Page 93 of The Blackened Blade

“Why does she have to go with you?” Ezra stands behind Micai as she gazes at Annex’s bike, as if in some brief daze. “She might prefer to ride with me and Creed in the Dodger Charger.”

My gaze flickers to Creed's face. His expression says it all.

My stubborn friend loves his sleek black dodger, almost treating it as if it was his first born. He never let anyone drive it, not even us. It was his pride and joy.

Just as he’s about to open his mouth to argue, Micai speaks first.

“I’m good.” She grips Annex’s shoulder and throws her leg over the bike, steadying herself with ease.

She turns back to Ezra and Creed, meeting Creed's narrowed eyes, “Let’s go.”

He grits his teeth and heads to his car.

My brother did not like being told what to do, especially when his own words were being thrown back at him. It would be an interesting night if nothing else.

Ezra follows Creed, shouting over his shoulder “See you there!” before he hops in the car.

“Not if we get there first!” Chuckles Annex before his engine roars to life and he quickly takes off down the road.

I follow after them, swerving and twisting down the old stone roads and taking chase.They weren’t the only ones here who knew how to ride.

My beast's voice roars in my ears, the only thing we ever agree on is this. The speed and thrill of the ride.

I catch up to them, our bikes going back and forth, each only gaining an inch or two on the other. Time passes as we twist and turn around the bending roads, our speed never slowing as we race back and forth between each other.

But before we know it, we’re nearing town and our destination.

I speed up, pushing my bike to its limits and skid into the abandoned parking lot in front of our building. The noise of it ringing out around me as I come to a halt.

Smoke and dust flow from the ground below me as Annex follows in just seconds behind me laughing. “And they callmethe crazy one.”

Micai jumps off the bike and comes straight at me. She stops only a couple of feet from me, her eyes searching me for something.

My beast falls silent. Calm. Watching and listening as she stands before us.

Her small frame and deep blue eyes trailing up and down me.

Her scent hits my nose and my heartbeat picks up, a light growl ringing at the back of my head as she slightly leans in toward me.

All too sudden she pulls back, a small sigh leaving her lips before her eyes meet mine.

“Do you have a death wish? Or do you just enjoy pain?” Her blue eyes narrow, searching my face for something. She shakes her head and sighs, turning back toward Creed and Ezra as they pull into the parking lot.

I clench my fist, stopping the hand that wanted to reach out and drag her back to me. To have those deep blue eyes gazing at me with that strange look of hers.

Was it worry? Did she think I would hurt myself? Why would she even care?

And why did the thought of whether she did matter to me?

We had barely talked.Ihad barely talked to her. Only watching and listening from a distance as she ate and glared at Annex, or gave some sort of snappy or funny line to shut him down.

She didn’t seem to be afraid of us like the others, or care about our families or power. She didn’t drool over my brothers or try to cling to them like other girls.

I could tell she knew there was something different about us, but unlike everyone else, it didn’t seem to faze her. She stares us down, stands her ground against Creed, keeps up with Annex’s crazy and gives Ezra some peace.

My brothers didn’t realise that even in the few encounters we’ve had with her, they’ve changed. There's a calm and comfort in her presence that seems to soothe some of the darkness in them without them even knowing it.

But I was different.

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