Page 8 of A Blackened Bond

And I know a certain powerful, manipulative blonde I've been putting off looking into for far too long.

If she had anything to do with this…I’ll bury the bitch so far beneath me, she’ll wish she never laid her eyes on the people I care about.

CHAPTER THREE

MICAI’S POV

Aroar rings out around the forest as we follow Creed and Mallyn, Annex now draped over his shoulder as we move together.

“We need to get him out of the forest, somewhere safe and away from other people's eyes,” Creed yells back.

“But where can we go? Where even are we?” Ezra asks as he searches the forest around us, his hand entwined with mine as we come to a quick stop.

“Mallyn. Any ideas?” Creed glances at Mallyn, who peers around the forest slowly, his eyes growing a slightly brighter blue before he quickly shakes his head.

“We’re closer to the back of the academy now and nearer to the training grounds.” His gaze meets Creeds. “But there'squite a few people crowded around there in groups. Probably students hiding.”

Creed's scowl deepens as he gazes at Annex’s limp body in Mallyn’s arms.

“Maybe we could bring him to the boy’s dormitory and sneak him in the back?” Queries Ezra.

Creed shakes his head. “After you and Annex left, more students turned up, running from the attack.”He drags a handthrough his hair before sighing.“Morgan and Grey moved Ash into the dorms, but…we wouldn’t be able to go in unnoticed, especially with Annex being the way he is right now.” He narrows his gaze at the forest ahead of us.

“There has to be somewhere we can go. Would we make it into town?” Ezra muses, lost in his thoughts for a moment before shaking his head in response to his own question. “No, I guess it’s too far out.”His fingers rub slow, soothing circles on our entwined hands, a nervous tick, I presume, but the touch feels nice against my cold skin and calms me as we continue thinking.

All of their words replay in my head as we take a second to survey the surroundings.

Annex needed a place to rest and wake up…however he did that.

We needed a place away from prying eyes and somewhere possibly near too.The abandoned training building.

I look around and take in the familiar forest, remembering certain shaped trees and small features from when I run every other day, and quickly grasp where we are.

It wouldn’t take us long to get to where I train from here, especially if we move quickly. And I know the best path to get us there unseen too.

“But we can’t let people see him—” Ezra starts, but I cut him off, giving his hand a slight squeeze before I let it go and take a step forward.

“I know a place. It’s not far from here either.” I meet each pair of eyes now focused on me.

“What place?” Creed’s brows draw together. “If you’re going to mention the dorms again or the detainment shelter—”

“I’m not. It's not far from here, and no one else uses it.” I make my way past them, glancing at Annex’s unconscious body. A feeling of urgency rises within me. “Just follow—”

“We’re not going anywhere unless we’re sure it's safe.” Creed's harsh tone returns, his gaze meeting mine.“We can’t just go to any little picnic spot you like. It needs to be secure for him to return to us. I’m not putting my brothers in jeopardy because you—”

“It’s not a picnic spot. It’s the old training building. It’s covered by the rest of the forest, and nobody goes there. Not many people even know about it.”

“There’s an old training building?” Calls Ezra, his brows drawn downward. “How had we missed that?” He glances toward Mallyn.

“I’ve stuck closer to the east-side part of the forest…” Mallyn glances my way, “That’s closer north.”

“How doyouknow about it?” Creed takes a step closer to me, his gaze trying to dissect me and rip out all the answers.

I open my mouth as Ezra takes the spot beside me.

“What does it matter? We need a place, and now we’ve got one.” His gaze narrows at Creed, a look of frustration bleeding through. “We don’t know if another beast will attack, so let’s stop wasting time and move.”

“This better not be a waste of time.” Creed looks back at me, glaring, although it lacks any of the genuine anger it usually carries.

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