Page 29 of Specter Bred

Maeve rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.

"Boy Scout."

A grin spread across my face.

"Oh, so we are doing nicknames now?"

"Absolutely not."

"Could've fooled me."

"I'm doing nicknames," she corrected. "You are not."

"That seems unfair."

"Life's unfair. Get used to it."

I considered arguing. Then I remembered who I was arguing with.

"Alright, alright."

Maeve brushed past me, now fully dressed in her uniform and headed for the door.

"Wait, where are you going?" I asked. "It's late."

She shot me a deadpan look.

"I know Boy Scouts don't stay out past their bedtime, but I'm going to the indoor firing range."

I frowned.

"You've spent every night there for the past week."

"And I'll continue to. At least until I can kick your ass."

Before she could take another step, I pushed off the wall.

"Wait. I'll come with you."

Maeve stopped and turned slowly.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't need your help."

"Probably true."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"But it's also probably true that you'll kick my ass a lot faster if you let me give you a few pointers."

For a moment, she looked ready to tell me exactly where I could shove my pointers.

Then something flashed across her face.

Pride.