Chapter 25
MALLYN
T he full moon shines above, the cold winter air seeping out around me.
I hear small prey in the distance, moving about the forest floor, and he itches to come out and play. His idea of fun being the bloodbath kind; bodies ripped to shreds and unidentifiable.
The monster inside me makes Annex’s crazy look like a toddler at playtime.
He rolls about under my skin, his murderous thoughts and primal needs flowing through me like waves. He whispers in my ear with each move and breath I take, trying to push me, control me.
That's how it's been ever since I had my awakening and when the beast began lurking within me.
“.. .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 the opposite of all that.
She was just so small and frail , 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 under our control.
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 makes her so 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 feel something , 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.
“So its okay for you to bring who you want around, but I can’t bring who I want because she’s not a plaything or quick fuck?”
Ezra tries to place a hand on Annex but he shrugs it off.
“What, ‘cause you fucked them a couple of times before so they became ‘known’ and are okay?” He takes a step closer to Creed.
“Who are you kidding? You're pissed because she's not like your little whores who want your money or power.
She's different. You can’t control her, you can't read her, and you can’t rein her in. And that's what bothers you, Creed.”
Creeds face hardens. “If she's a threat, in any way, I will kill her.” His eyes darken, his power pouring from him, emphasising its truth.
Annex shakes his head placing his bowie away, a sadness to his smile I’d not seen in a long time.
“She's different, and one day soon Brother, you’ll regret saying that.”
The words echo in my head, a loud growling noise falling from the beast inside me, an agreement of some sort from the monster under my skin with Annex’s words.
Just when Creed is about to open his mouth and argue again, a small shuffling sound from behind the gates pulls our attention.
We all stop, turning toward whatever was coming our way, when her scent hits me; a soft floral scent like wild flowers mixed with sweet vanilla, with a slight metallic undertone. It instantly tickles my nose and pulls my eyes straight toward her.
She’s clad in black jeans and an oversized grey hoodie. It’s pulled up over her head as she makes her way toward us, with a small soft lock of her hair falling from the hood's fabric as she moves closer.
Annex passes me and Creed, a large grin forming on his face before he quickly schools it.
“Little late, aren’t we Red?” He taps an invisible watch on his wrist.
“It's two minutes past ten, but I'm more surprised you can even tell time.” She raises her hands and gives him two thumbs up, “Good job.”
Ezra breaks out laughing and I try to school the chuckle wanting to leave my lips.
She's different alright.
Clearly she has no fear when it comes to Annex, and he's a straight up psychopath. One look or smile from him could literally have men three times her size pissing themselves.
“I love it when you flirt with me, Red.” Winks Annex and I almost choke. I’ve never seen that bastard wink .
“If sarcasm is flirting, I better be careful with my insults.”
Ezra’s brows cinch together as he stares at her, “Why?”
She points to Annex. “He’d probably think it's foreplay.”
Ezra and Annex chuckle, before he takes a step closer to Micai.
“We can skip the foreplay and head straight to–”
“Enough.” Barks Creed, who glares toward all of us. But he turns his coldest glare toward Micai, who meets his fierce gaze with her own.
Different. Definitely different
“Let's go.” He grits out.
We head down to the small narrow road outside the academy's gates and to where our rides sit. Town was around ten miles out, so walking would take too long, and any reason to take my Ducati for a spin was good enough for me.
The feel of cold heavy metal beneath me with nothing in my way, even the beast fell silent as the world around me blurs, it was a feeling unlike any other. A feeling of being alive and truly free.
I throw my leg over the silver metal and flick the ignition key, my engine roaring to life as I hear Annex’s laughter ring out behind me.
He’s sitting on his own Ducati, having opted for a custom crimson red toward my ice silver tones. He pats the space behind him as he takes his seat.
“Hop on Red, and hold me tight.” His grin grows wider than the Cheshire cat’s.
“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 call me the 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.