Page 52 of A Blackened Bond

“We don’t need to draw any attention to ourselves.” I sigh. “Play along. Tell them you were with Micai and hid in the forest when the attacks occurred.”

“Hid?!” Annex’s face twists, an incredulous look etched across his features as he glares at me. “I’ve neverhidfrom a fight in my life. I’m usually the one starting—”

“You’ll have to for Micai,” Mallyn says, cutting Annex off and drawing his complete focus with her name. “You and Ezra were seen with her. Your stories need to match. And those stupid interviews don’t need to last longer for no reason. For us or her.”

“We don’t need the Tracers looking into Micai or doing any unnecessary poking or prodding—”

“Nobody’s poking Red but me.” Interrupts Annex, a grin stretching his lips as Ezra sighs.

“Either way, we need to be careful and not draw any attention toward ourselves or Micai.” Ezra finishes, scowling at Annex as the asshole just nods and grins.

“We’ll also have ours tomorrow,” Ezra calls, turning toward me. “It’s best we all synchronise our answers.”

Stupid fucking ‘interview’. It was just another thing that would take time away from the business I had to do and the plans I had in place.

I hated those damn Tracers and the council more than Annex did. My hatred was more deep-rooted, knowing exactly how corrupt the council was and how many black connections they had.

I’ll relish the day when I can crush them all beneath my boot.

Ezra’s voice pulls my attention back toward them as we reach the abattoir’s parking lot, talking about the night of the attack and recapping the story we should all keep to.

Morgan had her ‘interview’ yesterday with Grey and Ash. They matched their stories, remembering my words, and told the Tracers they went to the dormitories to hide but were attacked by a beast. Morgan said she assisted from the sidelines as Ash and Grey killed it, with Ash getting injured in the process.

A faculty member who helped them with Ash after that confirmed it, and they were let go quite quickly. I had told her to keep the rest of us out of the story so it wouldn’t draw too much attention to what happened afterward in the forest.

She would be leaving soon with Ash and Grey for the Winter Break and heading to Grey’s family for Christmas this year.

I hated being away from her, preferring her close so I could protect her myself. But with everything going on and all these attacks lately…it might be better for her to spend it with them this year.

I had a long talk with Grey and Ash already. They won’t get another chance if she so much as gets a papercut. I love Morgan and care about her opinion, but she doesn’t need weak partners who can’t protect her or stand beside her.

“Hopefully, Red’s still in bed,” I hear Annex say. “I can’t wait to wake her up and watch her eat…it fuckingdoessomething to me.” A dark grin spreads on his lips before a hand creeps toward his trousers, adjusting his—

For fucks sake.

“Seriously?” I grit out, my face twisting in disgust.

“What can I say? Just thinking about her gets me hard.” He grins, not in the least caring about how much he’s turning my stomach.

“Just fuck her then and be done with it.” I bark, glaring at the bastard.

Ezra stops, a serious expression taking over his features.

“Micai is not some plaything, or fuck-buddy to us, Creed. She’s not a fling or passing phase, either. We want Micai in a way neither of us has ever had with anyone else before. Annex and I are serious. We don’t just want to fuck Micai—”

“I do.” Cuts in Annex, a smirk tracing his lips. “Many,manytimes over, and in every position imaginable.” The bastard fixes himself again as I narrow my eyes. “But I also want everythingthat comes with that, too: every smile, every laugh, every sexy little glare.” He turns to me, meeting my gaze with a serious look. “I wanna eat Red up alright, Creed, but I also wanna savour her forever. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of just…beingwith her. I’m a greedy bastard, so I want it all; everything she’s willing to give me and then some.”

Ezra’s look softens, glancing toward the soppy psycho before returning to me.

“We want Micai, and don’t see a future where she’s not beside us, Creed. You’ll have to accept that she’s one of us now.”

My brows draw together, my glaze flickering between the two of them. “You’re reallythisserious about her?”

“If you give her a proper chance, you will see what we do, Creed. She’s more like us than you think.”

I roll my eyes as Ezra narrows his.

“I know you don’t trust easily. It’s understandable with everything we’ve all been through. But she’s a part of us now, whether you like it or not.” He takes a step toward me, his tone a little colder as his expression darkens. “You also need to show her more respect. She deserves it and has been through enough shit without you adding to it.” A sigh leaves his lips as he drags a hand through his hair, watching me.

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