Page 134 of The Blackened Blade

My brows draw down together as she continues.

“After all, you already saved me once.” Her small smile widens, as a knowing gleam grows in her gaze. I open my mouth to ask her what she means, but she quickly cuts me off. “I have a question though,” She taps a slender finger against her lips. “How did you manage to pull off all those moves in that tight black assassin outfit?” A large smirk stretches her lips as her eyes curve up into crescents. “Cause you lookedbadass.”

I feel my facial features fall at the certainty of her gaze. How did she know it was me?

How was that even possible? I had been covered from head to toe and it had been the dead of night.

Or was this some guess of hers? Some suspicion or theory she wanted to test out?

But why me? The rumours around the academy alone should have dissuaded her from thinking it was me.Weak, magicless Micai and all.

“I don’t know what you're talking about.” I shake my head as Ash and Grey whip around toward Morgan.

“Morgan,” Ash calls as his gaze flickers to me; a look of confusion taking over his expression as he looks at my smaller frame. “She's the one…”

His words fade off as she gives him a smile and curt nod. The boy beside her, Grey, narrows his blue eyes at me. They seemed to be searching for something before widening with some realisation.

Then it dawns on me. He was the boy on the ground in the forest during the beast attack. I flicker my gaze toward the other boy named Ash. His tall frame and dark brown hair seem to match the other one that night too.

I shake my head again. They had no proof it was me.

Then why was Morgan so sure?

“My ability–” Morgan starts before Grey cuts her off, his face stiffening.

“You don't know her well enough.”

Morgan raises a perfectly shaped brow, “There was a time when I didn’t knowyouGrey Aston, but I took the chance…” Her features soften a fraction, a slight warmth flooding her amber eyes as she continues, “And I don't regret it.”

His gaze meets hers; the stoic and serious look bleeding from his eyes as they share a gentle moment.

“Besides,” She grins, turning back toward me, “She’s worth the risk.”

She shifts in closer to me as Grey and Ash turn away. They continue to watch the surrounding area like sentinels, all while never leaving our side.

Morgan's eyes turn an iridescent hue as a light glimmer forms around us, casting a transparent cover over us and the area around Ash and Grey. Her eyes flicker back and she gives me a small sheepish smile.

“Everyone knows I have this psychic power to cast shields,” She waves her hand toward the light barrier covering us as I nod.

I didn’t know much about Morgan, other than what I’d heard from other students whispering. She was a second year student and didn’t have any good relationships with Seria or the girls in her year, only known to stick to the two boys around her.

She also had a very blunt and fierce nature, but was still known through the academy for her talent and aptitude for shields and barriers. Even the faculty was impressed by her skills.

But it wasn’t just her strong ability that kept others away, she also apparently had a strong family backing, one that no-one wanted to mess with.

“The truth is, I have another power…one I can’t let others know about.” Her expression turns a little sombre, the confident smile fading as a strange look of worry makes its way into her gaze. She turns toward Ash and Grey, a slight hesitation holding onto her gaze before she finally speaks again.

“It's not some amazingly strong power though,” she shrugs as a humourless laugh leaves her lips before they pull down into a small frown,”...it's not even an attack type.”

A shaky sigh leaves her throat while she takes a moment before continuing.

“But it's one I have to keep secret, because there are people who would want to use me for it.” Her eyes meet mine as a flicker of worry crosses them. But whatever she sees makes the creases around her eyes smooth out and the weariness in her gaze fade.“I can read people’s auras…”

Was that it? I don’t understand why that was such a big deal? I guess it wasn’t a common thing, but some witches could do it, right? I’m about to say just as much when she starts talking again.

“I can tell when people and supernaturals lie; what their powers and abilities are, and their personality…I can read beneath the layers they try to hide and down to their very core. Souls and all.” The hesitancy in her gaze returns as I feel my mouth slightly open.

That was different alright.

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