Page 41 of A Blackened Bond

From the looks and attitude of Creed, Ezra, and Mallyn toward them, they didn’t seem like a very forth-coming group. Or ones to be trusted.

I needed answers.

Why did the beasts attack the academy? How did they break through the barrier? And where had they come from?

None of this happened in my past life.

The Winter Ball had gone without a hitch last night, no beast in sight or mention of one. So why this time?

After thinking about it for a while, there was one common denominator between Morgan’s attack and the beasts’ attack this time…the forest. They had all come from the forest and the mountain behind it.

Magical beasts were known to roam the mountains behind the forest. That’s why it was restricted. However, for manydifferent types of magical species to travel to the same location and at the same time…it was unprecedented.

Magical creatures were known to be territorial, so charging and attacking in the same place was unheard of. They also seemed to behave very differently than what had been documented by the supernatural community over centuries of research. That crazed behaviour…wasn’t natural for magical beasts.

The forest leaves rustle beneath my feet as I move deeper inside, following tracks left by some of the beasts the night of the attack: two sets of hoof-like prints and three different sets of claw-like appendages. They seem to have moved together as a type of group. But why?

I make my way deeper, following any track or trail I can find, keeping my senses heightened for any type of sound or movement around me as I head further into the forest. The tracks veer off, the beast’s prints heavier the closer I get to the mountains.

My eyes narrow toward the peaks in the distance. Even if they had come from their habitats in the mountains, why did they come together, and why were they so crazed? It just didn’t make sense.

There had to be someone involved…except how did they manipulate and control a horde of wild, magical beasts and have them attack the academy?

The sun begins to set in the distance, reminding me of Ezra and Annex’s soon return.

I glance around the forest, trees in every direction. It had taken me hours to slowly follow the beast’s tracks, but if I ran back now, it would take a fraction of the time.

But would it be worth the risk of getting caught by one of the Council’s representatives? I didn’t need theinquisitionthat would follow.

As I take another peek around the densely green area, thoughts of Ezra and Annex waiting flash through my mind. Maybe just halfway?

I set off, darting through the forest, watching the trees and shrubbery blur into soft green tones as I move, my thoughts falling back to the mountains and beast’s trail.

After the representatives leave in a few days, I will have to explore the forest and mountains. Maybe I would find some clue as to who orchestrated the beast’s movement there and why they behaved the way they did. I also wanted to prepare in case of another attack.

After a few minutes of running, I slow down, the academy's grey stone rooftop visible in the distance as I fall into a light jog.

The scent of dried blood hits my nose, the forest around me seeming familiar as I stop in place.

My brows pinch together as I notice a pool of dried blood on the forest floor, and glancing around, realise this was the place where Mallyn and I had stopped…and where Annex had died.

An ache works its way into the pit of my stomach as I stare at the amount of blood and remember that night; images pass through my mind of Annex’s blank stare and unmoving body.

I brush a shaky hand down my face. He’s fine. He’s alive.

And I would never let what happened here that night, happen again.

I take another step forward before a strange glint from a tree a few feet away catches my gaze. I warily approach the tree and branch holding the small gleaming metal and find my chain dangling from it.

My hand falls to my neck and the empty space there, my brows pinching downward. I hadn’t realised it was gone. How could I have forgotten something so precious?

I gently untangle the metal from the branch and grasp it between my fingers. Its tiny clasp is damaged and broken, andthe small ornate dagger with its lyrical design sits from a knotted loop at the end of the chain.

A feeling of relief seeps into me as I brush my fingers over the precious gift. I’d have to get the chain fixed, but at least nothing was missing or damaged beyond repair.

The metal glints under the last gleam of sunlight, the blade swaying slightly and reminding me instantly of another precious gift I had dropped that night.Gadriel’s Elven blade.

I gaze around the forest, hoping another metal glint will catch my eye, but to no avail.

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