21. Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MICAI'S POV

I walk out of the main academy building, having left Ezra, Annex, Mallyn, and Creed to do their interviews. Annex tried to follow me, but Creed pulled him back, with Ezra telling me they'll find me after they were done.

A small smile pulls at my cheeks remembering the feel of Ezra and Annex's arms wrapped around me as they spoke words no one ever has before.

It was a night— and morning —I'll never forget.

I turn the corner, heading toward the girls' dormitory, when someone hits into my shoulder. A hard hit.

One too strong-armed to be an accident.

I whip around, expecting Jeremy, Adam, or even Kane. Except I'm met with two dark eyes framed by pale, pasty skin and pitch-black hair.

He was one of the representatives from yesterday. The one with a bad attitude. Vern or Ver-something.

"You should watch where you're going." His dark pupils trail down my frame, disdain pinching his features. "And learn to move when others are around. Your kind should know their place."

My kind? What could he possibly know about me?

"What kind would that be?" I ask, my eyes narrowing on his slim figure. He definitely wasn't a shifter. Maybe a warlock or necromancer, then?

His eyes widen before quickly narrowing, his lip curling upwards as bright white teeth flash at me, a sinister chuckle seeping out through them.

"A being as pathetic and powerless as the humans that take up space in this world." His dark eyes trail down me, his features twisting further. " No …You're worse than even those lowly creatures. Even with all the powerful genetics at your disposal, you still managed to be nothing," he sneers down at me, venom coating every feature as he continues. "You're an abomination to the supernatural community and a stain and blemish to the Bane clan's prestige. You should have been snuffed out instead of sullying one of the noble clan's name—"

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath as my nails bite into my palms, probably drawing blood. Why did I always have to deal with these types of people?

Just when I think I'm finally getting a break, another one shows up spewing shit.

I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't take their bullshit anymore. But how the hell do I deal with him .

If he wasn't a representative, or if I didn't mind being locked away in the Council's cells over winter break, I would rip his flapping tongue from his throat and shove it up his spindly ass.

I exhale, trying to push down the frustration I feel as the asshole continues to talk, his voice fading to white noise as I ignore him and turn away.

Even if he was a representative, he wasn't a faculty member, and I owed him nothing. I unfortunately couldn't beat the shit out of him, but I didn't have to listen to him either.

I walk toward the dorm when an arm suddenly reaches out and grabs me from behind, twisting me around to face the representative's scrunched-up expression.

"Where do you think you're going? Who told you that you were allowed to leave?" His nails dig into my arm, pinching me as he tries to pull me back. But I wasn't playing the weak Micai anymore.

He tries to drag me back, his arm gripping me tighter as his gaze narrows in confusion. As if someone as weak as him could make me move.

His frustration grows, his other hand reaching toward me before a loud bellow roars from behind us.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Gadriel is beside me in seconds, his gaze narrowed at the hand still gripping me. His eyes turn to the ass in question. The wiry asshat flinches, his already pasty skin going paler with the dark look Gadriel's giving him.

"Let. Her. Go. Now ," Gadriel grits, his tone dark and guttural, with a look of fury I've never seen in him before.

The asshole instantly lets go of my arm and takes a step back.

"She…she was being disobedient—" he begins, but Gadriel cuts him off, stepping toward him and towering over him.

"Who do you think you are putting your hands on her?"

"S-she—"

Gadriel clenches his fists, his knuckles turning white as he takes another step closer to him. The representative shrinks as Gadriel's gaze and larger stance surround him.

"Take her name from your lips, her figure from your sight and thoughts…" He glares down at the shrinking man as he backs him into the wall behind them. "And never come near her again. If you so much as breathe in her direction, Verod…" Gadriel's voice falls to a sinister whisper as he leans down toward his ear. "I will personally take pleasure in teaching you the consequences of your actions."

Verod's eyes widen, a shaky breath falling from his lips with whatever expression Gadriel was giving him before scurrying away like the pathetic rat he was.

Gadriel glares after him, his eyes lost in a daze of fury, his fists clenching tightly before he takes a step forward, looking as if he would follow after Verod. And tear him to shreds.

I reach out, my hand gripping his arm as I try to stop him from following after him.

He whips around toward me, the darkness in his gaze quickly fading as our eyes meet.

"Gadriel," I call, trying to pull him back and distract him from his anger.

His brows furrow, his eyes closing as he takes a deep breath, his fists unclenching as he opens his eyes again.

"Are you okay, Micai?" He quickly shakes his head, a light scoff leaving his lips before he answers himself. "A stupid question… Of course, you're not."

A shaky breath leaves his lips before he looks back at the empty space where Verod scurried away and then to the academy where he headed, anger rising in his eyes again.

"I was too lenient—"

I cut him off, pulling his arm again as I shake my head when. He turns toward me. "Don't waste your time. I'm sure he won't look twice at me after what you've said anyway—"

"But it shouldn't have happened. You shouldn't have been treated that way, Micai." A sad look takes over his features, drawing his brows lower as his lips form into a slight frown.

"No one gets to treat you like you're lesser than them, Micai. Your potential and strength surpass every other I have met over the years. Your will, your strength, and pure determination…is unrivalled." He glances down at my hand still resting on his arm, his gaze soft before his eyes spot nail marks and red fingerprints left on my skin.

His eyes darken before he twists around again, heading for the main academy building.

I dash in front of him, stopping him as I block his way. Who knows what would happen if Gadriel saw Verod again. And with the expression on his face, he looked like he would rip the wiry weasel to shreds. As much as I would love to see it, I don't want Gadriel to get into trouble because of me or that pathetic excuse for a man.

"Let spar." I blurt out, trying to distract him from taking another step forward. "Everyone will be leaving for Winter break tomorrow, and it will be a while before we can see each other again."

A strange look forms on his face at my words, some realisation glinting in his eyes before he turns toward me and slowly nods, taking a slow step back.

"Then we shouldn't waste any more of our time together."

Gadriel's POV

I watch Micai as she makes her way through the forest, following closely behind as we make our way to the old training grounds. The sound of her heartbeat and light steps, combined with the gentle sounds of nature surrounding us, slowly calms me.

Back at the academy, I had felt more rage and fury than I had ever felt before. When I saw that dreg place his hands on Micai, a darkness I thought only came to me during battle began to rear its head and roar in my ears. When I saw his hands on her, a bloodlust like no other burned in the pit of me, begging to be set free.

Micai. The thought of anyone hurting her had my fingers itching for my blades, a need to lash out at those who threaten her and slay them with my bare hands.

I wasn't one for mindless fighting and never wished for violence or found amusement in it. But I wasn't above sullying my name or dirtying my hands for the ones I cared for.

The prints left on her light skin— nail marks —embedded in her soft flesh…My fists clench, my heartbeat quickening again as I imagine his twisted face toward her before he heard me. It was a vile look; one filled with pure contempt and disgust toward her.

I should have properly dealt with him then and there. And made him pay heavily for the marks he left on her skin and the beastly way he treated her. Micai had suffered enough.

I had yet to get retribution for the day I found her in the forest. Her body was bruised and scratched back then too, with many marks left from the hate and contempt she received for no reason at all.

This time, I wouldn't be standing back or keeping quiet. I'll report Verod to the Dean and have him properly reprimanded by the academy and Council for his behaviour.

The Council…Would they properly punish one of their own?

They have been known of late to play favourites and not follow the rules of old. Some could even say the majority have lost their values and morals to greed.

A small sigh leaves my lips as I glance at the lithe figure making light work of the forest path before us. I want to help her and shield her from those who wish to cause her pain, knowing she's already faced more than one her age should have. She is a fighter, but that doesn't mean she should always have to fight. Even the strongest of warriors need a place to rest and a place to feel safe.

And sometimes, that haven can be found in the company of another.

But Verod would still have to be punished. And if the Council or academy wouldn't do it…then I would. He deserved more than just a tap on the wrist, and I would be more than happy to be the one slicing it off.

We're nearing the old training ground, the dilapidated building in our sights, when Micai suddenly loses her footing.

I jump forward, catching her before she falls or hurts herself. My arm wraps around her waist, pulling her into my chest to steady her. I feel her heartbeat pick up under my touch, her chest holding a breath as my own exhale brushes down her neck with a small pink blush creeping into her cheeks as my fingers lay flat against her.

An unfamiliar feeling works its way around me. My heart rate picks up, my breath catches in my throat, and a soft warmth works its way into the fingers holding her as I gaze into her wide, endless blue eyes.

"Thank you." Micai gently pulls away, straightening herself and pulling me from my slight daze as the blush in her cheeks becomes brighter.

She brushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and my fingers flex with the movement. A feeling of wanting to reach out and caress the soft strands between my fingers crosses my mind before my brows furrow, and I quickly shake it away.

"I didn't realise I would get taken down so easily by a loose tree's root." She gives me a small grin, "I guess I need more training than I thought."

A grin of my own stretches my lips with her words. She suddenly freezes, her eyes slightly widening as she watches me before the blush in her cheeks deepens to a richer shade.

"Micai?" Why was she frozen? Had she hurt herself somewhere when I caught her? How had I missed that?

I glance down her body, searching for any minor cuts or injuries.

She turns back toward the old building just as I open my mouth to ask her what was wrong.

"Let's head in quickly. We don't have a lot of time before the rest of the faculty begin their patrols."

I nod, following, as she leads the way once again, scanning her quickly and finding no injuries or minor wounds as we walk together.

As Micai mentioned, we wouldn't have as long as we usually did to spar with the other faculty members on patrol tonight.

Mannox would shift into his bear form and thoroughly cover the forest area within and around the academy grounds during his night patrolling. So much as a twig cracking would attract my fellow defense instructor and alert him to our presence.

It was a pity as I would have preferred to enjoy our time sparring longer.

We would both be leaving tomorrow and returning home for winter break. Usually, seeing my clan was something I looked forward to, the Elven Solstice being one of my favourite traditions, but now…a forlorn feeling is beginning to take root in me.

I glance toward Micai as we make our way through the old doorway and toward the old staircase.

It would be better for her to be home than here while the Representatives were around investigating the attack. At least there, she would be safe and surrounded by her family.

The Winter break was two weeks long, during which I wouldn't be able to see or train with her.

A heavy feeling slides its way around my chest with the thought, tightening its grip on me as I watch her. I open my mouth to ask what she does, who she spends it with, or how her family would celebrate it.

But the words don't leave my mouth, drying up instantly in my throat as I continue to gaze at her.

Why were all these strange emotions and questions about Micai spinning inside my mind? Why did it matter who she spent her time with or what they did? As long as she was safe, nothing else should matter.

Had I overstepped my boundaries in some way? Had my protectiveness over her twisted into something else?

I shake my head, grab the small black duffel hidden under the old stairway, and draw two large daggers from it, tossing one to Micai. She catches it with ease, a bright smile pulling at her cheeks as she flicks the blade between her hands.

She suddenly rushes toward me, trying to catch me off guard as she twists and turns, dodging each attack I throw at her in response as we battle back and forth.

She mimics all of my attacks, her own relentless yet still precise, each targeting any opening she can find. Something she's become quite apt at seeing.

The strength and speed of her moves have grown stronger with each training and sparring session together, and she is reaching new levels of fighting I have only seen in veteran warriors.

My chest swells with a sense of pride as we clash. With something familiar joining it, something I can't yet describe or fully comprehend.

I peer toward Micai as the sunlight shines down on her, illuminating each movement like a soft spotlight shining down just for her. She looks even brighter and more breath-taking as she dashes toward me, her blade gripped tight in her hand as she lunges for me and catches my dagger with her own.

I could spend all my days sparring with Micai and never get bored. Simply being in her company makes my day feel brighter. She isn't like anyone I have ever met, or believe I would meet again.

A playful smile tilts her lips, and my heart picks up its pace once again.

My mind grows more conflicted and confused with the feeling.

She was my student, and I her instructor, nothing more…there could be nothing more.

This feeling was simply excitement…it was the bond between a mentor who had found their prodigy—the pride at finding and teaching someone with such strength and capability.

Micai was my student… and nothing more.

I frown to myself, feeling the wrongness in those words.

…Maybe the two weeks away would be a welcome reprieve. And would help me clear my muddled thoughts.