Page 36 of Specter Bred

Then, as one, they snapped to attention and saluted.

"Sir."

The response came almost perfectly in unison.

I looked from one to the other, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

"Well," I drawled, lowering my rifle onto my shoulder, "if it isn't my two favorite recruits."

Neither of them looked convinced.

"Headache one," I said, nodding toward Archer.

Her dubious expression immediately shifted into the familiar look that suggested she was approximately two seconds away from throttling me.

"And headache two."

Hayes grinned.

Of course he did.

The kid could've found out he was being sentenced to the colonies and somehow still smiled about it.

Standing side by side, they couldn't have seemed more different. Archer looked ready to commit murder. Hayes looked happy to be included in whatever she had planned.

"We didn't know you were in here, sir," Archer said, her voice sharp enough to draw blood.

I shrugged.

"I heard Hayes giving shooting lessons and got curious."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Curious, sir?"

"Well, you're taking advice from another recruit instead of your instructor." I glanced at Hayes. "Seems a bit like the blind leading the blind, doesn't it?"

Archer's jaw tightened.

"Some people would rather see me fail than succeed, sir."

She aimed the comment directly at me.

Hayes shifted uncomfortably beside her.

"Is that how you see it?" I asked.

Before Archer could answer, Hayes spoke up.

"With all due respect, sir, I don't think Archer's looking for someone to help her succeed."

That caught my attention.

I raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

Hayes shook his head.