Page 78 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)
“I don’t care about any of that. It’s not the first time someone has tried to kill me; it certainly won’t be the last.” I try pushing past him again, adding more strength to it. “Move. I need to go save my men.”
I continue to push, but the man is built like a damn brick wall and doesn’t budge more than a couple of inches.
Isaiah then takes a step toward me, gently pushing my hands away with ease as he places his heavy palms on my shoulders.
My gaze meets his as a strange look forms in his eyes.
“I watched my best friend walk out a door, chasing answers while trying to protect those he loved the most ... and he never returned, Micai.” A slight shake forms in his voice, a deep pain glinting in his eyes as he continues.
“Then I lost the woman I loved while chasing my revenge ... and I never got to say goodbye to her.”
He shakes his head, trying to push the emotion welling up in him down before taking a brief moment to compose himself.
“I’m not losing the last piece of them, their only blood left alive, because she’s too lost in her emotions like I was.
” He leans down, peering into my soul with his deep brown eyes.
“We’ll get your boys out. No matter what, I will help you get them back, Micai. ”
My shoulders sag, my fists unclenching, letting go of the thoughts of knocking him out as I give him a small nod.
Having an ally to help me would be better than going at it alone, especially with it being the Council. But I will break them out.
He straightens himself. “I have a couple of old contacts but none with pull in the Council,” he muses before annoyance takes over his expression.
“ Greere would be the best for that.” He sighs, dragging a hand down his face.
“I didn’t want to have to go there, but they’ll listen to him because of his status in the clans. ”
Greere? As in Greere Bane , my so-called father?
A scoff leaves my lips. “That man won’t help me.” I shake my head. “He would rather happily watch me burn than offer me a helping hand. I’m the one who killed his Mate after all.”
Isaiah’s brows knit together, confusion and anger growing in his gaze.
“What the hell are you saying? Why the hell wouldn’t he help? You’re his daughter.” His voice grows louder, booming throughout the room. “And what the fuck do you mean you killed her?!” He looks to me, and whatever he sees has the anger quickly fading from his face before he shakes his head.
“Micai ... Elandria loved you more than anything else. She called you her ‘gift,’ her ‘precious little one’ while cradling her growing belly.” A wistful smile lifts his lips, his gaze softening.
“She never thought she’d be able to bear a child.
” His eyes meet mine, a steady look in them as he continues.
“She knew the risks she was taking, and she took them anyway ... because you were worth it.”
A heavy sigh leaves his lips as he closes his eyes before slowly opening them again.
“Greere knew all this too, so why ...” The growing anger in his gaze fades to anguish.
“You’re telling me he has been mistreating you?
That he’s filled your head with these lies?
” His breath slightly catches as he turns away mumbling solemnly, “ She wouldn’t forgive him for that . ”
He slowly turns back to me, his eyes a little glassier than before. “Even without meeting you, she knew that she would never love another as much as she did you. You were her world, Micai.” A gentle smile tugs at his lips and beard.
My eyes become blurry again with his words, and I lift my chin, not willing to let them escape. I won’t cry again .
“You were the bundle of joy growing inside her that she loved more than her own life. She regretted nothing. ” His voice falls to a soft timbre as his smile grows, stretching his big-bearded cheeks.
“I didn’t even need to ask her to know that; I could see it in every action and word she spoke as you grew inside her. She loved you so much .”
Isaiah’s hand slides up toward my face, wiping away the tears I didn’t know had escaped me.
His hands wrap around me awkwardly as the tears continue to trail down my cheeks, his large chest edging nearer as my head falls against it.
His awkward but warm embrace makes a small sob-like sound leave my throat.
He’d given me the words I’d waited decades to hear from my own father.
A man I had only known a few short months had given me the comfort my own blood couldn’t.
A couple of minutes pass, his large hand gently patting my back in comfort as I compose myself.
Pulling myself back slowly, I meet his gaze, a small sniffle leaving my lips. “What should I do now? I need to save them.”
Isaiah nods. “And we will.”
“But how?” I ask, wiping the last of my tears away.
“You’ll go back home. And Greere Bane will help, whether he likes it or not.” A stormy look takes over his eyes.
“I’m not going back to that house.” I shake my head. “It only holds misery for me. I don’t want anything to do with him or any of them there.”
He fixes himself straighter, squaring his shoulders as he looks down at me. “You’re not one to run from a fight, Micai. You’ll go back and face what you need to fo?—”
“I’m not going back.” I shake my head, cutting his words short.
“You are.” A fiery, resolute look takes over his features. “Because you’re Elandria’s daughter, with her blood and spirit.” He folds his arms, a dark grin lifting his lips. “And because I’m coming with you.”
He takes his large black coat off, throwing it over my shoulders and fastening it before meeting my gaze again. “We’ll get your partners back one way or another. Greere will be our first stepping stone. He will help us ...” A dark glint grows in his eyes. “I’ll make sure of it.”
The deranged, murderous look in his gaze reminds me instantly of Annex, and I set my resolve in place. For them , I could do this.
I’ll face those horrible, miserable bastards that caused me years of pain and agony. Both Seria and Greere, and all the others who made my life miserable there ... I’ll show them I’m not the one to mess with anymore.
“Fine.” I meet Isaiah’s dark grin, my own forming on my lips. “Let’s go back to that hellhole ... to Bane Manor .”