Page 102 of The Blackened Blade

“As if you can talk. Clearly yoursharingissues are worse than mine.” I flicker my gaze between him and the table we’re all sitting at.

Annex chuckles while Ezra bites back a laugh, his gaze falling on Creed before he schools his grin.

“And, if I’m psychotic…and he’s clearly demented,” I point to Annex. “What does that make the three of you?” I glance toward Mallyn, then Ezra, and finally land on Creed.

Ezra’s grin returns as he points toward Mallyn.

“He’d be the berserker, and I’d be…” He taps his lips, a playful smile spreading on them as he gives a casual shrug, “The loveable romantic?”

Annex chokes on a chuckle, “More likeobsessive.”

Ezra’s smile falters, turning toward Annex as a scoff leaves his lips, “As ifyoucan talk.”

Annex follows Ezra’s gaze as it flickers toward me, a strange expression forming in his eyes before he shrugs and grins. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”

I shake away the unreadable look they’re both giving me and turn back toward Creed, who seems completely bored with their conversation.

“What about him?” I point toward Creed.

“What about me?” Creed calls, his interest now piqued as a small scowl darkens his expression.

“What areyou?”

“What do you think I would be?” A dark amused look spreads in his eyes as the other guys fall silent around us.

“Major Asshole?” I reply, tapping my chin as Annex and Ezra begin to snicker, “Patronising Prince…Harbinger of Glares…” I shrug. “There's plenty more but we only get such a short break to eat.”

Creed's feet drop to the floor as he leans toward my direction, a dark gleam in his eyes. “Patronising Prince?”

I mock gasp, shaking my head before slightly bowing it.“My apologies, my darkLord…how could there be anyone more patronising thanyou.”

After a seconds beat, I lift my head, waiting for the angry glare to split me in two, or rage-filled words to be thrown at me, but freeze instead.

Creed's dark brows are drawn together, but there's no anger in his gaze. His lips slowly tilt up as he slowly pulls back, a slight roll to his eyes as he leans further back in his chair again.

The others break out chuckling around me.

“You look like a deer in headlights, Red.”

Even Mallyn is chuckling.

“What were you expecting?” Laughs Ezra.

“Probably to be split in two.” Grins Annex.

“...Yeah,” I answer, looking back toward Creed. “I wasn’t expectingthat.” I point toward Creed's face. “It's more terrifying.”

Creed’s grin grows wider and more smug with my words as he leans a fraction closer to me.

“Good that you–” Creed's words are cut off by his ringtone.

He looks down at the screen, his brows furrowing before he quickly taps out a response. Then he turns toward the guys, all playfulness now gone from his face as he straightens himself and stands.“We’ve got business to deal with.”

He gives them each a pointed look before turning and heading out of the cafeteria. Mallyn gives me a quick glance before he follows straight after him. Ezra sighs, pulling himself up from his seat.

He gives me a small grin, telling me he’ll ‘Catch me later’, before he joins Creed and Mallyn.

Annex grumbles as he looks after his friends before turning back to me, a small smile spreading on his lips as our eyes meet.

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