Page 52 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

EZRA

I peer up toward Seria’s dorm window as light floods through it, her annoying blonde hair coming into sight from where I’m hidden in the courtyard.

I hated these nights. Nights watching Micai’s evil half-sister and taking time away from my Mate. But it was a necessary evil.

I’ve had Denver and Mace from our Blue Team keep an eye on her, as well as me and Mallyn taking turns in between. Annex couldn’t be trusted not to burn the dorm down while he was watching her, and Creed was too busy trying to find anything on The Facility group to help.

And as much as I wanted to do the same as Annex, I believe Seria’s involvement with this Facility —or whatever they call themselves—to be more intertwined than we initially thought.

The fact that she has the same metal as them and clearly knows what it can do. It’s too suspicious, especially when none of my regular contacts know a thing about it ... but she does?

Also, there’s Micai’s mother’s necklace.

She somehow managed to meld an old, cursed relic into it.

Getting her hands on something like that wouldn’t have been easy, let alone piecing the two together so intricately.

It would take a lot of knowledge and experience that someone like her wouldn’t have.

And I doubt the Bane Clan would taint their name by involving themselves with something so taboo or having something like that lying around.

The fact that she easily manipulates those around her— even from the first moment she stepped into Bane manor —makes me think she’s being doing it for far longer.

She’s too careful in her movements, having others do her dirty work with just a smile and a whisper.

The way she looks at people, assesses a situation almost strategically, and is able to wield her pawns from the shadows without flinching is not something you can just pick up.

You either watch it happen before you over and over until you learn . .. or you’re taught.

I shake my head. My instincts are telling me this is bigger than just her being jealous of Micai or wanting to be the Bane heir. There could be a deeper connection in all this ... I just haven’t been able to piece it all together, yet .

She brushes her blonde strands for the tenth time while watching herself in the mirror, her eyes never leaving her own reflection.

But I guess narcissism and evil go hand in hand.

A yawn tugs at my lips as I watch her lights finally turn off for bed.

I glance at my watch. 11:52 p.m . Another hour or so and I can finally head to bed myself.

I peer toward the boys’ dorm in the distance and to where Micai, Annex, and Mallyn are resting. We’d had another long training day with Isaiah, who’s managed to wear even Annex out with his heavy drills.

But I’ve seen Micai’s strength and speed improve because of it. She’s also become better at calling her blades on command and sending them back. It won’t be long until she’s completely mastered them.

I’m blown away each time I see her summon them. I’ve never known a supernatural who could do what she and her family can do. And I know a thing or two about hidden power.

I guess that’s how they tried to survive, by staying hidden in the shadows and away from greedy eyes. And if it helped Micai, then I’m grateful for it.

But I won’t let anyone hurt my little sea star.

Not Seria, not The Facility, and not these hunters after her family.

Me and my brothers will protect her to our last breath.

Even Creed is giving her the respect and acknowledgement that she deserves, helping with her training and joining us doing Isaiah’s drills.

A tired sigh leaves my lips, my tiredness taking over.

Now we just need to find someone to help Micai master more weapons. It would be an invaluable skill to have under her belt. But finding someone we can trust with Micai’s secret hasn’t been easy.

The sound of footsteps pulls my attention toward the main academy building and to where I hear a couple of familiar voices.

I creep deeper into the shadows, edging closer as the voices grow even louder.

Four figures stand before the academy’s main doors, the lights above them flickering and showing me their dimly lit faces and silhouettes. Three of them stand clustered together, two burly men and one woman, and one other man who stands in opposition to them.

“We still don’t have an explanation as to what really happened,” sneers a familiar dark-haired woman.

My eyes narrow toward the figure, her appearance instantly causing my irritation to grow. But where do I know her from?

“Your request has been rejected by the dean, Imelda,” the long blond-haired man in front of her replies. “It is not your place to decide any further.” His voice is sharp and cutting, and the glare he’s giving her has her flinching back into the two large men behind her.

One of them steps forward, a large, top-heavy man with beady black eyes and a shiny bald head. A scowl pulls at his thuggish-looking features.

“We’ll just try again then.” His lips twist into a sneer, his tone a mocking sound as he steps into the blond’s space. “It’s none of your business anyway.”

But the look on the blond guy’s face tells me he’s not one to mess with and won’t back off easily.

A strange sense of familiarity nudges at me with his appearance, but I can’t quite place him. Where have I seen him before?

I shake my head as another yawn tries to pull at my lips. It is too late for this drama, and I have enough to do. If they wanted to argue, who was I to get involved?

I twist around, ready to do one final check of the perimeter before heading off. But before I can take a step to leave, Imelda’s next words have me halting in my tracks. And then the name clicks.

“All this drama for one weak girl?” She chuckles darkly. “I’ll just get permission from her father, Greere Bane, then. He doesn’t care about his useless eldest daughter anyway.”

My body whips back around, my eyes glaring at the heinous representative bitch mentioning my Mate with such vitriolic disgust in her voice.

I remember back to the day in front of the dorms and just before everyone’s return. She tried to grab Micai and slander her name, accusing her without any evidence due to her own prejudice.

She was the Council’s dog, and she seemed hell-bent on taking Micai back then for more questioning. And apparently now too.

What the hell is she trying to do with Micai? Why is she obsessed with harassing her?

I glance toward the blond guy from that day too. I believe he’s Micai’s Defence instructor. I think she called him Mr. Valor.

I take a step closer, never leaving my cover in the shadows.

“Do not speak ill of Micai,” Valor grits out, his face growing darker as the lights above them flicker further.

“ Micai , is it?” The second male figure beside Imelda steps forward, a large scar running down one side of his face, his hand brushing against his short, dark stubble as a smirk takes over his thin lips.

“Do you call all your students by their first name? Or does Micai have certain ... privileges ?”

My fists tighten by my sides, anger twisting my gut as the other asshole joins in.

“Ah. Is that why you’ve been so defensive?” The bald prick leans his torso closer to Valor, a crooked brow raised as he gives him a toothy grin. “Have you been giving her some private lessons ?”

He pulls back and he and the scarred bastard begin chuckling.

“What the hell do you think you’re insinuating—” Valor yells, but Imelda cuts him off.

“Your behaviour has been overly protective of someone of her status ...” She peers toward him before flinching back at the dark expression taking over his face.

“Micai is my student,” Valor grits out again, a gravelly tone seeping out from his voice and matching his murderous glare.” How dare you try to taint her rep?—”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s been very good for you ...” The bald-headed bastard chuckles. “Tell me ...” The prick takes a step closer to Valor, placing a hand on his shoulder as he leans in further, a sick smirk tracing his lips. “Is she any good? Maybe I’ll take a turn myself?—”

Before I can move, I hear a crack and pained howl before it’s quickly muffled.

My eyes widen as I watch Valor grip the bald bastard by the throat and lift him up.

Before the man can move or counter, Valor slams him into the academy wall with such a force that cracks begin to form in the bricks behind him.

A pained whimper leaves the bald ass’s lips before he’s dropped to the ground below them, his head lolling backward as blood trickles down his neck.

The second thug moves toward Valor, pulling some kind of silver weapon from his pocket, but Valor already has him disarmed by the time I blink.

The bastard then tries to lunge for Valor, aiming to land a heavy punch.

But Valor moves with all the grace and speed of a gazelle and catches his wrist, snapping it and drawing a pained howl from his attacker’s lips.

Valor then twists around and kicks out toward the scarred bastard’s left knee, breaking it with one swift move.

A loud yell leaves his lips as he falls to the ground.

But just as Valor is about to knock the prick out and silence him, Imelda shouts from behind them, halting his movements.

“Stop. You’ve taken this too far, Gadriel.” She’s holding a detainment sphere in her hands and pointing it toward Valor.

It is a weapon used by Council dogs to paralyse and detain supernaturals that break the law.

It gives them a nasty shock and neutralises their abilities, leaving them defenceless for days.

I’d seen it up close and personal before.

It was a nasty little weapon used to threaten supes into being compliant.

Valor narrows his gaze toward the sphere, glowing brighter in her hands as she continues. “Attacking a representative is a means for imprisonment?—”

Valor moves before she can finish her sentence, his body a blur as he knocks the sphere to the ground before stepping into her space.

“Trust me when I tell you ...” His eyes lock on to hers, a menacing atmosphere flowing around him as he glares down at her. “You do not want to make an enemy of me, Imelda.”

A tremor works its way into her hands, her body frozen to the spot as fear rolls off her in waves.

“I know the Council would not want to make an enemy of both the academy and the Valor Clan. And by the looks of the thugs you’ve brought with you ...” He glances briefly in their direction. “This wasn’t a sanctioned visit from the Council either.”

Imelda’s lips part but Valor cuts her off.

“If you persist in harassing Micai, I will personally see to it that you pay.” His voice is low, his threat deadly as her eyes widen further.

“I will only say this once, Imelda ... leave here and never look back.” Valor takes a slow step back, his gaze never leaving hers as a tremor makes its way through her body again, her complexion as pale as a sheet watching him.

Just then the academy’s main doors open and out walks Mr. Aldeir and Mr. Heinley. They freeze on the spot and take in the scene before them just as Imelda drops to the ground.

They both rush over to help her as Valor heads back into the building. Both of their gazes flicker toward the unconscious thugs and Imelda before widening toward Valor walking away.

I guess he’ll have to face some sort of backlash from this, but by the tremor still shaking Imelda’s hand and her frozen gaze, she won’t be bothering Micai anymore.

Or at least she better not. Her warning was given.

I won’t be so nice if she tries something again.

I peer toward Valor as he disappears further into the building, then I look back toward the damage he dealt so easily to his opponents.

He seems well versed in fighting and Micai seems to trust him ...

Maybe he could work?

I guess there’s only one way to find out.