Page 70 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

MICAI

T he space falls pin-drop silent with Gadriel’s words, each of us turning toward him. He had clearly overheard Creed’s conversation with Erving like the rest of us, but how did he know that word? And why did the expression on his face tell me he didn’t want to speak about it?

“The Domynions?” asks Ezra, his eyes flitting from Gadriel to Creed. “What do you mean?”

Creed narrows his gaze toward Gadriel. “You know that word?” He takes a step forward. “ How ?”

Gadriel hesitates for a brief second, gazing toward each of the guys before looking to me. His brows cinch together as a small sigh leaves his lips before he turns back toward Creed, whose suspicious glare has grown darker.

“It’s a word I’ve heard mentioned a couple of times by the old elementals and spirits in the past.” He drags a hand down his face. “They whisper it, detesting even the sound of it on their lips.”

“Tell us what it means,” Creed grits out, his body stiff as he slowly folds his arms. “By the look on your face, you know more than just that.”

“It’s not a what, but a who ,” says Gadriel, his voice low as a wary look takes over his face.

“It was a clan that existed a long time ago. One now long gone and for good reason.” He shakes his head.

“I only know a little. Things that were carried through the spirits and held over time; small whispers ... but not much.”

“Elemental spirits ...” Ezra nods, a contemplative look taking over his features. “The elves are said to be the oldest supes still existing and ‘one with nature.’” He peers toward Creed. “It’s not a huge stretch to think that they can communicate with the elementals that still exist.”

“Only a little, and only when they choose,” Gadriel continues, a steely look taking over his features. “Time also flows differently in their realm, and there are restrictions. Balance must be kept.”

A storm of emotions twists through my chest. We’ve searched through everything we can find, with each of the guys roving through their contacts over and over for information on The Facility, this clan .

But the only leads we had were Erving’s parchment and Seria. We struggled to find anything else.

And now we not only have a name, but Gadriel might know of them? How is this possible? Are we finally going to get some answers?

My hands clench into fists at my sides with the thought, trying to keep myself still. It’s the most information we’ve gotten for as long as we’ve been searching for them. And more than I’ve ever known of The Facility before.

They were a lost clan ... The Domynions.

My eyes flick toward him. Maybe Gadriel could help us?

“Tell us what you know.” Creed takes a step toward Gadriel, his tone cold and sharp. “Every detail that you have about this clan, the Domynions . We need it all.”

Gadriel’s brows cinch together, a questioning look growing in his green eyes. “Why?”

I take a step closer to him. “Because it could be?—”

“Micai.” Creed cuts me off, his low and dark tone a warning to not continue.

I turn his way, my brows furrowed. Gadriel could have information we need. We’ve found nothing anywhere else. Why would he stop me?

My gaze meets Creed’s. Ah. His trust issues.

A sigh leaves my lips. I do understand it more now. He just wants to protect his people. And only trusts those in his inner circle.

But I trust Gadriel. Everything inside me is telling me that I can trust him with this.

If he knows about this Domynion Clan and they were the origins of The Facility ... then shouldn’t we also be a little honest to receive his help?

I meet Creed’s glare with my own. “I know you don’t like this, but I trust Gadriel. He won’t betray us?—”

Creed scoffs and I take a step closer, a frown tugging at my lips.

“I know some part of you— no matter how deep down —thinks he is trustworthy too.” I glance briefly toward Gadriel.

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let him in the abattoir to begin with.

” I raise a brow, a smirk lifting my lips as Creed clenches his jaw.

“We also can’t expect to receive something without giving something in return.

” Ezra steps beside me. “We’re exhausting all our contacts and coming up with nothing, Creed.

He could help, even if it’s just a little bit of information.

It will be more than what we currently have.

” Ezra lets out a weary sigh, meeting Gadriel’s steady gaze.

“I also don’t think he would betray us either?—”

“You don’t know that for sure,” grits out Creed, glaring back and forth between me and Ezra.

“Well ...” Annex slowly stalks over toward Gadriel, a mischievous grin tracing his lips. “He’s got my vote too.” He claps Gadriel on the back. “I’m almost positive that Gal wouldn’t go around blurting our shit to other people. He seems respectful enough.”

“Gal?” queries Gadriel, his green eyes widening with Annex’s words.

“Yeah, that’s your name,” states Annex, as if it was genuinely Gadriel’s birth-given name.

A small smile tilts Gadriel’s lips, a light mumble tumbling from them quietly. “ I guess it is .”

Annex then makes his way over toward Creed. “Gal also has a shit ton of weapons—all in perfect condition.” He gestures toward the table full of weapons and his bag. “Clearly, he takes care of them, and anyone who appreciates their blades like that can’t be a bad person.”

A small smile tugs at my lips at the way Annex thinks.

“A serial killer would also appreciate their weapons,” muses Mallyn, pulling all our gazes his way.

“I’m just pointing out facts.” He shrugs as he notices our widened eyes.

“I trust Micai’s decision.” He throws me a small grin before glancing toward Gadriel.

“And if he misbehaves ... I’ll leave him to my beast.” His eyes flash blue, a darker grin forming on his lips.

Annex chuckles, leaning his elbow on Creed’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Creed. Worse comes to worst, we feed him to Mallyn’s wolf. Or I can use him as a meat shield for Micai’s target practice. One of the two.”

I shake my head, peering at Gadriel and noting the growing smile on his lips. None of these threats seem to be bothering him in the least; on the contrary, he looks amused by it all.

“How is any of that reassuring?” sighs Creed, glaring around the room at each of us.

“I’m not trying to reassure you, brother.

” Annex shrugs, a small grin tilting his lips.

“You’re already outvoted, and we’re a democracy, if nothing else.

” He leans a little closer to Creed’s ear, his voice falling low.

“But you should try to remember the last decision you tried to overrule us on ...” Annex flicks his gaze briefly my way before straightening himself.

“Sometimes you gotta let go of the reins and trust that the people around you will catch you if you fall or fuck up. We’re a family.

So, even if everything goes to hell, at least we’ll be there together. ”

Annex leans in closer to Creed, his voice as low as a whisper. “Also, the ole elf has some pretty cool shit ...” His eyes flick Gadriel’s way. “Having him around a little longer means I have a higher chance of stealing them.”

A chuckle leaves my lips as I watch Gadriel’s brows raise toward Annex. “You can certainly try .”

Annex’s grin widens wickedly with Gadriel’s words, a playful challenge forming between the two of them.

“It might also help having another ally with the Defence exam being held next week.” Ezra sighs, dragging a hand down the back of his neck.

“With our track record in the academy so far, another attack could break out. Having someone that’s on the faculty that we can rely on could be a big advantage if things go south again.

The academy isn’t the safest place, and I don’t want to watch Micai having to defend herself from another attack. ”

Gadriel whips around toward me, his eyes wide. “ Another attack? What does he mean, Micai?” He takes a step closer to me, worry etched across every line on his face. “Why were you attacked?”

I turn toward Creed. Everyone else has agreed, but I don’t want to fight him on this. It is his home and his family too, and this has to be unanimous.

He glances around the room before sighing again. “Fine.” He turns toward Gadriel. “But we need to know what you know first. I’m not budging on that.”

I give Gadriel a small nod, reassuring him that I would fill him in soon. Creed conceding is already a big deal. I won’t push it any further.

Gadriel nods and drags a hand down his jaw.

“As I have said, this has been passed down through whispers over the centuries. People— even supernaturals —forget history that has been carefully buried. But the spirits do not.” Gadriel glances around the room before his eyes fall on me.

“The Domynions were a clan, one that existed before the nine clans became known as the ‘noble bloods.’”

We were taught about the founding nine clans, or ‘noble bloods,’ when we were kids.

It’s embedded in our history. They were supposed to be the first type of ruling system made up of powerful clans with the purest of blood that came together as one and put an end to all the battles for supremacy by joining forces. The Banes were one of them.

They later formed the Council to preside over the supernatural community.

“The Domynions existed alongside the nine clans and another clan back then; there were a total of eleven, I believe,” Gadriel continues, pulling my attention back to him.

“But the Domynions foolishly wanted more power and broke the rules, seeking to dominate instead of keeping harmony and balance. They clashed with the other forgotten clan, fighting for supremacy and going as far as killing their members to gain power.” He shakes his head.

“They became corrupted in their greed and hunted that clan to complete extinction. They then used their abilities to manipulate and shed blood even in the human community, wanting to rule above them rather than create a peaceful world. They thrived on chaos and carnage. And they were only stopped when the other nine clans came together and fought them.”

I clench my fists, my anger rising. The Facility also thrived on torture and bloodshed and had a complete lack of care for other people’s lives. It seems they’ve just grown more careful nowadays ... this Domynion Clan.

“What power did they have?” asks Ezra, his focus fully on the story.

Gadriel’s brows pinch together in thought.

“It was something taboo. Something that could take from others. But I’m not sure what it was exactly; the spirits don’t give answers just because you ask.

But whatever ability it was, it apparently grew weak over time with their corruption; even the Gods grew disgusted by their greed.

The spirts say it was taken back by them, leaving only a trickle behind. ”

“What happened to the clan then?” asks Creed, his tone slightly lighter than before.

Gadriel turns toward him. “The nine clans banded together and hunted every last Domynion member down, burying their name in history. The clans that remained then became known as the noble bloods and set up the Council shortly after to make sure that such greed and corruption doesn’t spread again and to keep the nobility of the community intact. ”

Creed scoffs. “ So noble .”

“So they were supposed to be wiped out? This Domynion Clan?” I ask, wondering how they survived to form The Facility if they were hunted by the other clans.

The room falls silent. Each face seems to mirror my thoughts.

“Anything is possible.” Gadriel takes a step to the centre of us all, his gaze meeting every set of eyes on him.

“I have told you all I know. Now I’d like to know why you were looking into the Domynions, and what you meant by another attack?

Has something happened here ?” He sets his gaze on me, a look of worry bleeding into his features.

I meet Ezra’s gaze behind him as he nods, and then Annex’s, Mallyn’s, and finally Creed’s. Each giving me their approval.

I take a deep breath before meeting Gadriel’s green eyes.

“This may take a while.”