Page 28 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)
MICAI
A nnex wraps his arm around my shoulder as Mallyn comes to my left, soft grins tracing their lips as we make our way into the classroom.
We had spent the morning unpacking my belongings in Ezra’s dorm room, having decided that’s where I’ll stay most of the time while back at the academy.
All the chattering and laughter stops as we enter, the room falling silent as we slowly make our way up to our seats at the back of the class. The students nearest scatter like small animals, grabbing their things and dashing to the furthest seat from us.
Mr. Finch clears his throat, making some attempt to pull attention back to the front and the start of class as we sit down. But all his attempts fail.
“Ms. Bane, Mr. Blaire, and Mr. Port—” Mr. Finch begins before his words fade on Annex’s name. He straightens himself, stealing whatever bravado he’s built up over winter break and directs his gaze fully toward me.
“You are fifteen minutes late to class. If this happens again, I’ll?—”
Mr. Finch’s words are cut off, a look like a deer caught in headlights taking over his expression as Mallyn stands up.
A dark look takes over Mallyn’s face as he glares down toward the pathetic teacher. His eyes glow blue, his beast close as his lips part.
“You’ll do what ?” Mallyn’s voice sounds gravelly, the air shifting as an icy coldness fills the room.
A shiver runs up even my spine with the murderous tone of his voice.
Annex chuckles darkly beside me, breaking the tense atmosphere before opening his mouth.
“You shouldn’t have directed your pathetic threats at our woman.” His arm drapes around my back, falling onto my chair. “But if our ‘being late’ bothers you so much we can have a looong chat about it after class.”
The deranged grin he gives Mr. Finch has the man instantly paling before quickly shaking his head.
“T-that’s not n-necessary.” A tremor works its way into his hands as he fumbles with his board markers, dropping them on the floor as he rushes out his next words.
“You can a-arrive whenever ... there is no r-rush at all.” He turns toward the board and shakily begins his lesson, his voice feeble and writing illegible as the tremor in his hands continue.
Mallyn takes his seat, his glare fixed fully on Mr. Finch before I take his hand in mine and pull his gaze toward me.
His cold gaze begins to thaw, a small tilt to his lips as the stiffness in his shoulders eases and he relaxes more in his seat.
Annex leans his head against the desk as he gazes between me and Mallyn.
“I hate this damn lesson and that moron of a teacher. But I’ve got so many fond memories of me and you here, Red.
” His eyes soften, propping his head up onto his hands as he continues.
“Do you remember our first time sitting in these seats?” A wistful sigh falls from his lips as a grin tugs at mine.
“It’s a story I’ll tell our children when they’re older.
How Mommy made the first move on Daddy A. ”
I almost choke on my own spit.
Who the hell mentioned kids ?
“ Daddy A ?” I manage to get out as my eyes widen toward the maniac grinning at me.
His grin only grows even wider, his eyes lighting up before a low groan leaves his lips.
“That was supposed to be for the kids but now ...” He adjusts himself in his seat. “I think it sounds a hell of a lot better when you call me it.”
“Keep it in your pants.” I slap his hand away as it reaches out and begins brushing the back of my neck.
“You know you enjoy me more without them, Red.” He gives me a wicked grin as I roll my eyes, my reddening cheeks betraying me.
Annex chuckles as Mallyn begins brushing soft circles up and down our entwined fingers.
“He always brags about how he met you first.” Mallyn tilts his chin, gesturing toward the psycho whose eyes gleam brighter. “And how his allure brought you to us all.”
A small scoff leaves Mallyn’s grinning lips as he brings my hand up to his mouth, placing the gentlest of kisses there. “First, second, or last ... none of it matters to me as long as you’re ours and we’re yours.”
“Who knew you could be so affectionate, Mal?” Annex’s smirk softens before quickly turning mischievous. “I guess our Red brings it out of us all ... just one more brother to fall now.”
I whip around, my eyes widening. He didn’t mean what I think he did?
Me and Creed? An incredulous scoff leaves my lips.
“You’ll be waiting a long while for that to happen. I don’t accept arrogant assholes, domineering dickheads, or patronising pricks into my bed. Mistakes were made before, but I won’t take any more of his shit. That grumpy asshole and I aren’t made for each other.”
I flick my gaze between the two of them, their gazes narrowed suspiciously.
“I’ll work together and move as one unit, but don’t be under any illusions. Creed and I tolerate each other. That’s it.”
Mallyn slowly nods as Annex brushes a hand through the back of my hair, gently playing with my strands.
“He’s fucked up. Most definitely.” Annex nods, his tone softening as he watches me. “And he owes you more than a boatload of apologies for all the shit he’s said and done. Maybe some begging could help ...” he muses before his face scrunches up. “But I guess he’s not the type to do that.”
He lets go of my hair, a tired sigh leaving his lips as he straightens up in his seat.
“Creed is the anchor to our little dysfunctional family. He’s the one that keeps us all grounded.
” His brows furrow as a deeper look takes over his features.
“He drew us all together and made us into something when we were lost and drowning.” His gaze meets mine, so much emotion swirling in those blue eyes as he continues.
“I’m not saying you should forgive him, Red.
Make the dickhead crawl on all fours and bark for forgiveness.
Fuck, I’ll knee-cap him and leash the bastard if that will help. ”
A small grin tugs at my lips with the thought and has the tension seeping from both me and Annex as his own smile reappears.
“I’m just asking you to keep it open, Red, and to not give up on him just yet.” He glances toward Mallyn, a soft look shared between the two before both of them gaze warmly my way. “’Cause he didn’t give up on us.”
Annex reaches forward, stroking a soft trail down my cheek.
“And if it wasn’t for the prick, we wouldn’t have met you .
.. ’cause I sure as hell wouldn’t have attended this shitty academy if it wasn’t for him breathing down my neck.
” He twists a lock of my hair between his fingers, his eyes watching me intently.
“And that would have been the biggest loss of my life. I would have ended up deranged and permanently dead if not for meeting you, Red.”
A sigh leaves my lips as my shoulders sag a little. They were serious.
And hell, if their words and affection for him didn’t crack me open a little.
“I’m not promising anything. If he acts like a dick to me one more time, I’ll knock him out ...” A grin tilts my lips with a more amusing thought. “And then I’ll pluck every hair on his head and face and leave the bastard as bald as an egg.”
They both laugh, the hearty sound echoing throughout the room as the heavy atmosphere around us instantly eases.
“I’ll buy you a razor,” Mallyn adds, his grin lighting up his entire face. “It’ll be faster.”
“And I’ll hold the prick down and let you go to work.” Annex leans in before snagging a quick kiss, his eyes glinting before he pulls back in thought, lying back in his seat.
“Keeping the grumpy asshole around and making him miserable seems like a hell of a lot more fun, don’t you think, Red?” The grin he gives me is downright sinful. And the slight quirk to his brow and playful gleam in his eye has me chuckling.
“I guess it does sound a little fun.” The image of his face twisted in annoyance has the grin growing wider on my face as Mallyn’s and Annex’s begin to look more devious.
We spend the rest of the class thinking of different ways to make Creed pissed, some of my favourites being: robbing his precious Dodge Charger and giving it a new Barbie-pink paint job, replacing all his protein shakes with weight-gain powder, filling his favourite punching bag— which is apparently a thing —with Jell-O, and my top favourite, replacing all his shower and hair gels with lube.
He’ll look a different kind of ‘slick’ when I’m done.
We also decided to make him a lovely profile on Rinder, a popular little dating app in the supe community. We filled in each section with the opposite of what we think Creed would answer. He now enjoys synchronized swimming, getting his nails done on Sundays, and bobble hats.
We finish it just in time for the bell to ring, signalling the end of class.
We pull ourselves up from our seats, grinning and chuckling from ear to ear as likes begin popping up on the new profile. His photo must be a hit. Thankfully we connected it to Creed’s email so he could enjoy his new popularity too.
The rest of the class shuffles quickly out of the door with Mr. Finch flinching at Mallyn’s gaze as we pass him.
We walk a few feet before bumping into Ezra. He reaches his hand out, pulling me gently from in between Mallyn and Annex as they both complain.
“Unless you plan to change your course curriculum, then me and Micai have a date in music class.” Ezra smirks, a smug look taking over his features.
“Damn fucking art class.” Annex drags a hand down the back of his neck, an almost pained look in his eyes as he continues muttering, “... still couldn’t stick having to sing .”
The thought of Annex actually singing in class would be a shocking image, but him and Mallyn choosing the art class was even more surprising to me.
They must see the surprise on my face as they both grin.