"Come out. I know you're there."
A quiet curse slipped from my lips as I stepped out of the shadows. Maxwell was staring at me, his gaze intense enough to make me shiver, and not in a good way. He walked toward me, and I lifted my hands instinctively.
"I didn't hear anything," I said quickly. "I was just walking past."
He stopped in front of me, looked me over once, then nodded.
"Whatever you heard," he said, "must never leave this place."
I zipped my mouth and nodded. "Of course. If it ever gets out, do your soldier thing. Cut off my head, that kind of stuff."
He raised a brow. "You speak… differently." He shook his head, looking utterly tired, then walked away without sparing me another glance.
I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until he was gone. "Damn, that was intense."
