Chapter 18 Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Chapter 18

Myla’s POV

The pain wasn't the worst part of everything. To be fair, he had a clean strike, but that's as good as it was.

It wasn't the deadliest blow.

And it wasn't the stinging force that had sent me stumbling back.

It wasn't the way I was laying on the mat in front of everyone.

And not even the sudden silence that had swallowed the entire room whole.

It was him. The look on Blake’s face.

The look in his eyes

Not the controlled, distant cold I had gotten used to. Not the guarded indifference he wore all the time.

This was different.

This was sharp. Dangerous. Like something had snapped clean through whatever restraint he’d been holding onto.

And for the first time since I’d met him, I felt fear rising in me.

It crawled up my spine slowly, settling into my chest before I could stop it.

What did I just do?

He stepped towards me, kike he was deciding something.

And I didn’t move, didn't speak.

And just when he was about to step back, everything cracked open.

“Hey!”

The shove came out of nowhere as Blake’s body jerked slightly as someone slammed into him, forcing him back a step.

Kyle.

I blinked, snapping my head towards him as he moved between us, his chest rising fast and fists clenched tight at his sides.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” He snapped.

Blake straightened slowly, and for a second, he just looked at him with a flat expression, like Kyle wasn’t even worth reacting to.

“Move,” Blake said flatly and Kyle didn’t.

“If you touch her again—”

Blake didn’t let him finish.

He snapped into action at once, sending a sharp shove that sent Kyle staggering back half a step—but he recovered almost immediately.

“Oh, you wanna do that?” Kyle shot back, lunging forward.

And just like that, they burst out fighting.

I sucked in a breath as Kyle swung his fist cutting towards Blake’s face.

Blake tilted his head slightly and the punch missed cleanly.

But Kyle didn’t stop there, he went again, sending another punch, a much faster one this time, fueled by anger more than anything else.

Blake stepped aside, catching his wrist mid-motion and twisting just enough to throw him off balance.

“Too slow,” Blake muttered.

Kyle yanked his hand free and yelled through gritted teeth. “Shut up!”

He went at him again—this time with a kick.

Blake blocked it with ease, pushing his leg down and stepping back like this was nothing more than routine.

“You done?” Blake asked in an almost bored tone.

That did it, Kyle snapped.

He charged again, faster, sloppier too as he clearly wasn't thinking before any attack.

His movements lacked any balance as his emotions took over.

I stepped forward instinctively. “Kyle, stop—”

But Blake shoved him again, harder this time.

Kyle stumbled but didn’t fall. Didn’t stop. Didn’t even hesitate.

He came right back with a punch that got blocked, a kick that Blake dodged and he kept trying over and over again.

Blake moved like he wasn’t even trying, slipping past every strike and redirecting every hit with minimal effort, just like he did with me.

And the more he did it, the worse it got.

“Is this supposed to impress me?” Blake said, ducking another punch.

And Kyle swung again, but missed wildly

“Cause it’s not working,” Blake added with a smile.

But it was anything but warm, devastating and cold.

“Shut up!” Kyle snapped with frustration as he went in again.

Blake sidestepped him, then pushed him off balance.

“Control your breathing,” he added casually. “You’re wasting energy.”

Kyle growled under his breath, swinging again—harder this time.

Blake blocked it just enough this time, but it took more out of him this time.

Kyle was getting in.

Then Blake shoved him back again. “Or don’t,” Blake shrugged. “Makes this easier.”

“Kyle, stop it!” I tried again, stepping closer.

But neither of them listened.

Kyle kept striking and moving till his hits started landing. Not in the cleanest of manners but as Blake dodges, he follows up quickly and catches him.

He landed a punch squarely in Blake’s chest.

Then another caught his side.

“You are actually starting to make me swea—”

Blake couldn't finish his words as Kyle landed a punch straight on his jaw.

His head snapped to his side and the whole room seemed to hold their breath.

But that was when I saw the shift. Blake’s expression changed as he brought his face back.

“You done playing?” Kyle shot, breathing heavier now.

Blake didn’t answer and Kyle came again. But this time, Blake hit back with a clean, sharp strike that landed squarely, knocking Kyle back harder than before.

A gasp left my lips before I could stop it. “Kyle!”

He stumbled, barely catching himself. But it still didn't stop. Didn’t back down.

He charged again, and Blake met him head-on.

This time, there was no holding back.

They exchanged blows in quick succession with the sound of impact echoing through the room as tension snapped completely.

Kyle landed a hit, then Blake returned it much harder.

Blake was holding back all along, that was clear. I could only imagine what he would do to Kyle.

I moved closer again as I began fearing the worse for Kyle. “Stop it! Both of you—”

Blake shoved Kyle hard again, sending him to the ground this time.

“Stay down,” Blake muttered but Kyle was already on his feet.

“Make me, mother—”

He didn't get to finish his sentence as Blake was in front of him in seconds, landing a blow squarely to his tummy.

Kyle sucked in a sharp breath as his head hung over.

“Kyle!” I screamed, but Blake didn't stop there.

He pushed him back and landed a roundhouse kick to his jaw, sending him falling freely to the mat.

I tried to get to his side but Blake was already in him in seconds, raising his fist for another blow before—

“Enough!”

A figure stood behind Blake in seconds, and I looked up to find Kendrick, storming through.

How glad was I to see him.

He grabbed Blake's fist, pulling him back sharply before that final hit could land.

Blake resisted for half a second. Then stopped.

But the tension in him didn’t go away.

Kendrick’s grip tightened slightly as he looked between all three of us.

“What the hell is going on here?!” He demanded.

Silence stayed as no one answered.

Kyle struggled to push himself up slowly, breathing hard and clearly in pain but trying not to show it.

Blake said nothing, and I didn’t even look at him.

Kendrick’s gaze shifted to me.

“You,” he said. “Explain.”

I stepped forward immediately. “He started it—”

“Didn’t ask for commentary,” Kendrick cut in sharply. “I asked what happened.”

My jaw tightened. “We were sparring. It got out of hand.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Out of hand?”

“It was just over-competition,” I added quickly.

He didn’t look convinced.

“Is that what you call this?” He asked, gesturing slightly between Blake and Kyle.

“They were the ones—” I started again, frustration rising. “He hit me first—Kyle just stepped in—”

“Enough.”

The word shut me up instantly.

Then Kendrick let out a slow breath, looking over us with a hard gaze now.

“All three of you,” he said. “Follow me.”

“That’s not fair,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “We didn’t—”

“I said follow me.”

Something in his tone made it clear this wasn’t up for debate.

I clenched my jaw but didn’t argue again.

Instead, I turned quickly to Kyle, crouching slightly beside him.

“Are you okay?” I asked, reaching for him.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, brushing my hand off as he forced himself up.

“You’re not—”

“I said I’m fine.”

He straightened, wincing slightly but masking it quickly, refusing to look weak.

I swallowed my frustration and stepped back, letting him walk on his own.

But I stayed close. Just in case.

We followed Kendrick in silence with Blake walking ahead.

He didn’t look back for once, didn’t say a word since.

And I couldn’t stop staring at him as anger burned hot in my chest.

At him.

At myself.

At everything.

We reached the office not long after, and Kendrick turned to face us once we were all inside.

His gaze moved between us slowly, carefully.

“Start talking,” he said.

But no one did.

Blake didn't look like he would say anything.

So I stepped in.

“We were sparring,” I said again, keeping my voice steady. “It got competitive.”

Kendrick’s eyes stayed on mine. “Competitiveness doesn’t look like that.”

I hesitated slightly.

Then shrugged. “It escalated.”

“How?”

I exhaled slowly. “Tension.”

“What kind of tension?”

I didn’t answer immediately, cause I knew exactly what kind. And I wasn’t about to say it.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said instead.

Kendrick studied me for a moment. Then nodded slightly.

“Here’s what matters,” he said. “You broke protocol.”

My jaw tightened again.

“All three of you,” he added.

“That’s not fair,” I said immediately. “Kyle stepped in because—”

“Because he chose to,” Kendrick cut in. “Just like you chose to escalate a common sparring practice. Just like he chose to engage.”

My hands clenched slightly. “We were the ones being—”

“I don’t care,” he said flatly and that shut me up.

“This isn’t about who started it,” he continued. “It’s about control. And none of you showed any.”

That word again, what is it about control?

“Dismissed,” he said finally. “But this isn’t over.”

I didn’t wait, I turned immediately, moving toward Kyle again as we stepped out.

“This is bullshit,” I muttered under my breath as we walked and Kyle didn’t respond.

I glanced at him. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Still nothing.

“I mean it,” I added. “You could’ve gotten seriously hurt.”

“I said I’m fine,” he replied shortly.

“You’re clearly not—”

“I’m fine, Myla.”

His tone made me stop pushing. But it didn’t stop the guilt.

I sighed quietly and adjusted my pace to match his as we headed towards the infirmary.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I repeated softer this time and he didn’t answer.

But he didn’t walk away either.

By the time we got there, I grabbed what I needed and guided him to sit.

“Stay still,” I said, focusing as I started cleaning up the visible injuries.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered.

“It’s not nothing,” I said.

“It’ll heal.”

I exhaled softly. “Still.”

Silence settled between us as I worked carefully, cleaning him up.

“You should rest,” I said after a moment and j nodded slightly.

“I’ll be fine,” he added.

I hesitated. Then nodded too.

But as I stepped back, watching him settle down, that feeling came back.

I couldn’t just leave it like this. I couldn’t let this go.

Not when he got dragged into something that wasn’t even his fault.

Not when Blake—

My jaw tightened.

No. This isn’t over just yet.