Page 110 of Specter Bred

My throat tightened. His fist caught in the fabric at my waist, gripping it. I opened my mouth, scrambling for something.

"I can explain—"

"Don’t."

He stared down at me, jaw flexing.

"I already know."

I swallowed.

"Know what?"

His eyes flicked toward Hayes.

"Farm Boy told me all about you two, and what you get up to in that dorm room."

Heat shot straight into my cheeks. My head snapped toward Sammy. His mouth fell open, both hands flying up in surrender.

"Hey, don’t look at me like that," he said quickly, blood still dripping from his split lip. "He used his alpha bark, Maeve. I didn’t exactly have a choice."

My glare sharpened.

"Traitor."

Sammy winced. "Technically, yes."

A rough sound left Graves. Not quite a laugh. Not quite a growl.

"Are you going to cut us now that you know?" I asked.

That made him laugh, actually laugh.

"I’ve known for weeks," he said.

My brow furrowed.

"Really?"

"Before we even got to the outpost."

I stared up at him, confusion twisting through me. If he knew... why hadn’t he cut us like he’d threatened? Why had he pushed Hayes to tell him? And why the fuck was he still straddling me?

"No, Maeve," he said, voice flat, as if the answer should’ve been obvious. "I’m not cutting either of you."

I could’ve left it there. Could’ve shut my mouth, rolled out from under him, and gone back to my room. I almost did, but I wouldn’t be me if I knew when to shut the fuck up.

"Why?" I asked, my voice low. "Why threaten us if you never meant to follow through?"

"I already told Farm Boy this."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Okay. So tell me. Why didn’t you cut us for fraternization when you found out?"

He exhaled hard, some of the tension finally bleeding from his shoulders as he glanced down at me.

“Because everyone fucks, Archer,” he said with a tired sigh.