Alaric grabbed my arm and yanked me up. I was still dazed, still trying to process the shock, when he yelled in my face.
"Are you out of your mind?! How could you push Ravenna? She's carrying a pup!"
I stared at him, stunned. Before I could speak, Ravenna cried out, "Alaric, please don't fight with Selene because of me. I shouldn't have asked you to come to the appointment with me. This is my fault. As long as the pup's okay, she can slap me."
She looked like a tragic heroine, eyes glassy, lower lip trembling. She even bared the side of her neck in a show of submission so practiced it could have been rehearsed.
Alaric's face twisted with anger. His voice was low and sharp when he turned to me.
"You've crossed the line, Selene," he said coldly. "Apologize to Ravenna."
The sound of it shocked even me. I laughed. Bitterly.
"You want me to apologize?" I said, my voice hoarse. "Alaric, do you know what this is?"
I shoved the silver-sickness report into his chest, my hands shaking. My throat tightened with emotion.
He didn't even look at it.
He tore the paper in half and glared at me like I was the problem.