Page 6 of A Blackened Bond

“Micai, I promise, Annex will be okay. I would never lie to you. I know it looks bad, but…” He sighs, a conflicted expression growing before he shakes his head. “It's hard to explain. You would have to see it to believe it.”

What is he talking about? And why does any of it matter?

Annex is lying in front of us…dead.Nothing else matters.

I open my mouth to tell him as much when we hear rustling from the trees across from us.

I dive toward Annex’s body, unwilling to let whatever creature was coming to take the last remains I have of him from me, when suddenly a voice calls Ezra’s name.

Creed and Mallyn make their way through the trees and shrubbery and past the dead beast's body. But freeze as soon as they see me and Ezra.

I’m draped over Annex’s body, not realising Ezra has followed, his hands wrapped over my shoulders and covering both Annex and me.

I guess we both were expecting something other than Creed and Mallyn. And he…was trying to protect me.

A weighted sadness falls over me.

Ezra also tried to protect me.

He was throwing away his safety for me, just like Annex.

I meet his gaze, relief filling both eyes as he nods to Creed. A softer expression takes over his features as he turns back toward me.

“It's okay now, Micai.” He straightens himself, gently taking me with him as he moves, while never leaving Annex’s side. “Creed and Mallyn are here. I’ll explain everything about Annex—”

“That’s Annex’s story to tell…not ours,” Creed says before his gaze flickers toward me, his eyes trailing along my face as his expression hardens.

He turns away and peers over toward Mallyn. “Check the area for anything else and make sure we’re clear.”

He walks over to us before reaching down toward Annex and checking him over. His face scrunches up when he sees the bloody hole in his chest, a heavy sigh leaving his lips. “He’ll need a lot more time.”

“What do you mean…whattime?” I glance down at Annex again, pulling in a shaky breath at the empty look in his eyes.

“I need to tell hersomething, Creed. Look at her…” Ezra grabs my hand, worry blanketing his expression as confusion takes over mine.

What were they talking about? Tell mewhat?

I turn to Creed as Mallyn makes his way over.

“We’re clear. There’s nothing near or close to this area.”

Creed's gaze never leaves me. A strange look takes over his eyes before he turns away and nods at Mallyn.

“Better make it short, Ezra. We need to move soon.”

What—

“Micai…” Ezra brushes a hand through his hair, realising only after a moment that it’s still covered in blood. He winces before glancing at me and giving me a small smile.

“Quicker,” Creed barks as he makes his way over to the beast’s corpse. A rush of black mist and dark coils flow out from around Creed and toward the beast like a small wave. It covers every inch of the corpse in its inky darkness before entirely disappearing, leaving no trace of the beast behind.

Those coils…seemed oddly familiar.

Ezra sighs, “Quick…right.” He glances at Annex again, his brows furrowing.“Have you ever heard anything about the Porter Clan?”

I give him a slow nod as my brows pinch together.

Everyone in the supernatural community knew about all of the old clans. The Porters existed almost as long as the Banes and The Astons.

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