Page 123 of A Blackened Bond

The asshole-RepresentativeVerodmoves toward me, his steps silent and eyes narrowed in a glare as he moves closer. How the hell had I not heard this creepy asshole? How long had he been there? Had he seen me running through the forest as well?

“Well, Ms. Bane? Are you going to answer me or not?” He grits out, his tone growing impatient as he watches me.

A sigh leaves my lips as I meet his suspicious stare. I peer down at my bare and dirtied feet and the heels I still clutch in my hand. What answer was he expecting?

And why did I have to report to him anyway? Representative or not, he wasn’t the Dean.

“I was out, and now I’m back,” I answer, stepping forward and toward the academy.

He blocks my way, his face twisting into a scowl.

“That’s not an answer to my question. Why are you wandering around the forest grounds near the academy, where the beasts have attacked?” He narrows his eyes, a look of disdain laced in his gaze.

I roll my eyes, raising the pair of heels in my hands.

“Who would run around the forest with heels in their hands and dressed like this for kicks and giggles? Or as a cover for something nefarious?” I gesture toward my dress. “It’s Christmas Eve.Clearly,I’m coming back from town, and unfortunately, I missed the last bus. So walking here was my only option.” I push past him as I continue. “Is there anything else you want to know before I head to bed, Lieutenant Mauser?”

Gargamel—I meanVerodtwists around, grabbing my arm and stopping me from heading toward the dorms.

“I don’t care about your excuse anymore. Your attitude is enough reason for suspicion. Someone of your capabilities and reputation couldn’t be so cocky without reason.” He grips my arm, trying to pull me along.

“Let’s go…you can explain yourself to Imelda, Marcus, and the Dean. You can stay in the confinement room until they arrive. And there will be no white-knighted teacher to help you this time.” He takes a few steps before stopping, realising I wasn’t moving with him. He tries to drag me along, but to no avail. I wasn’t budging for this moron.

“Move,” he grits out, his hand gripping my arm tighter and trying to force me.

“Why should I listen to you?” I counter, not moving another inch as his gaze darkens.

“I’m a Representative of the Council, and you—”

“And? Why should I care?” I argue, cutting him off. “You’re on academy grounds, not the Council’s. And you have no plausible reason to detain me.” I jerk my arm from his grip, making him stumble forward slightly with my strength.

“I was in the forest at night and returning from town. I’ll get a demerit for breaking curfew at most. Oh wait…” A mocking grin coats my lips. “The academy’s rules aren’t in effect because it’s winter break. So that means I’ve broken no rules. I also haven’t damaged any academy property or hurt anyone…” The grin fades from my lips as I continue, my mood growing darker the longer I stay in his presence.

“So, tell me what the reason is for trying to confine me again? I’m pretty sureyou’rethe one who’ll end up in trouble.” My annoyance grows, gripping me in its hold tightly as I stare at the prick harassing me for no good reason. “It will lookreallygreat calling the Dean and other representatives over, when they’re probably busy with more important things to tell them I’m coming back late from a Christmas Eve party. Actually, they might even pity me a little, having to walk back in my bare feet and being stopped and accused by some ego-driven creep in the woods…I meanRepresentative.”

He scoffs before his mind begins to work, his gaze flitting down my front and to the heels in my hands before quickly narrowing on me.

“I thought you were weak and powerless. Was that all for show? What secrets have you and the Banes been hiding from the rest of us?”

What was this asshole talking about now? Had he actually seen me running earlier?

“I don’t have any magic. But that doesn’t mean I’m weak.”

He chuckles, the sound an irritating, grating noise to my ears.

“Know your limits, Ms. Bane. And your place.”

The irritation from earlier—from Marl and Nathan and Creed, bubbles up again.

Was I just a magnet tonight for these assholes? One after another, I was being bombarded with bullshit and pompous dickheads who thought nothing of degrading or demeaning me.

And I’ve had enough of it all.

“Either you move out of my way and let me leave. Or Iwillgo through you, showing you just how ‘weak’ I really am.” I would flip him on his ass, representative or not. I didn’t care about the repercussions, my anger and frustration boiling over from the night's events and this prick's words.

“Is that your attempt at a threat, Ms. Bane, because—”

A rustling from the trees a few feet from us has Verod’s words cutting off as we both turn toward the sound. He narrows his gaze as the rustling grows louder. “An accomplice?”

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