Page 13 of Scavenger's Oath

I turn my head to see her better, our eyes meet and for a brief moment there’s a glimmer of something besides fear. Something that makes my ego grow ten feet.

Then she looks away, breaking the connection and retreating back into herself. But I'll take that victory. I don't want to push her any further today.

Right now, she needs space. A moment to breathe. And I cangive her that.

Because soon, Myles will wake up. And there’ll be no space.

No peace.

Just him. And whatever he decides she’sready for.

Chapter 5

Phoenix

The clang of metal echoes through the old station as I slam the cabinet shut. The sound carries through the quiet building like a warning shot fired straight into the gut of the morning silence.

I hope it wakes Myles, the bastard.

Zane left for his daily hunting and foraging just before I came down to the kitchen. I heard the front door creak open about twenty minutes ago. But he’s usually gone long before I wake up.

I bet he went to see her.

That girl. The feral little stray Myles decided to ‘rescue’. And now Zane’s doting on her too, like we’re running a fucking shelter for the poor and needy.

The smell of scorched coffee from yesterday still clings to the air, bitter and burned, mirroring my mood.I hate this fucking place. It always feels damp in the mornings, like the walls are sweating with guilt.

Fitting.

And now... I hate it even more. Because we have a pest.

Another mouth to feed. Another liability. Another goddamn variable in a system I spent years perfecting.

They still look to me for orders, as if we never stopped being soldiers. Zane wasn’t in the military, but he was trained like one in his last group. I was Myles’s commanding officer before the world went feral and his loyalty ran deeper than I ever expected.

Sure, I have twenty-eight years of experience, but six of those have been post-collapse.

Still, having a chain of command gives us some structure. Everything here has a rhythm. Just like back in the army.

It took me ages to build something that worked. Now it’s going to fall apart because Myles found a pair of blue eyes that cry for him.

Rubbing my hand down my face, I recall the way Myles hauled the girl over to us like a kid on Christmas morning. His mask hid his face, but I knew the grin he wore underneath.

He used to look at me like that. Like I was the oxygen to his flame. Now he’s panting after some half-starved stray who couldn’t handle him if she tried.

I should’ve just told him ‘No’. Should’ve put my foot down.

But I learnt long ago that makes him fight harder. He’s always been volatile, even back in our unit. But back then, I had command. Now, I’m just keeping the leash short and hoping he doesn’t bite.

This time, it’s better to let him burn out than get in the way of that fire. Especially over something so insignificant. Some fragile, wide-eyed girl.

Myles will get sick of her quickly.I'm certain. He’s twenty-five, his blood runs hot and his attention span is limited.

Although the way he was grinning last night, like he’d just brought home a stray dog we could train… that concerns me.

He was vibrating with energy. The same kind of manic energy he used to reserve for me, and only me. And that digs under my skin like a splinter.

OK, so maybe it’s not concern.