I stumbled slightly as I pushed open the heavy doors to the Fighting House sleeping quarters, the wood creaking loudly enough to make me wince, though the sound quickly dissolved into a laugh I couldn’t quite hold back.
“Shh,” someone behind me hissed, though the attempt at quiet was completely ruined by the laughter bubbling up in their own voice. “Shh yourself,” I muttered, though it came out softer than intended, my words slightly slurred at the edges.
The group spilled in behind me in a messy, uneven line—boots dragging, shoulders bumping, laughter echoing far too loudly for the hour. My head felt light, my thoughts just a fraction slower than usual, and for once, I wasn’t scanning every corner, every shadow, every movement like something might jump out and try to kill me. It was re
