Page 101 of Specter Bred

Not that I would ever admit that to him.

Then his eyes shifted to Hayes. “Farm Boy.”

Graves studied the two of us for another moment before his expression hardened back into the stern mask I was used to.

“You worked as a team.” His jaw tightened as he glanced toward the field behind us. “That’s what this was about.”

Praise. Actual fucking praise from Major Nolan Graves.

It hit harder than it had any right to, warmth spreading beneath my ribs before I could shove it back down. “Thank you, sir,” I said, somehow keeping my voice steady enough that he wouldn’t hear how much those few words mattered.

I waited for the rest because there was always a rest with Graves. A criticism, an insult, or some brutally efficient way of reminding me that whatever I’d done right wasn’t nearly enough. I could practically hear the “but” forming.

It never came.

Instead, Graves looked between Hayes and me one last time and gave a curt nod. “You both did well.”

That was it.

Then he simply turned and walked off, leaving me crouched there in the dirt staring after him like he hadn’t just completely fucked up my understanding of Nolan Graves with four goddamn words.

Beside me, Hayes let out a low whistle.

"Well," he muttered, "I think that’s the nicest thing Graves has ever said to... well, anyone."

He was right. And if Graves being cruel to me did things to my body I couldn’t control, his praise was something else entirely.

Worse.

Because cruelty was easy to hate.

But approval?

Approval felt warm. Like sunlight after weeks in the cold.

And the worst part was how badly I already craved more of it.

Chapter 14: Maeve Archer

"What?!" I blurted, staring down at the room assignment Cutter had just handed me.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem, recruit?"

"Sorry, sir, it’s just..." I looked at the paper again, certain I had to be reading it wrong. “Command told Hayes and me that once we reached Phase Two, we would integrate into the squad bay with the rest of the recruits.

Cutter shrugged.

"Plans changed."

I frowned.

“This says that Hayes and I still share a room assignment.”

"That’s right."

My irritation flared.