Page 87 of Out of Peril

“You should probably know that Taylor is Grant's mate,” he whispered in my ear.

I looked at them still kissing like a couple of teenagers.

“I'd hope so or she really is a skank whore.”

Taylor burst out laughing, which halted their little make out session.

“I guess that would be accurate.”

“Grant, huh? He's one of the good guys,” I said honestly.

“He's the best,” she said proudly. “But you two suck. You literally blew months and months of prep work for a long-term undercover mission. Now we're back to square one.”

“Shit. What happened to Nate?” Walker asked.

“The guy in the cage next to me?”

“Nate's fine. He got bought by one of the better Collectors. At least we didn't screw that much up,” Grant explained.

“Why are you all looking at me?” I asked. “How was I supposed to know any of these plans?”

“I must say, the way you swooped in and snagged Walker to fly off with him was pretty freaking epic,” Taylor said. “He did scream like a little girl, so that was pretty worth it in my book.”

“No I did not,” he protested.

I looked at him. “Sorry, but you kinda did.”

“We're screwed now,” Grant said. “It was better for us when they were fighting. We'll never survive it if these two actually become friends.”

Taylor and I looked at each other and shook our heads.

“Too soon,” I said.

“Yeah, maybe after they bond and calm the hell down some.”

She was looking at me as she said it and I had no doubt that guilt was written all over my face.

She gasped. “You already did?”

“Shh. Be quiet. Kyle asked us to keep it to ourselves for now,” Walker said.

“As if there is such a thing in the Force,” Taylor insisted.

“And why would he even say that?” Grant asked.

“Because I'm going to be Challenged,” I said calmly.

“No. You're true mates, right?” Taylor said.

We both nodded.

“But it's true. The Grand Council is insisting on it,” Walker explained.

“Well shit.” Taylor broke the silence that had fallen around us.

“Yup,” I agreed.

We stood around talking for a little longer.

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