Page 13 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)
My beast roars violently in my ears with the thought before I manage to slowly push him back down. His anger and rage were just adding to my own and building it all further inside me. And I’ll need somewhere to release it all soon.
Micai had spoken so vividly of The Facility, and somehow or some way, I believe she ran into them, so we’ll start there.
We’ll find every connection and link, and every soul involved.
We’ll take them apart brick by brick and burn everything to cinders and ash so that my beautiful Mate will never look that haunted again.
My brothers and I will always be beside her. And anyone who wants to mess with Micai will have to get through us first. And I wish they would come.
I’ll show them true fear is when they stare into the eyes of my beast before death consumes them slowly.
I head into the abattoir, the space now clean but bare. Creed decided to halt the fighting ring operation, at least for the time being. So there was no need to erect the ring and area as it was before.
We also don’t need crowds of unknown people in our space after just being attacked. The only people allowed to enter the abattoir now are the ones that work under us and have our permission to do so.
I make my way over to the dented metal doors, its protection and cloaking spell still holding strong even after the attack. I give them a small pat before heading toward the kitchen but stop before opening its door.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
I should at least be hearing Annex’s loud voice from inside with him playing with and pestering Micai.
A slice of panic works its way into my chest as my beast moves forward.
Had something happened while I was gone? Where are Micai and my brothers?
I place the brown bag down slowly, getting ready to shift if necessary, my beast pushing to the front and ready to attack.
Suddenly, I hear a thump from our weapons room two doors down and then another thump soon follows.
My feet move before I can think another thought, rushing into the room with force as my shift begins, but three sets of familiar eyes have me halting my movements.
Micai’s soft blue gaze meets mine and the beginning of my shift recedes, my beast and heart calming at the sight of our Mate safe and surrounded by Ezra and Annex.
Annex makes his way toward me as Micai and Ezra continue what they’re doing.
Her hands are raised up and outward, like some Iron Man–attack pose as Ezra stands behind her, directing her in some way.
Her cute brows pinch together, a look of concentration taking over her features as her hands begins to shake. And then ... nothing.
She lets out a puff of frustration as Ezra smiles softly down at her, whispering words of comfort and support as our Mate glares down at her wrists.
“Where the hell is the food, Mal?” Annex glances behind me.
“You know Red’s already pissed that her wrist blades aren’t appearing, let alone you forgettin’ her meal.
She’ll go apeshit-crazy and do more damage to this room than we did to the abattoir.
” He peers back at Micai, who’s now glaring in our direction as Ezra grins behind her. “ Shit .”
Annex’s face scrunches up as Micai shakes her head and Ezra lets a small chuckle escape.
“It’s in a brown bag by the kitchen door.” I move past Annex and head over toward Micai, both me and my beast needing to be closer to her.
Micai turns back toward the human-shaped dummy she and Ezra were aiming for a few feet opposite of them. It has a few blade marks that look like Annex’s Bowie on its upper torso and neck area with a few dents to its lower legs.
Micai raises her hands again, her eyes glaring at the marks on her wrists before a look of frustration bleeds through her features.
“I just don’t understand ... they came before, so why isn’t it working now?” She flicks her wrists, the movement reminding me of Spider-Man throwing his webs before her brows pinch together and her hands become more animated.
A smile tugs at my lips with it all, calmness flooding my veins with each second near her. Her presence is a balm to me and my beast as we watch her.
“Focus on what you were thinking the last time they came to you,” suggests Ezra, his eyes focused on her marks.
“You were about to be attacked, Ezra.” Micai stops, turning toward him. “All I could think about was saving you and trying to protect you ... I prayed that something would save you.”
Ezra’s gaze softens toward her, his hand falling on top of hers as he intertwines their fingers and pulls her hand toward his lips, placing a kiss along her wrist.
And it warms something in me to watch them. Even my beast is happily accepting our intertwined bond and fate with my Mate and brothers. Our Pack.
“How about we change the dummy to Ezra, and I take a few throws with my Bowie?” Annex appears at the door with the brown bag and a large grin stretching his cheeks.
Ezra raises a brow as Micai rolls her eyes.
“We’re not using Ezra as target practice to help me summon my blades.”
Annex places the bag down on a nearby table.
“Whoever said anything about summoning your blades?” He takes his Bowie out, flipping it in his hand before throwing it toward the dummy and hitting it dead centre in its chest. “I thought Ez just needed a bit of exercise, but ... I mean, if it helps?” He shrugs playfully before unpacking all the food onto the table and laying it out for us.
We make our way over and take our seats, Micai’s smile growing as she takes her first bite.
A small happy hum leaves her lips as all of our own smiles grow wider.
I love watching our Mate enjoy her food.
“Don’t worry about your blades, Micai. It might take a little longer for you to get used to them, but we’ll figure it out.” Ezra unwraps his panini. “We just need to train a little and work on channelling your thoughts. I’m sure they’re connected to summoning the blades.”
Micai nods, taking another bite of her food, almost half of her panini gone already and eyeing the apple pie in the centre of the table.
My lips quirk upward as I take another large bite of my sandwich.
“You can take your time, Red.” Annex licks his lips, finishing his food. “I’ll make sure to protect that sexy ass of yours while you’re training. Nobody will get near you.”
Micai’s smile widens around her last bite before she quickly finishes it.
“Just because I can’t summon my blades doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself.” A sexy grin tilts Micai’s lips. “Who’s to say you’re not the one being protected?”
“I would happily let you take the front, my back ... from the side, whatever position you want, Red?—”
Ezra throws his balled-up wrapper at Annex, hitting him right between the eyes.
“But on a more serious note ...” Ezra’s gaze narrows, glancing between all of us. “We’ll have the Omerta Challenge at the end of the year too.” His eyes turn to Micai. “So we’ll need to train hard over the next few weeks to make sure we’re fully ready for whatever they’ll throw at us.”
Micai nods contemplatively, her mind wandering with Ezra’s words.
The Omerta Challenge was a type of exam held once every three or four years by the Defence faculty and only for Defence students.
I glance toward Annex, who seems to be mirroring my thoughts.
Never more had I hated the fact that we decided against joining the Defence class, opting for our arts instead.
I turn toward Ezra as we share a knowing look. He and Creed would have to watch over Micai during that damn exam because if she gets so much as a papercut ... Annex and I will unleash a torrent of pain on every prick in that forest.
And then some, growled my beast.
I reach for the pie in the middle, dividing it into four and giving Micai a slice twice the size of ours. I place it in front of her and put a fork in her hand, pulling her attention fully toward me.
My beast bristles with her softening gaze toward us.
“Whatever happens or whatever we need to do, we’ll do it all together. You’re not alone here, Micai.” I give her hand a little squeeze as that beautiful small smile reappears on her lips. “Don’t forget that you have us.”
She nods before leaning forward and taking a piece of her pie into her mouth, her eyes lighting up with glee at Daina’s specialty.
A contentment fills me and my beast as we watch her dig in, enjoying every crumb of the dessert we’ve chosen.
My thoughts flicker back and forth as I watch our Mate eat.
Whatever Micai needs, whether its training or information ... we’ll help her find it all.
I’ll stop at nothing to get my Mate the answers she deserves.
And whatever comes our way, no matter what it is, we’ll get through it together. As a family.