You Are Mine (Mine #1)(68)

“Are you sure? You're shaking.”

My breathing quickens. “There's not much I can do about it.”

“True. Go ahead and aim again.”

I point the gun at the hay stack. He lifts my arms a little higher. “Take a breath and hold it.”

When I do, his scent mixed with the smell of the gun-smoke fills me.

“Pull the hammer back and fire.”

It's easier to pull the hammer back. I shoot. The spell shows the bullet plummets just short of the hay stack.

Zade moves away from me, leaving me cold even though the day's warm. “Good job. You're getting better.”

We practice for a while, though he doesn't put his arms around me again. I wish he would, but it's easier to concentrate without them. I've managed to hit the stack a few times when he says we're done for the day.

He hands me a box of bullets. “Keep these somewhere safe.”

I nod.

“You can come out and practice whenever you want. At least once a day. I'll help you when I can. Waverly can give you some tips, too. She's great with a gun.”

Of course she is. “I'll keep that in mind.”

“I'm going to stay out and practice. See you at dinner.”

“Until then.”

I head back for the house, the gun and box of bullets clunky in my hands. Before I turn the corner, I glance back at him. He casts a spell that looks like a bird and shoots at it. The bird wavers and falls apart. He must have hit it. Why does he bother shooting when he can just cast a spell?

I'm not sure, but I can still feel his arms around me. Comforting. Guiding. The metallic smell of my hands stays with me all day, reminding me of him and the threats lingering over him.





Chapter Twenty-Eight





The next week, I'm sitting in the garden reading Julia's journal. It's much easier than shooting like I've been practicing. It's fascinating to learn about her life. She's unlike any woman I've ever known before. The pain she writes about is as real as I've felt or seen my sisters and mother go through. But instead of her husband being the cause, she speaks of how he helps her through the pain. Then she moves on with her life. She sounds more like a man.

The bench creaks beside me. Zade. My heart quivers. I've been caught. I close the book as quietly as I can, hoping he doesn't notice it's not the Woman's Canon. I give him a small smile. What will happen if he catches me?

“Good book?” He asks.

I cling to it. “Fine.”

“Did you find it in the library?”

The unfamiliar word breaks through a part of my fear. “What's a library?”

“The room with all the books.” His eyebrows bounce a couple times, lips tugging upward. “The room I found you hiding in shortly after coming here.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “You saw me?”

He chuckles. “Yes, but you didn't look like you wanted me to, so I didn't say anything.”

I reach my other hand to cover my whole face. “I can't believe you saw me. I thought I got away with it.”

“Got away with what?”

Being from another country, he might not know the rules, so maybe I shouldn't tell him. Except he did say he knew the laws well enough to keep from getting in trouble. Trouble that would lead to his death. He has to already know about it. Besides, maybe this is a good way to figure out how he'll react if he figures out what I have. “Being caught with a book besides the Woman's Canon.”

“Woman's Canon should be burned.”

I take my hands off my face. His eyes are wide, face pale. He looks...Is he worried about having said that out loud? Does he really feel that way?

He scans the garden. No one is around, yet he casts the salmon-colored spell around us, keeping our words safe. “Please keep it a secret. I shouldn't have even told you. But since it slipped out, I'm hoping I can trust you with it.”

It's been long enough that I feel like I know him. Know when he's telling the truth and when he's keeping things to himself. This feels like truth. If the council found out, the threats on his life would quickly multiply. Why would he want to burn the book that tells women how to act? I know why I do, but why would he?

“I suppose I could keep it secret.”

“Thank you.” He points at the book in my hand. “Is that one I'll need to burn or something else?”

With what he revealed, maybe I can reveal a bit of truth, as well. “It's different. It's writings by the woman who used to live here.”

“Julia.”

“How did you know her name?”

“I made it a point to know.”

None of this seems upset him. In fact, he seems interested. Could he really be fine with me reading? I say, “Then perhaps you will know if her journal entries are based on fact or fanciful ideas.”

“Since I haven't read it myself, I don't really know. From what I've gathered, she wasn't the fanciful sort. I could read it through if you'd like and give you my opinion.”

Though I've already read the whole thing, and am just picking out bits and pieces, I'm not sure I want to give it away. I grip the book tighter. “May I have it back when you're finished?”