Page 81 of A Blackened Bond

Then the sweet smell hits me…Mountain laurel.

For a strong witch, a cut wouldn’t be fatal, but Morgan would suffer for days in pain. And a cut from liquidised Mountain laurel wouldn’t heal like normal. It would blister and fester and would leave scars.

And she was aiming for her face.

Anger bubbles in the pit of my stomach, my grip tightening as my rage builds with the thought of Morgan being hurt or in pain.

There were consequences for touching my people.

Morgan was the only one who ever treated me like a friend, showing me more warmth than any other girl in my life. She stood up for me against Xander and Seria and helped me prepare for the Winter Ball. She is someone I will protect and defend at all costs.

I peer back toward Ivy and her group, inching closer as the crowd around us falls completely silent, watching as if they are spectators at some sports game.

These assholes needed to learn they couldn’t say or do whatever they wanted to me or the people around me anymore.Their games end now.

The Infernal Four weren’t the only ones they should fear in this shitty academy.

Tandy winces, trying to pull her hand back from my grasp as Ivy takes another step forward, the girls around her following suit.

I add a little strength to my grip and twist, feeling the snap of her small bone in my grasp as a loud shriek leaves her lips.

“What the fuck?” Calls Ivy, her eyes widening as I pull Tandy toward me before kneeing her in the stomach. The air leaves her in one heavy whoosh, her eyes rolling to the back of her head with the force of the blow before she collapses to the ground.

Witches weren’t usually physically strong. They weren’t like shifters and couldn’t heal as fast. And it took them a little time to cast and form their magic, with only the most powerful ones being able to use strong offence spells so quickly.

Before Ivy or Alice could cast, I twist around toward them, laying a heavy kick to Alice’s torso before she can form her magic and knocking her into the group of boys behind her and Ivy.

Ivy’s eyes widen as she calls her magic to her, casting it quicker than Alice. But I’m much faster and stronger than these students here now, and even magic couldn’t contain me with the rage I’m feeling.

I dodge the electrical static she forms, watching as it smacks into the bench a few feet behind Morgan and me.

Before she can form another, I twist around and throw a roundhouse kick toward her, hitting her square in the face and sending her tumbling to the ground. The boys around Alice jump forward, trying to catch her, but only end up being bowled down again.

All eyes turn to me as Morgan approaches my side, her hand falling to my shoulder as her red lips curve into a gleeful smile.

“Nowthatwas cool. You should—”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Shouts Jake, cutting Morgan’s words off as he pushes through the crowd with Dale. They look toward Ivy and Alice, surrounded by a few other second-year boys, clutching their chest and face. Then they turn toward Morgan and me.

“What the fuck did you do?” Jake’s eyes narrow. “I should have put you in a box and buried you a long time ago…” he sneers at me and Morgan before a dark smirk stretches his lips, peering around the crowd and courtyard. “There’s no faculty near to help you this time.”

He heads toward me as I hear Grey and Ash’s voices near the dormitory and heading our way.

But I had some unfinished business with these assholes first.

Jake swings his fist, aiming for my stomach, as Dale reaches for Morgan beside me. I block Jake’s attack with my forearm and kick a leg out toward Dale. He dodges, but it gives Morgan time to move. And me more space to play with.

Jake comes at me again, punching out mindless heavy hits, trying to catch me. I let him land one blow to my torso, grabbing his hand before he pulls it back and yanking it hard enough to hear the bone crack. His face twists up in pain, his movements stalled, and in that brief moment, I throw my full strength into a hook, my fist connecting beautifully with his nose and smashing it instantly. Blood splatters and pours down his face from the blow as a loud, pain-filled howl rips from his throat. He falls backward, clutching his bloody face as gasps sound out from the crowd around us.

“Jake!” Dale shouts, rushing toward me. I feint left and slide right, attacking with a heavy jab to his side and targeting his ribs. I feel another crack beneath my fingers before pulling them back, a wince contorting his face as he tries to turn around toward me. I kick his knees out from behind before he can move. And deal the final blow, hitting the back of his head withmy elbow before he falls face-first into the grey bricks of the courtyard below us.

Grey and Ash arrive, pushing the crowd apart and standing above a bloody and crying Jake.

“Micai!” Morgan shouts, her voice sounding strained and filled with worry.

I whip around to see a jagged metal shard floating inches from my face.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on, or how you can fight against them like that…” Ivy grits out through a busted lip, her face red and already bruising from the kick earlier. Her nose also looks to be semi-broken, if the swelling was anything to go by.

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