Can't Cheat Death - Brennan Sorrengail

VI: Late Night Hallways

It's quiet as we walk through the pitch-black halls, the awkward sort of silence that only happens after someone has royally fucked up. Thankfully, that someone isn't me and the man beside me is now indebted to me. I make no move to speak to him, I'm still too mad about being literally assaulted to care how uncomfortable Brennan might feel.

His shoulders are square and pushed back, though it's not his usual cocky gait. Tonight, he's stiffer than petrified wood and refuses to even look in my direction. It reminds me of our deal, the promise of a favor, anything I want, and I can't help the smirk that grows on my lips. But what could I possibly ask of him? I suppose I could request he throw the match if we were ever paired, but that's unlikely seeing as we're in the same squad, not to mention a waste when I should be able to beat him to a pulp myself. I could always ask for other favors, but most men here are desperate enough that I probably only need to ask and even Sorrengail would join me in bed. That's if I even wanted to bed him in the first place. Which I don't.

"I don't like that look on your face."

Brennan hasn't even turned to look at me when he speaks, and it only makes pride swell larger in my chest.

"What look?" I tilt my head towards him, cocking a brow.

"Like you're scheming."

"And what if I am? You did just promise me a favor after all. I have to make sure it's a good one!"

"I'm regretting not just killing you."

I smirk. "What's stopping you?"

He doesn't answer, but I see how his brow furrows. I'm not sure if he's upset by what I've said or considering it, but we're too close to the dorms for him to do anything quietly.

"Is this close enough?" His voice is rough when he finally turns to face me.

I shrug. "Familiar with the girls' dorms are we, Brennan?" His eyes narrow into slits, and his fists are clenched tightly at his sides, but he makes no other movement to show his disdain. "Fine, fine," I wave him off. "It's not like you attacked me in cold blood or anything, oh wait."

"Go to bed before I actually strangle you."

"I'd like to see you try."

I step forward, and the wall of anger that hits me as I pass him is nearly overwhelming. I keep my head high and walk towards the door of my shared room, twisting the knob as quietly as I can. When I turn to shut the door, Brennan is already long gone.

I huff quietly, shutting the door before stepping towards my bunk. I rifle through my pack, grabbing my clothes for sleeping before stripping out of my dirty leathers and into the loose-fitting shirt and leggings.

"Isla?"

There's a groggy voice to my left and I glance over just as I finish tugging the hem of my shirt over my head.

"It's me, I just got back from patrol."

Iosaph hums, only half awake, but I can see her eyes are still slightly peeled open. "Do you always get back this late?"

My heart sputters for a moment, but I take a deep breath and force myself to smile. "It's the same time I always get back, saph. Go back to bed."

She hums again but through the darkness I see her eyes shut and she rolls over to face the wall. I stand, too petrified to move until Iosaph begins to snore again. I glance around, making sure the other girls are all asleep before heaving a long sigh. My heart is still thrumming wildly in my chest, and I'm thankful it's so dark in the room that Iosaph didn't see the thin scrapes all along my cheek and hands from where Brennan had shoved me against the wall.