Page 34 of A Blackened Bond

She stops right before me, a small smile stretching her lips as she opens them. “The Assembly Hall, right?”

I give her a small nod, a beat passing between us before I realise I’m blocking the doorway. A soft smile laces her lips as I move for her and follow as she leads the way out of the dorm room.

“Where’s Creed?” Calls Ezra, coming up beside me as Annex saunters toward Micai, taking a spot beside her.

“He’s with Morgan. They met up earlier.” I answer, my eyes still watching the small figure walking in front of me.

“Is she okay?” Ezra’s brows pinch downward, a slight bit of worry creeping into his gaze.

“She’s fine. You know how Creed can be.”

Ezra relaxes, a grin tilting his lips as he nods. “Overprotective.”

“It must be hard for Morgan.” Micai glances over her shoulder, her blue eyes flickering between me and Ezra. “Between Grey and Ash and Creed, all of them seem a bit…overbearing.”

“Overbearing? Babe, you’ve seen nothing yet,” Annex calls. “If anyone so much asbreathesin your direction, I’ll be slicing and dicing like it’s my birthday, and somebody filled the cake with speed.” He drapes an arm around her waist. “And if any guy tries to touch you…” A sinister growl-like noise seeps from his lips as his eyes darken.

“I’ve done some crazy and even disgusting things before, Red. But that shit will look like child’s-play toward what I’ll do if someone so much asbrushesa finger against those plush cheeks.”

Micai scoffs, a cute roll of her eyes as she answers him. “As if I’d let some random guy touch my face.”

“Not the cheeks I was referring to, Red.” He reaches down and squeezes her ass. She slaps his hand away, but not before a small squeak leaves her lips, the sound having even her raise a brow before a blush coats her cheeks.

“What was that cute little noise, Red?” Annex’s eyes widen with a devilish glint as his hand reaches for her. “Make it again.”

She ignores his request, slapping his hands away as they try to grope her, a pink tint still coating her cheeks as Annex chuckles.

“So what areTracers?” She changes the subject, glancing between me and Ezra.

We share a little grin before Ezra explains.

“They’re people sent by the council to do their bidding, usually searching for things or people, or in this case investigating an attack.”

Micai nods, a contemplative expression taking over her face as we leave the dorms and head toward the main building.

Ezra explains a little bit of the history of the Council as we walk, telling her why they send Representatives—Tracers—to do tasks.

I throw in a little of my knowledge here and there and relish her little blue eyes flickering my way, soaking in every glimmer of attention she gives me. My beast sits content and calm as we move together.

We head in through the main building, groups of students rushing out of our way the moment they see us.

We enter the Hall and spot Creed, Morgan, Ash, and Grey off to one side, with everyone else keeping their distance as Creed glares around the room. We make our way over to them just as the faculty calls for everyone’s attention.

Beside the Dean and faculty members stand three new figures, all wearing badges with the Council’s crest.

“We called all of you together to announce a delay to the Winter Break.” Dean Griffith announces. The giant shifter is at least half a head taller than the rest of the school staff behind him, his black and white peppered hair matching his pinstripe suit as he narrows his gaze around the room. Other shifters flinch from the domineering aura rolling off of him in waves. But my beast just chuffs.

Groans and murmurs of frustration echo out around the room before he hushes them and continues.

“Representatives from the council have come to investigate the recent attack. Everyone will report any information on this matter in an interview with a member of the representative team over the next couple of days.” He watches each group ofstudents, his tone leaving no room for argument or discussion. “They will also be searching the grounds, so stay inside the academy buildings and dormitories as much as possible so as not to hinder their inspection. Winter break will commence in four days’ time when the investigation is done.”

More discontent sighs ring out around the room before one of therepresentativessteps forward. She’s a woman with slick dark-brown hair styled to one side and muddy-brown eyes. The white and black fabric of her dress sways with her hips as she moves to the front of the stage, pulling everyone’s attention to her.

Her eyes glint, a saccharine smile pulling at her dark red lips as she flits her gaze across the room.

“Your participation is necessary…andcompulsory.” She begins to move slowly back and forth on the stage, meeting each staring student with a smile. “We’ll be starting with the first-year students and then the second years until every student has recanted everything they can remember about his incident.” Her smile seems to soften, but her eyes glint a dark look that’s there and gone in seconds.Just like a dog of the Councils to hide their true agenda.They were all snakes and cunning foxes.

“It’s a short time. Only a few days to give toward our investigation and the safety of the academy.” A fake frown pulls at her crimson lips.

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