Page 94 of Bone Year

He lets out a slow breath, eyes raking down my body once, then up. “Suit yourself. You’re welcome, by the way.”

He starts to turn away, and that’s when I hear it.

The door.

“Mae?”

My blood turns to ice. It’s Jace.

I spin so fast my vision blurs. He’s standing in the doorway, his blue eyes already on me, already on the blood at my neck, the smear of it on my collarbone, my shirt pulled half off my shoulder. Then his gaze flicks to Malric, who is standing too close to me, his lips still stained with my blood, his shirt rumpled where I shoved at it….and is fucking pants are untied.

Jace doesn’t move.

“Jace.” My voice cracks. “Jace, it’s not⁠—”

“Don’t.”

“He just bit me. That’s all. I swear to gods, that’s all⁠—”

Malric makes a low sound that might be a laugh.

“Sure it is, Red.”

Jace’s eyes snap to him.

Malric shrugs. “She was a mess, angel. I helped. Nothing she didn’t ask for.”

“Malric, shut up⁠—”

“You’re disgusting.” It’s the closest I’ve ever heard Jace come to a yell, but it’s quiet. Too quiet. “Both of you.”

“Jace, please.” I take a step toward him. “He’s lying. He only bit me. Nothing else happened. I stopped him.”

“I’m sure that’s what you’d say.”

“Because it’s true.”

He looks at me for one more second. I watch something die in his eyes. The softness, the trust. The way he’s always looked at me like I was something precious.

“You let him touch you, Mae.” His voice is flat. “I don’t need the rest of the details.”

He turns and walks away.

“Jace!” I scramble after him, my legs barely holding me, blood still wet down my neck. “Jace, wait⁠—”

But he’s already gone. His footsteps echo down the corridor, and then there’s nothing.

Silence.

Behind me, Malric whistles low under his breath.

“That went badly.”

I turn on him, fists clenched. “Why did you say that? You know nothing happened.”

“I know.” His smile is slow and pleased. “But you let him think it did, didn’t you? You stood there looking guilty. I just helped him understand what he was already seeing.”

“You’re a monster.”