Page 135 of The Blackened Blade

She was basically a walking lie detector machine–with the ability to see through everything and everyone–the goodandthe bad. Imagine knowing the true personality of every head in the founding families of the supernatural world. What abilities they were hiding, if and when they were lying, and if the smiles on their faces were only masks covering something darker beneath…Is that why she didn’t get along with Seria? Could she actuallyseeandhearthe bullshit?

“SoMicai…” She calls, pulling me from my thoughts. “Iknowyou're the one who saved me because of this ability.” She glances briefly toward Ash and Grey, “But I don't know how you did it, or even why– not that I’m not grateful,” She rushes out, “...But,” A slight frown coats her lips, her brows creasing. “How did you manage to fight off that beast by yourself? Why were you even there that night? Were you…involved in some way?”

There's a slight stiffness that works its way into Ash’s shoulders with Morgan’s words, and a slight tremor that makes its way into Greys clenched fists.

I meet her clear amber eyes as a heavy sigh leaves my lips. If she really thought I was involved then she wouldn’t have helped me earlier with Xander and Seria, and she most certainly wouldn’t have told me about her secret ability…Maybe she's wondering how someone who was supposed to have no power was able to fight and kill a beast that she couldn’t? Or how I knew where she was that night?

Or maybe why I even helped her to begin with?

But either way there was no longer any point in trying to hide the fact it was me.

And whether it was because of helping her that night or our previous life’s tragic fates, I felt some slight connection with her. A part of mewantsto trust her.

“No, I wasn’t involved, and how I could fight…well,” I shrug, “I’ve been training.”

Even though a part of me wanted to open up, another part screamed that not even the walking lie detector would believe I came back to the past after dying.

“Training? You took out that thing with ease, Miss-weak-with-no-magic-Bane.” She gives my shoulder a tap with hers, a small smile tilting her lips.

I mirror her expression, “Doesn’t mean things can’t change. What do you see when you use your ability?” I ask, wondering if maybe she could see something different or off about me.

Her eyes change into its iridescent colour before a slight gold shade slides over them. She trails her eyes down my body and slowly back up again. She stops at my chest for a brief moment before meeting my eyes; the hue in her own changing back to her normal amber.

“You’re something different.” Her brows crease, “And you weren’t like that at the start of the year, I’m sure of it.”

She gives her head a small shake, a slight look of confusion overtaking her expression, “I just don't understand how that's possible…or what you are.” She looks back at my chest. “That colour…” She mumbles before shaking her head again. “What are you?”

“Hell if I know.” I shrug. I thought she might have some answers, since I still don't.

She takes in my expression, her own softening before she chuckles. “I think you’re my kinda girl, Micai.”

“Careful.” Chuckles Ash as the transparent shield fades and he steps closer.

Morgan rolls her eyes, “She's okay–”

“I was talking to her,” Ash smirks, turning his green eyes toward me, “She’s a wild one.” He gestures to Morgan, his grin growing wider.

She slaps his side, “Asshole.”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t love it.” Ash takes her hand in his before she can pull it away and places a kiss along her fingers.

Grey looks on from beside them, a softer look briefly crossing his stoic expression before he schools it.

“Ah!” Morgan whips back around toward me.“A certain fish told me you’ve tamed the psycho reaper we call Annex.”

“What?!” Shouts Ash, drawing the eyes of a few students passing through the courtyard. “She’swith Annex? ”

He looks around with the mention of Annex’s name, twisting and turning in every direction as if waiting for him to appear from thin air like Beetlejuice.

“I’m not with Annex, or anyone. We just hang out.” I shrug. I wasn’t sure what we were or even how I felt about him or Ezra. But I’m pretty sure we weren’tlike that.

A slight frown pulls at my lips as a small pang tries to work its way into my chest with the thought, but I push it down just as quickly.

Ash and Grey share a look as Morgan grins.

“Annex doesn’t ‘hang out’with anyone other than my brother and their friends, and he certainly doesn’t spend time with girls.” A strange smirk pulls at her cheeks as my brows synch together.

Brother?Annex hangs out with Morgan's brother?