Page 119 of A Blackened Bond

…He didn’t want me here.

To him, I would never be one of them.

But why did that thought cause me so much pain?Why did I care?

My throat goes dry, and the fighting words I would usually throw back at him die on my lips as I look into his icy eyes.

Pain cuts through me, swirling inside me and twisting into anger as I gaze at Creed protecting the asshole behind him, not eventryingto hear me out.

He probably knew full well what that asshole was capable of…he just didn’t care. He wanted his information or whatever bit of power he could get. And nothing else mattered.He was just like the rest of them.

A scoff leaves my lips as I shake my head and stare at the two bastards in front of me. Maybe itwouldbe better if I left? Staying meant having to see them for the rest of the night, and I don’t know if I could keep calm with them around. Even if Annex, Mallyn, and Ezra get annoyed with me for leaving, I’m sure they will find me when the party is over.

“Even when you’ve treated me like shit, I always thought you were different from them. That you were someone who didn’t bend or bow for a drop of more power…” I meet Creed’s gaze, my voice falling to a low, empty tone.

“ButI was wrong.”

His brows draw further together as an unreadable expression coats his face. But I turn away, making my way through the car park.

I ignore everything else as I leave them behind and head down the dark, winding road, my journey back to the academy longer than I'd like.

Except with the way I was feeling right now, maybe that’s just what I need.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CREED’S POV

Iwatch her small figure walk off into the pitch-black night, the darkness enveloping her as she quickly moves in the direction of town. She grows smaller and smaller as the music blares behind me, a voice talking near me and adding to the noise. Except I couldn’t hear anything or take my eyes from her disappearing figure.

I clench my fists. This was for the best.

She wasn’t good for us.

She had almost ruined the plans I had painstakingly worked on over the past few months. Getting this connection would push us one step closer to our goals. She couldn’t derail all of the time and effort I put into this deal. She was too wild and unpredictable, and we didn’t need that right now.

Ezra, Annex, and even Mallyn were too absent-minded around her, which could put them in danger. They needed to get their heads in the game and focus on the task at hand.

“…Veronica will be pleased.” Nathan’s voice reaches my ears as I turn back toward the abattoir. “I only gave her a little advice, and she went feral.” He clutches his torso, his face wincing with the movement.

Usually, I wouldn’t deal with someone so pathetically weak, but The Clarens have a good network of people. They weren’t a part of the old clans but had established themselves well enough over the last couple of centuries, earning a spot near the top and not one easily touched by others. Their power would be useful for my plans and give us a much-deserved leg–up.

“You can’t have someone like that around. She would ruin your reputation with her brash and vulgar behaviour.” He brushes his hands down his jacket as my eyes narrow. “That’s one of the many differences between her and Veronica. Veronica would never act like some uncouth animal.Micaididn’t know her proper place.” His face twists as he spits her name out like some sort of dirty curse.

An anger I thought I’d buried long ago begins to rise in me again, one I’d hidden deep beneath the surface and hoped I’d never see again.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I grit out, feeling my power on the edge, pushing to break free and pummel the worm in front of me.

The bastard sighs, raising a brow. “I’ve done my homework, Creed. You’ve allowed her around you and your boys for far too long. It’s fine if it was a passing fling, but now it’s time to put the toys back in their box.”

I feel a grin lace my lips with his words, though it’s not one of joy. No, it’s completely void of any humour as I watch the pathetic ass in front of me flap his lips.

“If you want to be serious, you need to push the riff-raff away. The Banes' eldest daughter holds no real status or power; she won’t do your group any good. And there’s no point in you all wasting your time with her. What could you possibly gain from someone like that? Maybe she wasfunto play with for a while, but…” He sighs, a patronising smile appearing on his lips as he shrugs. “Let’s be real here, Creed. You want my house’sconnections and the status we hold.” A greedy glint flickers in his gaze. “And we can avail of your manytalents.”

He means the power my brothers and I hold, our abilities unrivalled by those who have tried and failed to cross us.

They wanted to use our strength and abilities for themselves, connecting us to his sister, Veronica, to gain control of us and more power. But we were no one's pawns or prized stallions.

He continues, oblivious to my darkening mood. “I want your group integrated into our house. Veronica will take you and Ezra as her partners. The other two are a little too…unsafefor Veronica’s taste. But I’m sure we can place them somewhere.” His gaze flickers back toward the abattoir, a grin stretching his lips. “You will get a powerful house to back you, and we will get to avail of your abilities. It’s a win-win for both sides.” He turns back toward me, and I have to clench my fists with the smug look in his eyes.

---