Page 76 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)

MICAI

A burning pain sears through my back and body, burning my flesh and flowing into my veins. It moves through every inch of me, taking hold of every limb and appendage, blistering me with its heat.

It washes over me in waves, again and again, as my whole body begins to burn and shake through the endless torture. An unholy feeling of being stabbed with a scorching hot poker moves up my back, trying to tear me apart from the inside as a gravelly scream escapes my lips.

Suddenly, I feel cold and soothing hands move along my body with the soft noise of humming echoing out around me, the sharpness of the pain easing with their presence.

I feel another set of hands joining them on my back, gently sliding up and down me as they soothe my burning skin.

Their gentle touch spreads through me, easing my torment before another light caress joins them on my legs.

And with each touch, it feels like a balm is set over me, slowly soothing the waves of pain and taking it from me bit by bit.

I feel my body finally relax, the hands slowly caressing my skin as I gently fall back into the darkness.

I hear voices and noise all around me as my body is gently jostled back and forth, the feeling of floating or being moved taking over. Familiar scents and voices surround me, hands touching me softly and stroking my face and hair, but their voices seem muffled and distant to my ears.

I can’t make out what they’re saying or who is talking, but something deep inside tells me it’s my men, my Mates. That they’re beside me.

Images of bright blue, grey-blue, turquoise, and even amber eyes flash through my vision; their worried or strained faces pass my blurry gaze with fear and then rage forms in their eyes as they watch me.

I fall in and out of consciousness, wondering if it’s a dream or some strange hallucination, that I’m imagining them beside me because that’s what I want.

More muffled voices ring out around me, growing louder and louder until suddenly they all stop, silence taking full hold of everything.

I soon slide back into the darkness, its embrace a small comfort as a sliver of worry works its way into my mind from the lack of noise and the warmth now gone from around me.

My eyes open, light assaulting them as I begin to awaken from what feels like a long slumber.

I take a deep breath and pull myself up slowly, my body feeling stiff but much better, the pain gone from my back, as I begin to move bit by bit.

Pulling myself up more, I notice the white ceiling and grey walls of the infirmary.

My eyes flicker around the room, the other beds beside me empty and the room devoid of anyone. Silence echoes around the space as a slice of panic begins to work its way into me as I try to remember what happened and how I got here.

I remember the Omerta Challenge, the stracts, the students attacking ... then that strange beast ambushing us at night.

I drag a hand down my face. Then I was attacked out of nowhere by that scaley beast, and Mrs. Fleur?—

My head begins to hurt as all my memories rush back to me with the thought of her name.

Her betrayal and attack, meeting Croy, their connection to the Domynions, Gadriel appearing, the blade to my throat before fighting the other men with Gadriel.

And then ... pain searing up my back, everything going blurry as Gadriel held me .

.. and a blast so loud ringing out around us that it shook the ground beneath us violently.

I peer around the room again, my panic growing.

Gadriel had been with me; he was holding me when that blast rang out. So where is he now?

Is he okay? Had he been injured?

How did I even get here? What happened?

I remember killing the men trying to hurt Gadriel, and then the pain in my back before the familiar sound of laughter ... Mrs. Fleur’s.

My brows pinch together.

I think she stabbed me ... but I shouldn’t have been in that much pain from a wound like that. My heightened healing should have helped.

But that pain was something different I had never experienced before. And never want to again.

She must have done something to the blade.

A shaky breath leaves my lips as I drag a hand through my hair.

How the hell did any of this even happen? And where is everyone?

Where is Gadriel? And the guys ...

My eyes widen further, my heartbeat kicking up a notch.

Ezra and Creed had been fighting that strange beast. Had they killed it? Had they made it out of the forest alright?

Mrs. Fleur mentioned wanting revenge on them too. What if she had other people from the Domynions attack them as well?

My breathing starts coming out in little pants as my movements become frantic, a tremor working its way into my hands as I try to pull myself out of bed to find them.

Where are the guys? Annex, Mallyn, and Ezra wouldn’t just leave me here if everything was okay. Hell, I don’t even think Creed would now either.

So where were they?

I thought I saw small glimpses of them while I was in and out of consciousness, but maybe their presence was all a hallucination. Maybe they were hurt?—

Unable to finish the thought, I quickly slide my feet to the edge of the bed, a long white nightgown falling down my thighs and to my calves as I move to escape this bed and find my men.

My feet hit the floor just as the infirmary door opens and I’m met with two wide brown eyes that quickly take on a relieved look. Isaiah.

My brows furrow with his appearance, peering behind him to look for anyone else, hoping my guys will be there. But there’s no one.

Isaiah makes his way into the room and is by my side in five large, brisk steps, the burly blacksmith standing before me with a look of concern pinching his brows.

“Where are the others?” I ask, my gaze flitting back toward the door as my worry grows. “Where are Annex, Ezra, Mallyn, and Creed?”

Then my mind flickers to the fight in the forest, the blast, and Gadriel.

“And Gadriel,” I rush out. “Where is Gadriel? Is he okay? He helped me, but I think he might have gotten hurt.” How could I forget ... he had covered me with his body as the blast rang out around us. And I heard the sound of a heartbeat slowing. Whether it was mine or his, I’m not sure.

A pain slices through me with the thought as I clutch my chest. He couldn’t be—I shake my head, forcing the thought away.

No. This is Gadriel. He would not fall or leave me so easily.

My brows pinch together with the thought and the certainty of the emotion flowing through me with it.

Isaiah sighs, rubbing a hand down his beard and pulling my attention back toward him, a hesitant look taking over his dark brows as he watches me.

And I want to either shake the silent ass or knock him out for not answering my questions immediately.

My panic begins to grow the longer he stays silent, and I decide to find the answers for myself.

I move to make my way past him and to the door, but a wave of dizziness hits me, making me stumble slightly. His big hands wrap around me, carefully steadying me before placing me back on the bed.

“Don’t go running around when you’re not well. You were unconscious for four days.” His voice is gruff, but his eyes are filled with worry as he continues. “Sit your butt back down and I’ll fill you in on what’s been happening.”

Four days? I shake the thought away, my worry growing for my men instead.

“Just tell me where they are.” My tone comes off a bit snappier than I mean for it to, but my fear and panic are continuing to grow, making me worry about why they aren’t the ones here right now instead of him.

“They’re fine,” says Isaiah, the creases beside his eyes slightly softening. “None of them are hurt or anything like that?—”

“Then where are they?” I cut him off, peering back toward the door.

If everything is okay, then why aren’t they here instead of him? “What the hell happened?”

Isaiah sighs, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. “Gadriel ... that’s Valor, right?”

I nod, meeting his gaze and trying to calm myself and wait patiently for the answers to all the questions burning holes in my mind.

“He was hit pretty heavy by the academy’s barrier breaking, the explosion doing a good bit of damage when it blasted outward into the forest area.” His brows furrow. “I heard his family was contacted and came to take him to heal at home. That’s where I presume he is right now.”

My shoulders drop, a deep frown tugging my lips downward as I feel a heavy weight blanket me.

How bad was he hurt that his family had to come to take him? And heal him at home rather than get treatment here?

An ache slides through my chest as my mind falls to the last glimpse I caught of him as he shielded me; a resolute look filled his gaze as he protected me from that blast with his arms wrapped tightly around me.

I clench my fists, feeling my nails pinch into my palms. Gods, please let him be okay.

“Elves are usually very family-orientated and protective of their own,” Isaiah continues, oblivious to my inner anguish.

“They’ll use their old elemental healing to help him recover quickly. He’s in the best place he can be.” He reaches out, patting a hand against the bed as if to comfort me. “He’ll be fine, if he’s not already.”

I meet his gaze again, and the certain look in his eyes has me taking a deep breath, pulling the positive from his words.

Gadriel will be safe at home surrounded by his family, hopefully healing with their ways, and away from the dangers that seem to lurk near the academy.

The thoughts seem to soothe something in me and help me calm down slightly.

“Valor managed to cover you during the blast, protecting you from it, but ... you were stabbed , Micai,” adds Isaiah, the look in his eyes darkening. “Do you remember who did it?” His voice falls low, anger lacing each word as he clenches his fists tightly. “Who hurt you?”

My nails bite deeper into my skin as I tighten my fists again, gritting out her name. “My music teacher, Mrs. Fleur . She did this.”