Page 96 of A Blackened Bond

“Where?” Calls Ezra, urgency laced in his tone as he makes his way over to me.

“Someone better have not offered that shit to you, Red. I swear—”

I shake my head, cutting them all off as they surround me in some sort of protective circle as if the threat was in the room. Anger and worry coat each of their expressions as they stare down at me.

“Who and where?” Calls Ezra, a deathly glare taking over his features as his eyes darken murderously.

But I knew it wasn’t directed toward me.

“It was in the forest near the academy, when Dean and Leon—”

I freeze, immediately realising my mistake.

The guys had become quite protective of me lately. Maybe it had something to do with Annex’s death or us all spending more time together and growing closer, but they had become almost as overly protective about me as Grey and Ash were about Morgan.

Even knowing I wasn’t as weak as everyone had thought initially, they still chose to protect me in their own way.

But they still don’t realisehowstrong I really am.

“Dean—” Growls Mallyn.

“Leon—” Barks Annex.

“Who are they, Micai?” Calls Ezra, cutting off Annex and Mallyn, his tone icy and dark as the room falls pin-drop silent, and a cold atmosphere blankets the space around us.

“You were in the forest with thisDeanandLeon…alone?” A low growl rings out from Mallyn, my gaze flitting to his brightly glowing eyes before Ezra speaks up again.

“Howdid the black pill come up? Did they offer it to you?” Ezra’s eyes narrow before flickering back and forth,, lost in his thoughts. He is probably trying to place those names before finally looking back at me. “What happened, Micai? Did they try something with you?”

A growling noise so low and beastly rolls out from around me with Ezra’s words—a mixture of both Mallyn and Annex’s voices.

“No!” I shout, cutting them all off and meeting their dark stares. “They took the pill in front of me, thinking they would be able to fight me. Theytriedto attack me, but I put them both down.”

I look to each of them, meeting each set of eyes and showing them the truth in my words. “I’m not weak and certainly no damsel in distress. I can handle myself and won’t ever let anyone get the better of me again.”

“You handled them, Red?” Annex leans in closer, his eyes pulling mine to his with the deranged look in them. “That better have involved a bloody fucking mess before they took their last breath, because anyone laying hands on you will only ever end up in a body bag, or at the deep end of a ditch.”

“Shredded beyond recognition,” Mallyn growls, his eyes bright blue and beast pushing forward.

“No…” Ezra says in a dark, alluring voice, his eyes glinting. “Death would be a reprieve and only something they would beg for.”

“I love it when you talk dirty, Ez.” Annex chuckles as he wraps an arm around him. “And I couldn’t agree more. Anyone even thinking of hurting Red deserves the most excruciating torture.”

Mallyn grunts in agreement as they all grin darkly with Erving flinching beside them.

“I’ve dealt with them how I see fit.” I glance at all three of them. “Do you have a problem with that?”

I didn’t need anyone’s approval or help on this. If Dean or Leon came at me again, I would finish the job myself.

Annex’s grin widens to the Cheshire cat’s standards. “You’re so sexy when you become bossy, Red. I don’t mind you taking the reins when we play.” He steps toward me before I raise a hand, stopping him and flicking my gaze toward Erving behind them.

“Let’s get back on topic. The black pill. They took it in front of me and became faster and stronger—”

“Red—”

I walk toward the screens near Erving, cutting Annex off before he starts talking again and giving him a small glare he only groans playfully at.

Ezra takes a step toward me, stopping to give me a softer look, all anger fading from his eyes.

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