Page 129 of A Blackened Bond

When she wakes up, I am going to tell her everything, even the most challenging parts of my past. I think my little sea star also had a pain like my own buried deep inside her. And we both needed help to heal these wounds.

A crash and thud from downstairs pulls my attention toward the door. My brows narrow as it rings out again. We shouldn’t be able to hear anything from the abattoir, especially from all the way up here. Even during Fight Nights, it was spelled to be silent.

Unless…it was something much bigger.

I pull myself up and away from Micai, pushing my magic out and toward each corner of the room, forming a protection spell that will keep any danger toward Micai out and from entering this space.

I make my way toward the door as a loud rumble echoes out around the hall. I open it softly, glancing at Micai before closing it carefully behind me. I call my magic to me as I head down the stairway toward the abattoir’s doors.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t getting anywhere near my mate.

Micai’s POV

The sweet humming noise fades, and the tender dream of Zrael’s voice next to me fades as his presence leaves me once again.

I reach out toward him, trying to hold on, but my body protests with the slight movement.

I open my eyes, light shining in through familiar black velvet curtains as I look around at my surroundings. Peering around more, I notice I’m no longer in my own room, but in Annex’s. I’m also no longer wearing my black little dress but soft jersey pyjamas instead.

I slowly pull myself up, the unbearable pain and heat that had been tormenting me now gone as my consciousness becomes stronger and more clear by the minute.

I’m still slightly achy and sore, but my body no longer feels heavy or in pain. When I stretch my arms and legs out, they feel lighter and better than ever.

I pull the duvet cover off of me and roll my shoulders. How long had I been unconscious for?

A crashing sound rumbles from the hallway, followed by a loud roar with shouting sounds in the distance.

I glance around. Where were the guys?

I pull myself from the bed, panic setting in as the noise continues.

A dizzy spell hits me as I try to move too quickly. I grip onto the bed frame and continue moving toward the door, hoping everything is okay. And that maybe Annex was just pissed at someone for looking at him too cheerily.

I open the door, the sounds of explosions and shouting growing louder. And all hope of Annex throwing a hissy-fit falls away.

I need to get down there and help them somehow.

I move faster, an urgency running through my veins as I clear the blurriness from my eyes and the light-headedness trying to take hold of me. I push them back and shuffle down the stairway toward the large abattoir doors.

The doors shake and creak, a thundering roar ripping through the small cracks formed on them as chaos continues to rage behind them.

I grip the handle with both hands and pull, opening up to all pandemonium.

Men, all clad in black, spread out throughout the abattoir and are fighting the boys. Their faces are covered, but their attire looks vaguely similar to the ones worn by the group that attacked Erving’s place.

Creed stands to my far right and is fighting off ten men, his black coils swirling around him and snapping out at those trying to attack him.

I hear a shout and turn toward Annex, who’s standing on top of the bar, half of which is now destroyed. A dozen men surround him on all sides, trying to attack him as he wields two large machetes covered in blood.

A familiar loud growl echoes from over by the VIP section, pulling my attention away as Mallyn’s beast rips apart the warlocks, attempting to restrain him with their magic. The area around him is completely destroyed, and a huge hole now sits in the abattoir's wall.

Ezra is the closest to me on my left, surrounded by seven or eight men who all wield blades or are forming magical attacks.

He knocks two back with ease, his strength surprising even me. But as he’s dealing with the other ones in front of him, one attacker creeps behind him and pulls out a silver gun. The magical engraving on its barrel is instantly recognizable as one that’s used for putting down feral shifters. He holds it up and aims it toward an unsuspecting Ezra.

My heart instantly surges into my throat. Everything comes to a slow crawl around me as a bloodcurdling panic sets in.

Ezra didn’t have Annex’s ability. He couldn’t revive or return if he was shot head-on by an enforced magical weapon.

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