A Hatred Most Pure novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Her Terms

We stopped three paces apart in the road, and neither of us spoke.

He was breathing hard.

His shirt was torn at the shoulder where Bram's stitches pulled, and his left hand was open at his side.

"You said you wouldn't follow," I said.

"I didn't send anyone."

"You walked all day."

"I kept turning around. A dozen times." His voice was hoarse. "Then I didn't."

I laughed, and it came out wet.

"I was coming back," I said. "I want you to know that. I turned around before I saw you."

His whole face changed.

"I have terms," I said.

"Yes?"

"I sleep in your bed because I choose to. Every night you ask me, in words, and I answer.

"The gate stays open. I go where I like, and I come back when I like.

"When we're ready, you tell the hall what you did, the way I told it what I did. All of it."

"Yes."

"And your mouth," I said, "is mine. Whenever I want it."

"Cora."

"Say yes."

"Yes," Ansel said, and then he crossed the three paces and picked me up off the road.

We reached Dunmarrow after midnight.

Nobody stopped us at the gate.

The room was warm, and the fire was lit.

Somebody had changed the sheets and set a jug of water by the bed.

Ansel shut the door and stood against it.

"Ask me," I said.

His throat moved.

"Will you sleep with me tonight, Cora?"

"Yes."

"Will you let me undress you?"

"Yes. Hurry up."

He smiled, a quick, startled smile I had never seen on him.

Then he crossed to me and took the pins from my braid, one by one.

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