Page 29 of The Blackened Blade

Ivy freezes, silence falling around her, with only the fourth year's nearest me murmuring and whispering.

“What was that–” Ivy begins to stand up straight again before quickly being cut off.

“Your voice is grating on everyone's ears, Ivy.” A girl to the back of the second year area calls. Her tone is sharp and cutting as she flips her long silky black hair over her shoulder, while the two large boys beside her narrow their eyes at Ivy's group.

“Why don't you keep the drama for another day, and not give the rest of us a headache?” She raises a brow, giving Ivy and her entourage a pointed look.

Ivy scoffs, opening her mouth before flitting her eyes around the room, with most of the class turning away from her gaze. Her face slightly scrunches up, her mouth closing quickly as her lips pinch together.

She turns away, not even glancing back at the raven haired girl as she quickly takes her seat. Then she begins chatting to the boys and two girls beside her as if nothing happened. The only indication of her annoyance being the red tinge tinting her cheeks and the slight tick to her jaw.

I turn back toward the front of the class, a few more chuckles ringing out on the other side of the room, before a grunt follows, cutting it off.

My brows raise in surprise as I meet the two sets of eyes whose laughs are being suppressed. Knox rubs his side while Anders rubs his head, as Xanders and Kane stand next to them scowling.

“It was funny though.” Mutters Anders before he turns away.

Knox flickers his gaze to the floor before turning his eyes back toward Seria. Her gaze is slightly darker, her smile tight as she stares toward me.

I feel another cold gaze on me from beside her, and am soon met by Xanders blue eyes glaring me down.

A small hand tugs at his side, pulling his attention back to her. A look of pure adoration and love fills them again quickly as he gazes at her.

Something pulls at me, an ache building in my chest. But not from watching them, not from any want of affection oftheirs.

I had a taste of true love once. And even behind a cement walk, with a gravelly voice, I knew it was real.

It blew everything I ever felt before away, completing me in ways I never thought possible. It wrapped itself around the lonely child within me and warmed the parts of my soul that had become cold and stiff. It pushed me to survive and fight on days when all I wanted was to give up. It gave me hope when there was none, and comfort when all I could feel was pain.

A small shaky smile stretches my lips, an ache beginning to build larger in my chest before I shake my head and will it away.Now was not the time.

I feel a cold chill on my neck, turning to meet Kanes narrowed gaze.

What was wrong with him now, did I breathe too much and suck up some of Seria’s private oxygen?

He was always the stubborn, grumpy one, and stupidly I used to think that was cute. His now permanently scowling face just looked like he had swallowed a bag of bitter dicks.

Was that a wolf shifter thing, or did he reserve that expression just for me?

I raise my hand in a wave, his eyes further narrowing on it before I swiftly twist it around, giving him the middle finger and my best smile.

His eyes widen, but before he can properly react, Mrs. Fleur scurries into the classroom.

She's wearing a floral pastel dress, her long blond hair is tangled messily into a bun on her head, with her small hands clutching a large bundle of papers.

She makes it to the desk, just as the bundle topples.

She grabs the papers trying to slide off her table in one quick move, a large smile stretching her lips with the swift save.

“Hello students,” she smiles, nodding to standing students to take their seats.

“Apologies for my tardiness, I was making some print-outs for everyone for the lesson.” She takes a large pile of sheets and begins handing them out to each student.“As you all know from our last lesson. You all will have regular assessments throughout the year in Music class, but your solo singing assessments will be held in this group class on Mondays.” She gives me a small nod as she hands me a sheet, then heads to the front of the class.“We’ll be starting these solo assessments next week at the end of each class, and will do two at a time.” Her following smile is bright and enthusiastic as she continues. “We’ll go in alphabetical order to make it fair, and you can even choose your own song.”

She gives everyone a large smile as if she's holding in a squeal and bounces enthusiastically to her seat.

My frustration grew as the rest of the class began to whisper excitedly.

She hushes them and begins the lesson, as my irritation reaches its peak.

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