Page 17 of A Blackened Bond

Morgan could be as stubborn as I was and just as protective of what was hers. I glance back at Ash, who's clutching his injured waist, and Grey, who’s supporting him on one side.

Those bastards needed to level the fuck up.Weakwas not a word I wanted to be associated with the men supporting my sister. She deserved only the best.

“Micai!” Morgan yells as she struggles free from my arms and walks over to her. “Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt anywhere?” She tugs Micai from in between Ezra and Annex—much to their chagrin—and scans her up and down for any injuries or wounds.

Once Morgan’s content with her inspection, she pulls her into a hug, a shaky sigh of relief leaving her lips. “Thank the Gods.”

My brows draw together as I watch them. When did they become so close? How did Morgan even know Micai?

What the hell had I missed?

I watch as Micai stiffens at Morgan’s touch before a soft smile tilts her lips, and she leans into Morgan’s embrace, wrapping her own arms around my sister in return.

“I’m fine,” Micai calls softly as Morgan pulls back, checking her for a second time. “Can’t keep a girl like me down for long.”

Morgan glances around at Mallyn, Ezra, and Annex, wincing at the mess of dried blood on Annex’s torso. “Clearly,somethinghappened. Maybe you should clean that up.”

“A little mess never killed anyone.” Annex rubs a hand down his chest, where now a large circle of dried blood resides.

Thatwoulddraw some attention.

“She’s right, we don’t need the faculty annoying us with questions. Cover it up.”

Annex sighs before heading to a group nearest us and yanking a jacket from the nearest guy. The guy shrivels into a ball as Annex walks back in our direction, throwing the jacket that’s clearly a size too small on and pulling it over his torso.

“What?” Annex calls. “I’m covered.”

I drag a hand down my face. I guess it was better than a blood-stained chest. But he still looked ridiculous.

Annex slides beside Micai, his arm wrapping around her shoulder, while Ezra’s arm is sitting on her hip. Their attentionis entirely on her, nestled between them as they ignore everything else around them.

And I don’t like it.

Annex died tonight…for her.

He came back like he has many times before…only each time he dies, the madness roots itself deeper inside him. His curse slowly eats away at the sanity in his mind.There was a reason he was so deranged.

I’ll have to give him a few jobs to help keep him busy and feed the carnage his madness will make him crave soon.

I glance at the three of them together. What’s to say that the next time isn’t the one that throws him over the edge?I don’t want to lose my brother to his curse.

And Micai…she seemed reckless. There were no strings tying her down and not enough information to make me feel I could trust her.

My people, my family, my brothers…I wouldn’t let them get hurt again.

My eyes narrow toward her soft, smiling expression as she watches them.

She was a liability and a weakness we couldn’t afford…not with them or with what we planned. She had too many secrets.

She says she ‘trains’ but for what? To keep the bullies at bay? I don’t think that’s all there is to it.

And how did she happen to get speed and strength like that when she’s supposed to have no magic or power?

She was able to manage that beast with Grey when even Ash couldn’t, and outrun both Annex and Ezra, even keeping up with Mallyn while he was in his beast’s form.Even I struggle with that.

What exactlywasMicai?

My eyes trail up her body; remnants of dried blood trail down her legs as her dress falls ripped and tattered past her knees.

---