“Wait," Ivy added, savoring the moment. “One last chance. Kneel and apologize. I'll call it youth and let you go."
“I won't kneel," Emma said. “Not to you."
“What about to him?" Ivy asked softly. “Say you were dazzled. Say you mistook attention for love."
“Learn," Ivy murmured. “Pride is a poor teacher."
“I'm being simple," Emma said. “No is one syllable."
The shadow arrived first-wide, rippling, wrong-shaped to be human. Then the body: a massive black wolf, darker than shade, bigger than any wolf Emma had ever seen in training films or old stories. It vaulted the wall and landed without a sound.
“Stop!" Ivy shouted, as if volume could leash a thing like that. “This is private property!"
“Cut her down!" the first guard yelled to the second, dazed, hauling himself up by a hook. “Now!
