Page 6 of King of Ruin

"There isn't anything to explain?"

A faint smile tugged at Maverick's lips.

He held Xavier's gaze for a long moment before slowly leaning forward, resting his forearms on his knees.

"Really?" The smile widened ever so slightly. "Or are you trying to hide something from the rest of us?"

Cassian's brows immediately shot up with interest, while Elias glanced between the two men, sensing that the conversation had just taken a far more interesting turn. Even Lucius, who had remained mostly silent throughout the evening, looked up from his drink, his attention now fully on Xavier as he waited to hear what Maverick was about to say next.

"What are you talking about?"

Cassian was the first to break the silence. He straightened in his seat, his brows knitting together as he looked from Maverick to Xavier, clearly trying to make sense of the conversation.

Across from him, Elias wore much the same expression. He glanced at Xavier, then back at Maverick, waiting for one of them to explain.

Maverick looked around the room, and a slow smile spread across his face.

"What?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised. "He hasn't told you?"

His gaze drifted back to Xavier, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"I honestly thought you would've shared it with them by now."

The smile on his face deepened.

"Interesting."

He leaned back comfortably against the sofa, resting one arm along the backrest while lazily turning the whiskey glass between his fingers.

"So you're hiding the biggest secret in your life from your own friends."

The room grew noticeably quieter.

Cassian's curiosity was fully piqued now, while Lucius lifted his gaze from his drink and looked toward Xavier with quiet interest. Elias frowned, his eyes moving between the two men before finally settling on Maverick.

"What secret?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"

Xavier let out a slow, almost inaudible breath.

The muscle in his jaw tightened.

Without saying a word, he turned his head toward Maverick, fixing him with a sharp look that could only be interpreted one way.

Don't.

Maverick met his gaze without the slightest hint of intimidation.

If anything, the warning only seemed to amuse him.

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he lifted his glass, taking an unhurried sip before setting it back down on the table.

"You can stop glaring at me," he said with a quiet chuckle. "It's not going to work."

Xavier's expression darkened.

"Maverick."

There was a clear warning in his voice this time.