Chapter 15: The Night Before

Miranda's POV

At ten at night I put on Martha's coat for the second time that week.

Martha stood in the kitchen doorway and watched me do it.

"You'll want the flashlight," she said. "The mill road is dark."

"I'm not going for the road."

"I know what you're going for." She handed me the flashlight. "I'm seventy-four. I'm not dead."

I went out and did not look back.

The mill office was a narrow room above the press floor, with a desk, a cot and one lamp.

Orson was sitting on the cot with a bowl of Gillian's soup in his hands, and it was nearly empty.

"Term four," he said, and lifted the bowl.

"I see that."

He set it down on the floor.

I shut the door behind me and leaned on it.

There was a day left.

Tomorrow night the moon would be full, and every family in Hollowmere would stand on the green with their lanterns.

I did not know what I would be when the light went off the Stone.

"I'm angry at you," I said.

"I know."

"I'm going to be angry at you tomorrow, whatever happens."

"I know that too."

"I want you to touch me."

He did not move.

"Miranda."

"Rule two," I said. "I'm asking. I'm asking now, in this room, with all of it in me."

He stood up slowly.

He crossed the floor and stopped one step away, with his hands at his sides.

"Tomorrow you might hate me," he said. "I won't have you wake up and find I took this, too."

"You're holding back."

"Once," he said. "I'm allowed once."

"You've had it."

I took hold of his shirt in both fists and pulled him down.

I kissed him hard enough that my teeth clicked on his.

He made a low sound against my mouth, and his hands came up to my face.

They were shaking, and they were gentle.

I did not want gentle.

I bit his lower lip, and he groaned, and the grip of his hands changed.

He kissed me back with his whole mouth.

He walked me backward until my shoulders hit the door.

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