Page 91 of The Blackened Blade

“...lyn…Mallyn.” Creed's voice pulls me from my darkening thoughts and back to now.

“What?” I answer, hoping he doesn’t read too much into my slow response.

Creed could always tell when I was in my own head, always reading me so well.

He was like the leader of our little group, and the reins that kept us all steady and close.

They call us ‘The Infernal Four’, and with good reason. Even Hell wouldn’t be able to stop us if we wanted something. Chaos and pain were our pleasure, our only sanity, and the demons that drive us to keep moving forward.

These boys surrounding me were more than friends, they were brothers, accepting even the darkest of me as their own.

“Annex wants to bring his little toy to Fight Night, and apparently Ezra agrees.” Creed sighs, his brows permanently furrowed as he glares at our two brothers.

The ‘toy’ he was referring to was the girl Annex always talks about.Micai.

A small blue eyed girl with rosy-gold hair and a fierce glare.

She sits at our table, not budging even when Creed tries to intimidate her. Very few men have been able to withstand his glare, let alone a small thing like her.

It's strange for Annex to even be interested in someone, unless it involves broken bones or a bloody mess. And she was theoppositeof all that.

She was just sosmallandfrail, with a body that looked like it could break with one touch.

And yet still my eyes would follow her, watching her slight movements and listening intently as she spoke, drawn toward her small features and alluring soft scent.

Her small rosy lips flash in my mind, her hair brushing across her shoulders as she leans in to eat, and her blue eyes…they seemed so familiar, but why?

I shift to the side, the beast growling under my skin, almost laughing at me.

It's strange, usually he would go on a rampage every other night, calling for blood and carnage. I had to go hunting every two or three nights just to appease his thirst, otherwise it would consume me. But lately, he’s been…calm.

I can feel him, watching in the background, listening, waiting for something…I just don't know what or why.

I shake my head. I wouldn’t lose it tonight.

It was ‘Fight Night’ which meant releasing a little bit of our pent up stress, enjoying the chaos and blood in our own domain, and underourcontrol.

It was also one of our sources of finance and the best way to collect information. What better place for all that than an illegal fighting ring?

“She can handle herself, Creed. She's no toy.” Adds Annex leaning against the gate, grinning as he picks his nails with a seven inch bowie blade.

“What makes you so sure? What makesherso fucking special? What if she can’t handle your level of crazy Annex?”

Annex pauses, the small smile briefly faltering on his face, before turning toward Creed.

And I can tell by the look in his eyes, she's different for him. There's something more about this girl that makes him feelsomething, and more than what he’s used to feeling.

And he's never been interested in, let alone gotten attached to any of the girls or women Creed or Ezra bring around. He doesn’t even blink their way.We both don’t.

But this is different.

I can see the hesitation, the slight worry of whether she can accept him fully.

Creed continues, knowing he's pushing our brother.

“You’re bringing an unknown into our group and around our family–”

Annex pulls himself straighter, his eyes narrowed as his face darkens.

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