Page 39 of Scavenger's Oath

“Leave it,” I mutter through gritted teeth.

“No. Talk.”

“I said drop it,” I grunt, trying to push past him again.

“I heard you,” he retorts, voice staying calm, but there's a bite under it now. “Something's got you rattled, and if it affects this group, I need to know... Is it something to do with that girl?”

“No,” I lie.

“Bullshit.You were just with her, weren't you?” He glances down the hall behind me. “You’re literally leaving the holding room,” he adds, gesturing to where I just came from.

Dragging my hand down my face, I exhale hard. “She… offered herself to me,” I force the words out.

He raises a brow. “Did she now?” His tone morphs into curiosity, almost amused.

I bristle. “It's not like that.”

A smile plays on his lips. “Oh, isn't it?”

“Drop it, Phoenix,” I growl, rougher than I mean to.

His expression hardens, but his voice stays level. “Zane. I just need to know if we're gonna have a problem. You know how Myles can be.”

I look down at my boots as I shift in place. “There won’t be a problem,” I huff out. “I said no.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course I fucking did,” I snap. Phoenix knows the vows I made and the urges I struggle with.

They haven’t been truly tested since the flesh traders garner women like jackals. Sure, we kill any that come close to our town, but they’re scouting, not transporting merchandise.

He nods thoughtfully, then smirks. “Didn't really look like an ‘of course’ kind of situation… just judging from the way you came storming out of there.”

“She wasn't doing it because she wanted to,” I growl defensively. “She's scared. Just trying to survive. She only did it because she thinks it's what she has to do to stay safe. Like she thinks she has to earn her keep.”

He nods again, slower this time. But there's a flicker in his eyes. “Wise girl,” he mutters, almost to himself. Then he steps a little closer, voice teasing again. “And you said no?”

My nostrils flare as he makes me relive the memory. Theway my body raged for it, mind flashing with images of ways I could fold her.

“That couldn't have been easy for you,” he continues. It sounds condescending but when I look back up at him his gaze softens slightly.

“What the fuck do you think?” I grind out.

“Just sayin’,” he shrugs. “Might be a gift from the universe… rather than a test,” he smirks knowingly. Almost like he's taunting me.

I fall silent, refusing to indulge in such wishful thinking, hoping he’s finished and will let me fucking walk past.

He sighs, not annoyed, just thoughtful. “Look, I get it, after everything you went through with the flesh traders, you don't want to be like that again.” He nods. “But this world doesn't care what kind of man youwantto be. It throws girls like her in front of men like us, and waits to see who breaks first.”

“No. You don’t get it Phoenix!” I snap. “You don’t get how hard it is to see another girl in a cage, after years of being forced to abuse them. I fucking hate myself for what I’ve done but it doesn’t stop my conditioning. I came so close to giving in. That’s what makes me feel so sick about this.”

Phoenix sighs, finally stepping aside. When he speaks again, his tone is full of understanding. “You’re right, I’ll never know what that was like. Take a walk and cool off. I can't have you losing your shit too.”

He turns and leaves before I can find my feet. As if he didn't just see the exact moment I started falling for a girl who can barely look me in the eye. A girl that Myles claimed. A girl we technically kidnapped.

I lean against the wall and breathe in deep. But it doesn't help.

My hand still remembers the shape of her thigh. Thewarmth. The blind trust. I want to memorise the rest of her. And God help me, I don’t think I can keep pretending I don’t.