Page 22 of Surviving Hallow Hill
Chère, is Styx giving you pleasurewithoutme?Rue’s voice tickles in the back of my mind.
Fuck off, old man, don’t ruin this moment.
Styx chuckles and pulls away. “He likes to stick his rat nose in everyone’s business.”
“So you heard it, too, huh?”
“Heard it, but can’t quite master the mind-sharing thing yet. Now, turn back around. We have to get this off of you.”
I do as he says, assuming the same position as before while he pokes and prods and scratches the blueprint out on the metal floor.
“Styx?”
“Hmm?”
“Where did you learn to do this?”
He doesn’t stop his drawing. “Because I was the runt, I didn’t really get the same education as my siblings, but I was quiet, and I observed. One of my brothers was a mechanic, and I used to watch him fix things. It led me to sneaking out and finding libraries, and I stole books about engineering. Taught myself.” He pauses. “You do trust me, don’t you? I don’t have a fancy degree, but...” He lets the sentence trail off.
But I’ve seen how smart he is. People can be smart without a fancy piece of paper telling them how good of a test taker they were.
“Styx,” I say, “I trust you with my life.”
I can almost feel the radiant smile he gives my back. “Thank you, alpha.”
“You can call me Em, you know. And you don’t need to thank me. You’re perfect just the way you are, and your family is horseshit for not seeing it. When we get out of here, I’ll find them, and my Lady will reap their souls, this I promise you.”
“Threats of death to those who wronged me?” he teases. It’s a rare, beautiful sound. “I feel loved.”
“You should.” Even my sword glows from the echoed vehemence in my tone. “You are loved.Ilove you.”
The scratching stops, and I hear his breath hitch, his heart pound. It beats faster and faster, and I’m almost afraid I’ve frightened him. But when the makeshift pen clatters to the ground, and his palms span against my waist, I know better.
He drags me close so his chest is pressed to my back, and I feel the peppered kisses along the side of my neck, along with the whispered words that make my heart soar.
“I love you, too.”
* * *
Hours fly, filled with the scratching of Styx’s makeshift pen against steel and the occasional conversation that drifts naturally between us.
“Favorite candy?” Styx asks, though I think he’s just doing it to distract me from the boredom drawing up blueprints entails.
“That’s easy, SweeTARTS, the pink ones.”
I would have pegged you for a Mike and Ike girl,Rue’s purr echoes through my mind.
Ew, that’s just nasty. Get out of my mind, already!
His chuckle vanishes, and I focus on the moment again. “What’s your favorite?”
“Don’t have one. I’ve never had candy before.”
That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.
“Rue, can you fuck off? You haven’t had candy either, you leech.”
That hurts, chère.
