Page 69 of The Vixen

I wait. Sawyer neither confirms nor denies, which is as much as anyone could ask. More than I ever thought he’d give.

He told someone, didn’t he?

On accident.

Probably for the last time.

Sawyer’s arm moves with a twisting motion that dissolves my thoughts.

“I’m tired,” Sawyer says as I meet his eyes. “Do you think we could talk again in the morning?”

In the morning…

I nearly laugh the tension from my back, nearly dislodge the sickly feeling in my gut that only comes from knowing that you’ve said too much. Revealed what can never be forgotten.

I’ll be shocked if we so much as look at each other tomorrow.

But… He’s thinking of Liberty again, isn’t he?

My eyes dip to the bedspread as I tuck hair behind my ears.

I grab my clothes off the floor and get dressed, grateful for the silence. Once I’m fully clothed, I sit facing away from him. My spine lengthens as I stare at the bare, white wall.

“You should know, Thorne is taking over my position as your handler. I’m going to be far too busy with other work to deal with this breeding issue, so all of your progress and concerns should be reported to him… Do yourself a favor and avoid provoking him. I can’t help you if you do.”

“What about Liberty?” Sawyer doesn’t hide his unease. I can’t tell if I like that he’s no longer hiding it or if I resent it. Becausehe really did expect an orgasm and some truth telling to make me bend my will. He really does believe it’s that easy.

Maybe it is. Maybe it’s even easier than that because I know I should kill Liberty, and I’ve yet to seriously consider it.

“Fortunately for Liberty, Thorne is more patient than I am. He’s chosen to allow her one more week to adjust.”

When Sawyer doesn’t immediately respond, I straighten my shirt and stand. There’s this strange urge to kiss him goodbye that almost makes me turn around. I’m frozen in place, half-turned.

Clearing my throat, I point my feet toward the door. As I approach the entryway, I pause to flip off the light. My head turns halfway toward Sawyer.

“Good night, Dreg.”

CHAPTER 18

SAWYER

In the morning, Aiden walks me to the Nurturer’s compound to check on Liberty.

They’ve put her on the top floor, closed off from the Shadow Sanctum members. When I enter the bedroom much like the one I was shown at The Grove, she’s sitting at a small table with an untouched tray of food in front of her. Her face is sunken, her eyes hollow like already, she’s slipped into depression.

Thorne stretches out on the thick windowsill, eyes heavy as if he’s bored. They both seem to notice Aiden and me at the same time because their posture stiffens together. Both of them sit up straight and turn to glare. Contempt couldn’t be more synced if they’d choreographed it.

My shoe squeaks tile as I come to a halt. “Good morning.”

“What is the Dreg doing here?” Thorne snaps at Aiden as he springs to his feet.

Aiden shifts to my side with a protective force, his chest wider than usual. I could see Luna asking him to intervene with the inevitable strikes, but part of me hopes she didn’t.

He and I get a little closer every day. I’m pretty sure it was him who saw last night’s X-rated movie on my bedroom security footage—if his red face and averting eyes this morning were any indication. “Mr. Hansley would like to accompany Miss Liberty on a walk.”

“Did Luna order this?”

Aiden shakes his head. “I’m to follow your orders, sir. The Head Keeper has asked not to be bothered.”