Page 50 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

“They were a group or a clan that moved in the dark.” Isaiah’s brows pinch downward.

“They were cloaked in mystery but had spies everywhere. We always had to be careful. They didn’t have a name.

” Ezra’s hand reaches for mine under the table, laying his softly on top of mine as Isaiah continues.

“Lucien tried to find more information on them. He believed one day he could wipe them all out if he could just find a crumb or small clue they left behind. But ...” A dark, sombre look coats Isaiah’s features. “It was what led to his demise.”

“What do you mean?” asks Mallyn, his hand falling onto my shoulder.

Isaiah looks to him, his expression even more solemn as he continues.

“He went out searching for answers, saying he found a proper lead this time.” His dark brows scrunch together.

“He was always careful when he left, only contacting us once every fortnight and leaving nothing behind to trace anything back to us. But a month went by with no word, and then another and another ...” A distant look enters his gaze.

“I went looking for him and what I found ... only a pool of blood and his favourite black spear. It was broken in half ... something I thought was impossible.” His eyes meet mine.

“If he was alive, that black spear—his favourite choice of weapon—should have returned to his body. Something must have happened. They must have used something strange, or taboo magic.” His voice falls lower as if the next few words are a struggle to get out.

“There was also too much blood ... and too many mangled pieces left behind.”

My eyes trace the dark shrouded features of his face, seeing the genuine grief in his eyes as they look toward the table. It is the look you wear when you’ve lost someone so precious to you that you don’t know how you’re still here, still moving and breathing without them around anymore.

And one I knew well before.

I squeeze Ezra’s hand before meeting his turquoise gaze, his smile instantly soothing the ache trying to grow in my chest with my memories.

It’s all in the past. Never again.

“That doesn’t mean that he’s definitely dead though,” adds Annex, sliding a hand around my waist. “Some supernaturals can survive the craziest shit, especially if he was strong.”

And glancing at my psycho and knowing his abilities exist, I realise it could be a possibility. I also came back to life, so who’s to say Lucien couldn’t survive some heavy blood loss?

Isaiah sighs, shaking his head before his voice falls low.

“I wish that were true, but it’s not possible.

There was part of him left behind that, even through all the carnage, I could easily identify as his.

There were markings left on some of the body parts, ones I had seen a thousand times over.

” He meets my gaze, his shoulders slightly falling.

“It’s the one thing I’m sure of. I’m sorry, Micai. ”

Why would he be sorry? I never knew Lucien. I didn’t even know I had an uncle until tonight.

But even as I think the words, a strange ache works its way through my chest.

I shake it off and push the emotions growing back down, burying them deep. How could I have any feelings of pain or loss when I never knew the man? I just couldn’t.

I also couldn’t allow myself to go down that dark rabbit hole, grieving for a family I never had, for one that I never knew existed until now. It would only cloud and consume my mind. And I had to keep my thoughts clear.

I peer toward the marks on my wrists. There was no time to grieve for “what ifs.”

“So, I threw myself back into the search for the group that killed Lucien,” says Isaiah, anger lacing his tone.

“I was wracked with regret and guilt as I travelled from one end of the globe to the next, but only ever found pawns who had no tangible information. I was hell-bent on revenge.” His large hands fist into balls, his knuckles going white from the tightness.

“And then one day I looked up and realised years of my life were gone. When I finally managed to return, it was too late. Everything I loved had disappeared. Lucien ... and Elandria.”

A beat of silence passes through the room before his eyes find the necklace on the table and quickly narrow toward it.

He lifts his gaze, meeting mine as a more focused look takes over his eyes.

“If there’s a threat like this after you here, then you need to leave and get out of the academy, out of town. Find somewhere safe to live, that’s what they would want.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” argues Ezra as his glare darkens, but Isaiah continues on, ignoring him as his eyes stay glued to me.

“Someone is clearly targeting you. It may even be related to the same people that were after Lucien and Elandria.” His nostrils flare as he closes his mouth and clenches his fists tightly again.

“You have to go. Get somewhere safe. Somewhere where no one knows you and you can start fresh. Live a long life.”

“Red’s not going anywhere?—”

“Who the hell do you think you are?—”

“We can protect her?—”

All the guys jump up shouting, but Mallyn’s last words have Isaiah’s eyes widening and anger swirling in them. He pulls himself up before slamming his hands down on the table, a crack forming on its marble surface with the force.

“Did you hear nothing I just said?! Lucien wasn’t some weak supernatural.

His power and strength could rival an army.

He was faster, stronger, and more knowledgeable than any other being.

He honed his skills like a fine blade. And they still found and killed him.

They ripped his body to shreds and left only pieces behind for us to bury.

” He seethes, glaring at each of the guys.

“This isn’t a game. You can’t defeat something when you don’t even know what it is or where it’s going to come from.

This group has been hunting their family for decades, or even centuries, and have slowly managed to pick them off one by one.

The only thing that kept them alive before was running and hiding.

” He turns toward me. “Never stay in one place for too long and keep moving. Hide yourself and your abilities and marks. You’re the last of them. ”

“You don’t know us,” Creed retorts, stepping closer. “We can protect Micai if we stay together.”

Isaiah scoffs. “Then you think too highly of yourselves. And it will be too late by the time you realise you were wrong. Trust me when I tell you ...” Isaiah slowly sinks back down into his chair, the anger ebbing from him as pain and grief replace it.

“You never get over losing your loved ones like that. Knowing you should have done more, said more, been by their sides, or just have taken them and run as far as possible.” Isaiah looks at Creed, a strange look passing between them before he looks to my men and continues.

“The grief and regret eat you from the inside out.”

A cold silence blankets the room as I look to each of my men and Creed, a slight bit of worry working its way into their expressions with the genuine look of fear on Isaiah’s face.

But they should know better. I won’t run away or hide anymore. Together we can fight anything, even fear itself.

“But you’re still here. Even after years of fighting for answers and chasing them ... you’re alive,” I add, pulling all their attention toward me. “And I’m not running anymore. Whatever comes my way from now on, I’ll fight it.” I look to Ezra, Annex, Mallyn, and Creed. “ We will. Together.”

“Damn straight, Red,” chuckles Annex as Ezra laces our fingers together, his smile growing beside me.

“Always,” adds Mallyn, his hand softly squeezing my shoulder as his grey eyes flicker blue.

Even Creed throws a grin our way.

And all the unease of moments ago is wiped from their eyes as if it were never there, only menacing grins now tugging at their lips as they watch me.

Isaiah shakes his head before his gaze turns my way.

“I used to think it was possible before too.” Isaiah sighs.

“I never understood why Lucien and Elandria ran and hid for so long ... until they were gone.” Isaiah’s voice cracks, a look of genuine fear laced in his tired eyes.

“You’re the last piece of them that exists in this world, Micai. I can’t watch you die.”

I pull myself up straight before standing above him. “Then help me.”

His brown eyes widen with my words as the boys join me in standing.

“You know more about my mother’s family and all this fighting than I do. Help me. Teach me. So that I can become stronger than they were and protect myself and those I love.” I peer toward the guys around me before meeting Isaiah’s gaze again.

He stares at me, his eyes unblinking before slowly sighing and dragging a hand down his face. “You’re as stubborn as both of them.”

“Nah, I’m pretty sure that’s just all Red,” adds Annex as I throw a glare his way. But the ass just chuckles.

“You’ll need to train,” states Isaiah, pulling himself up.

“And harder than you’ve ever trained before, with only strong opponents that will push and challenge you.

” His brown eyes bore into mine, a more serious gaze forming in them.

“You’ll only get stronger through fighting the strongest and facing difficult trials. ”

“We can help with that,” adds Ezra, grinning as he gives my hand a squeeze.

Isaiah nods, glancing between us all before moving out from the table and stepping closer until he’s directly in front of me. His eyes are firm and more resolute.

“Fine. Let’s make the hunted become the hunter.

” A slight grin tugs at his lips and beard as a dark glint forms in his eyes.

“Your uncle was a force to be reckoned with, a hurricane that blew away his enemies with ease ... let’s surpass him and make you the storm that destroys everything in her path. ”

My own grin widens. Looks like it’s time to master these black blades.