Erased by My Family at Seventeen, I Heard Every Lie at Eighteen novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Rule

The page's boots faded down the stair, and neither of them moved.

Theron's forehead came to rest against hers.

"Three hours," he said. "Then they walk in here and look at every recruit."

"And at me."

"At you. We have to teach you to stand in front of them and think nothing."

"With your rhyme."

"With my rhyme."

His thumb was still on her ribs, under her shirt.

He did not seem to know it.

"Come to my rooms," he said. "I'll teach you the whole thing."

"Is that an order, Lord Commander?"

"It's a request."

"I thought you had a rule."

He closed his eyes.

"I'm the Lord Commander," she said, in his own voice, low and level. "I'll break it."

A sound came out of him that was half a laugh and half something else.

He unlocked the door.

His rooms were over the east gate, two plain chambers with a desk, a map of the river, and a bed with a grey wool blanket.

He lit one lamp and turned around.

She was already unbuttoning her shirt.

"Linnea."

"You said you wanted to tell me for a year."

"I did."

"Then stop talking and tell me."

He crossed the room in three strides.

His mouth was on hers before she finished the last button.

His hands pushed the shirt off her shoulders and down her arms until it hit the floor.

She tore at the laces of his coat.

He shrugged out of it, and his shirt followed.

Then she had her palms flat on his bare chest, and under them the thump of his heart.

And she heard him.

Not the rhyme. Not a hush.

Her mouth. Her skin. A year of nights on the road with his hand shut around the reins so he would not reach for her.

She made a sound she had never made in her life.

"You're hearing me," he said against her throat.

"All of it."

"Then you know."

"I want you to say it anyway."

He lifted her off her feet and laid her on the blanket, and knelt over her.

His voice broke on the first word.

"I stood in that hall a year ago and I couldn't look at you. I have wanted you every morning on the road. I have wanted you every hour I was not allowed."

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