Page 25 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

My anger instantly swells with the thought.

“We have questions for Ms. Bane, and as the Council’s representative I have the authority to take her under my command until all queries have been completed properly.” She reaches her hand out again, waiting for us to comply willingly with the mention of the Council.

But she was mistaken.

“The hell you do,” grits out the light-haired boy— Mallyn, I believe —as he takes a step forward and toward Imelda.

His stance is both protective and threatening as he glares down at her, with Alpha dominance rolling off him in waves that I’ve only felt during battles with seasoned shifters.

A small shiver runs down my back with the strength of it. His beast must be a strong one.

I look toward Micai, her eyes worried as they flicker from Mallyn’s to Imelda’s, ready to take a step forward to help.

But student interference and defiance of the Council’s representatives could lead to bigger issues ... for Micai.

I glance toward Imelda, whose dark eyes haven’t left Micai’s for a second.

Why is she so aggressive toward her?

I hadn’t liked her behaviour toward Micai since the day she and the other representatives had arrived. But I thought maybe she was like that with all the students. Now, I see it is just Micai she has some issue with.

And I don’t like it.

My brows pinch together, my mind tracing her earlier words.

If Micai had been there during some kind of attack, then she was also a victim ... so why was Imelda treating her as if she had caused the attack?

Did her vendetta run so deep toward Micai that she couldn’t see clearly now?

Micai takes a step out from behind Ezra and Mallyn, pulling all our attention toward her.

“I’ll go.” The boys around her try to protest and stop her, but she shakes her head, her expression leaving no room for argument. “I have nothing to hide anyway.”

Her eyes meet Imelda’s as the representative scoffs.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” She points toward the academy. “Move.”

But before Micai can take another step, I move in front of her.

I won’t allow anyone to hinder or hurt her anymore.

Micai has suffered enough harassment and prejudice in this academy, but no more. I won’t allow it to happen under my watch.

She won’t be going anywhere with Imelda, or any other representative for that matter. They have no right to take or question her.

I take a step toward Imelda, my eyes narrowing.

“As a member of the faculty, I can say with clarity and ease that you, Imelda , do not have the dean’s permission to interrogate any students in the academy without his presence or permission.

Your allocated time for interviews passed before winter break.

You hold no authority over our students here.

And there will be no exceptions made.” Imelda flinches with my cold and cutting tone.

“You will not be taking Micai anywhere and do not have permission to question her any further. Unless you have full permission of the dean, her guardian, or Micai herself ... your unnecessary questioning ends now .”

Imelda’s lips open and close, her brows creasing deeply on her face as she tries to protest. But I wave my hand, stopping her.

Whatever she has to say, it will not change my mind. She will not be questioning Micai.

Whatever has happened with Verod and this attack, I will not let them take her. I will protect Micai. No matter what.

Micai’s POV

I peer toward Gadriel, a fierce glare set on his features as he watches Imelda.

Her nostrils flare, her lips parting again before a voice calls her name, cutting her words off before she begins.

A familiar large figure makes his way over toward us.

“I was wondering where you had run off to,” Marcus calls as his eyes find Imelda. They quickly narrow, flickering between her and us, his gaze quickly assessing the situation. “And what is all this?”

Imelda turns her glare toward Marcus. “ She is involved in this. You heard Verod.” She points her manicured finger my way as Marcus sighs. “She needs to be interrogated properly and?—”

“No.” Marcus shakes his head. “This is not how we do things, Imelda. Procedures and protocol must be upheld.” He glances my way, a warm smile tilting his lips before turning back toward Imelda, the warmth of his smile quickly fading.

“There was also evidence left at the location of a beast having attacked Verod. There was no foul play found. It falls into place with the previous attacks?—”

“But she was there!” Imelda argues, her face scrunching up further in frustration. “We need answers.”

Marcus drags a hand down his face, a weary look taking over his features. He turns fully my way, an apologetic look in his gaze as our eyes meet again.

“Ms. Bane, were you by chance near the location where Verod was attacked by a beast?”

Everyone’s eyes all fall on me, silence filling the space around us.

I give a small nod and hear a slight sharp intake of breath beside me.

Mallyn’s, Gadriel’s, and Ezra’s expressions widen before darkening. Each of their lips part, questions on the cusps of their mouths before Marcus speaks again, pulling my attention back toward him.

I hear my name being called but try to focus solely on Marcus and the situation in front of us. Apparently proving my innocence.

“Ms. Bane, would you be able to fill in the gaps from our investigation?—”

“Fill in the gaps?” Imelda barks, an incredulous look splashed across her face before twisting toward me.

“More like a detailed report.” Her eyes narrow to slits as she takes a step toward me.

“If you were there, why is it that you didn’t come straight to us after the attack? Where have you been all this time?”

Marcus tries to stop her, but she continues on, ignoring him completely.

“Why did you leave Verod behind and not seek immediate help? Why were you in the forest alone at that hour?” She takes another step forward, and I have to grip Mallyn’s and Ezra’s arms as they try to move toward her. Their expressions grow darker the longer she continues.

“How is it that Verod got hurt during this beast attack, but you have no visible wounds?” Her eyes narrow further in disdain, trailing down my frame before Gadriel steps forward and blocks her view of me.

Unknowingly saving her from the impending death she was walking toward with Ezra and Mallyn.

“What beast would you be referring to?” Gadriel asks, his voice cold and gaze cutting toward her. And the look he gives her seems to make her falter and take a step backward.

But her lips quickly quirk up in a patronising smirk, shaking her fear away. Before she can speak, Gadriel continues on, ignoring her completely as he takes a step toward Marcus.

“You ask why Micai didn’t run straight to you, but where were you both during this ‘beast attack’?

Why were Micai and Verod attacked, and both of you were nowhere to be seen?

” Gadriel takes another step, his tone low and like a sharpened blade.

“And why are you questioning Micai as if she is not a victim of this attack, but a perpetrator? Is that how the ‘ representatives ’ of the Council work? Carrying their own pathetic prejudice without investigating properly?”

“We’re not—” Marcus begins before glancing toward Imelda, his words quickly fading as he releases a heavy sigh.

He looks my way. “My apologies, I only wish to clarify the situation and know more of the details of the attack.”

I give him a small nod. “I’ll tell you what I know?—”

“ Fine . Let’s not waste any more time, shall we?

” Imelda snaps, her lips pursed as she turns another angry glare my way.

“Why were you in the forest area around the academy on the night in question? Why was Verod— a representative of the Council and a strong warlock —injured, while you are clearly unscathed?”

She gestures toward my body, throwing question after question at me, not even waiting for a response before jumping to the next. Her tone is laced with acid and dripping with disgust as she continues.

“Who the hell does she think she is?” I hear Ezra’s low tone, and Mallyn’s eyes glow bright blue, both of them ready to pounce as she obliviously blathers on.

“Where did you disappear to after the attack, and how did a beast manage to get into the forest around the academy that night? How did you?—”

“Enough, Imelda!” Marcus yells, cutting her words short and giving her a tight glare before turning toward me.

“Ms. Bane.” His voice and gaze instantly soften. “My apologies again. If you could help with a couple of my questions, I would appreciate it.”

I give him another small nod as he continues and smiles.

“A black substance was found at the scene of the attack, along with fur, claw marks, and a corpse. It was a scene similar to the attack that happened previously on the academy grounds before your break.” He rubs a hand along his bearded jaw.

“We surmise that one of the beasts survived and hid until it attacked you and Verod ... but it’s only our speculation for now.

” His warm brown eyes meet mine. “I have no doubt that it was an attack that had nothing to do with you, and that you are an unfortunate victim as well. Thankfully, both you and Verod managed to survive. And that, for me, is the most important thing.”

Imelda scoffs again, the noise beginning to grate on my ears as I send a glare her way before deciding to ignore her completely.

“But Verod is—” Imelda begins before quickly being silenced by Marcus.

“ Alive . He is alive, Imelda. And I believe that is in part due to Ms. Bane’s help.” Marcus gives me a small smile. “Would you be able to tell us what happened that night, or what you can remember?”

I begin my story again, ignoring Imelda’s background noise this time.

“I was making my way back from town to the dorms. It was Christmas Eve, so there were no buses running at that time, so I had to walk back.”