Page 116 of Scavenger's Oath
For the first time in a long time, the quiet doesn’t feel suffocating. Just her steady breaths, my heartbeat and something unbreakable between us.
The peaceful moment shatters as the sound of heavy bootspound through the building, ripping us back into reality.
“Ivy?!” Phoenix’s voice is sharp and panicked.
“Myles!” Zane's voice is a roar.
My heart sinks a little at the intrusion.
“Up here!” I call out, lifting my head. “She's okay. I got her!”
The door slams open like it's been kicked in. Zane barrels in first, tearing off his burlap mask, bare chest smeared with blood. Phoenix is right behind him, Oni mask still on. Both of them take one look around and stop.
There's blood tracked in on the floor, on my shirt, the bed, on Ivy. Basically everywhere.
Zane's eyes go straight to Ivy. To the bruises and the torn shirt. The blood I dripped all over her.
Then tome,and his face twists into fury. “You let them get to her?!” he growls.
I jump to my feet. “I was here,” I snap. “I killed them all before they got further…”
“But not before they fucking hurt her,” he roars, gesturing to her face.
I take a step forward, but Phoenix moves quicker, catching Zane's shoulder. “Enough.” His voice is cold, hard. His eyes flick to Ivy, scanning, calculating. “She's alive. And those men aren't breathing. I trust Myles didn't hesitate.”
Zane breathes hard through his nose, lips in a tight line. He wants to swing at me.
But Ivy shifts behind me, sitting up, wincing again. “I'm fine,” she says, forcing a smile that wobbles at the edges. “Myles saved me.”
That pulls the air out of Zane's chest. He looks at her for a long beat, tension pouring off his shoulders.
She shrinks under his scrutinising gaze. It looks like he’s about to yellat her.But before I can jump in front of her, he whipsaround and storms out, slamming the door behind him so hard the wall rattles.
Her face falls, shoulders slumping.
My nostrils flare.
I don’t know what that look in his eyes was but, for the first time, I don’t trust him.
Phoenix sighs knowingly and steps closer to Ivy, inspecting her condition. Then his eyes land on the remnants of blood between her thighs.
He doesn't say anything at first. But his eyes flick to mine, sharp and unspoken.
Then, finally, he speaks, tone tight but controlled. “Give her one of your shirts. Then join me outside.”
Reluctantly, I nod.
I don’t want to leave her side ever again, but right now, she’s in my bed. Safe, where she belongs.
Phoenix lingers, then his hand lands on my shoulder. “You did good,” he says quietly. “She's safe. That's what matters.”
He means it. There’s a pride in his voice. And it makes me breathe easier.
He turns and leaves, footsteps fading.
It's just me and Ivy again. I sit beside her, gently this time. She clutches onto my wrist like she doesn’t want me to go and I’m barely holding it together. It hurts to leave her alone, but orders are orders. And Phoenix isn’t unreasonable; he’ll let me come back as soon as possible.
“I won’t be long. You stay right here, okay?” I say, voice rough.
