
20:21Council chamber
20:22Three alpha stand
20:23Stone faces
20:24Show me the body
20:25Cremated
20:25Per pack protocol
20:26Convenient
20:27Aldric
20:28The high alpha
20:29Lifts a hand
20:30Edmund
20:30These are witness charges
20:32By his men
20:33By alphas of standing
20:34You have thirty days to answer them
20:36Until then
20:37You do not leave Thornwood land
20:39I'm to be cage ward
20:41You're to be cautious
20:42Cassius lets one corner of his mouth move
20:44Edmund stands
20:46Vows the exact depth required
20:48No more
20:48Walks out
20:50Thornwood
20:51Late
20:51Kyle pours
20:52I drink without looking at him
20:54They move fast
20:55Faster than I thought
20:56He's been planning this for months
20:58He was planning it before the decree
20:59The decree's the cover
21:00Cassius
21:02Sweetheart
21:03You think you're hunting an old wolf
21:07You're not
21:09Thornwood
21:09Cold pond
21:11Same bench
21:13Snow falling soft
21:15Kyle's already there
21:16He stands when I come down the path
21:19Old manners
21:20The kind they don't teach anymore
21:22And lifts a wolfskin off the bench
21:24You're shivering
21:25I'm not
21:26He drapes it over my shoulders anyway
21:28Gathers the front with one hand
21:30To second longer than he needs to
21:31His wolf is quiet
21:33Mine is too
21:34I pour him a bourbon
21:38Talk
21:41He sits
21:42I'm not a beta
21:43I know
21:44You don't
21:45Edmund's hands shake around you
21:46He never shook around a beta in his life
21:48I was supposed to be alpha hair
21:50After my father
21:51He looks at the ice
21:52I gave it up at seventeen
21:54Told the pack I wasn't fit
21:57Disappeared into a special recordance unit
21:59And stayed gone for eight years
22:00Why?
22:02Because the man who killed my father
22:03Is on the high council
22:04And an heir can't move without being watched
22:06Nobody can
22:08And now you're back
22:09The pond ticks
22:11He turns the glass in his hand
22:14Soft
22:14Last time my wolf was this quiet
22:17Was the night before they brought my father home
22:19I don't answer
22:22I sip my bourbon
22:24Stare at the ice
22:26He doesn't make me say anything
22:28That's the part that scares me
22:32Downtown Seattle
22:332pm
22:34Daylight
22:36A girl screams in an alley off Pike
22:38Lucien has her by the wrist
22:40Human
22:40College age
22:41White knuckled
22:42I step between them
22:43Let her go
22:44You
22:44Let her go, Lucien
22:46His eyes find the cross of her wrist in his grip
22:48He smiles slow
22:50Make me me, sweetheart
22:51The silver whip comes off his belt fast
22:54Faster than a normal arm
22:56I read it
22:57Step inside
22:59Catch his elbow on the upswing
23:01But the tip clips the edge of my coat
23:03And I feel the hiss of silver across my collarbone
23:06Before I twist away
23:07A hand catches the whip mid-snap
23:09Snaps it
23:10Bourbon-eyed
23:11Lucien Blackridge
23:13This woman bears the thornwood mark
23:15Loud enough for the street
23:17Touch her again
23:18Touch any woman in this city again
23:20And I'll send your wolf back to Luna in pieces
23:24Witnessed under sky
23:26The street has stopped moving
23:28A lunar oath
23:29Sworn under open sky
23:31Binding
23:33Lucien's face drains
23:37He turns
23:38He runs
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