"What do you need, Gareth?" Holden yelled. "A drawing? I walked in on them all over each other!"
I had enough of Holden and his childish behaviour. The wounded act might have broken Quen, but it only served to irritate me. My aura wrapped tightly around his throat to silence him.
"You talk way too much," I hissed, watching him turn red.
"Grayson!" Gareth called out.
He was trying to keep a handle on the situation, but unlike Holden, he also knew what was at stake and who he was talking to.
"Let him go," Gareth said firmly.
I loosened my grip, so Holden could breathe properly, but refused to release him. This wouldn’t have been an issue if I’d just killed him on the first night. The one time I chose to show some mercy, the one time my head turned for a bigger target, I’d miscalculated.
"Please tell me what he said isn't true," Gareth continued through gritted teeth.
"Scott and I are seeing each other," I confirmed.
Gareth let out a breath and closed his eyes. "You both know the rules," he said, looking at me again. "You know that's not allowed."
"And do you intend to enforce that?" I asked, challenging him.
"I'll have to inform your brother and he can enforce it."
My aura blazed around me, darkening the room. "You'll do nothing of the sort!"
Gareth shrank back from his desk in a feeble attempt to put some distance between us.
"Hunter is going through enough at the moment. He doesn't need anything else on his plate," I told him.
As if I gave a shit what my brother was going through. He couldn't find out because that would lead to all sorts of problems.
There was a weak knock on the door before it opened and Quentin walked in, surveying the scene.
"Put him down, Gray," she told me.
At her request, I took my aura away from Holden and he rubbed his throat, taking in air.
Quentin closed the door and looked at Gareth. For the first time since I'd met her, I was struck by how young she was. She shook with each movement, shoulders hunched as if trying to protect herself from whatever would be thrown her way.
"Gareth," Quen started.
"What they're saying is true?" he asked, cutting to the point.
She swallowed before nodding, and he shook his head.
"I didn't expect this from you, Scott." He sighed.
Her cheeks flamed red. And I wanted to go to her, but that wouldn't help our case.
"Gareth. I... It just happened," she spluttered, eyes turning glassy.
"Fucking slut," Holden hissed.
I whirled around on him and pinned him to the ground with my aura. He needed to stop insulting her. She was my soulbound and I wouldn't have anyone disrespect her. Holden writhed against the floor, trying to get free of my hold.
"STOP! GRAY!" Quentin yelled.
She came over and grabbed my arm, and I fought against the urge to destroy Holden because she didn't want me to. I let him go and looked at her.
