Page 79 of The Blackened Blade

“Why don’t you all calm down? There's no need for all of this. Whatever happened, just put it behind you.” Ezra’s turquoise eyes flicker back to me and then toward Xander, a small grin on his lips that don't quite meet his eyes as he looks at him.

“What's it got to do with you?” Scowls Xander.

Ezra smiles playfully, but he clenches his fist beside me tightly, before quickly releasing it again.

“Well, I’m also a part of this class,” he shrugs, “And you're disrupting the atmosphere. It's so sombre and dark now.” He glances around the class, the room silent, and mood bleak.“That and…” He flickers his gaze to me, our eyes briefly meeting in a soft glance, before he turns away again. “Five against one isn’t exactly fair. Especially when four of them are guys…and againstonegirl.”

Kane scoffs. “As if we were going to do anything–”

“If that's how you normally act, then maybe I should give you a few lessons on how you shouldproperlytreat a girl,” Chides Ezra playfully, “Cause getting into her face, or threatening her, isn’t it.” He smiles, meeting each of their gazes one by one.

“We weren’t–” Anders starts before Seria gently pushes her way beside Xander. Her eyes quickly flicker down Ezra’s front before focusing fully on his face. A slight blush coats her cheeks the longer she stares, a glint forming in her eyes as her smile gently widens.

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Micai is my sister, and the boys are my partners. They’re just very protective.” She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear as Ezra’s smile grows tight, his knuckles going white the longer she stares at him.

“A misunderstanding?” He gives me a slight glance before turning his gaze to Xander, the large dickhead still scowling. “It didn’t look that way.”

Xander scoffs. “You don’t know her or any of us. So why even get involved?”

He glances back at me before his scowl twists into a sneer.

“Or are you trying to be some white knight?” He turns back toward Ezra, his gaze bold and mocking as he continues, flickering between us.

“Well let me warn you. Micai’s no damsel. She's the demon lurking in the shadows, and my suggestion would be to run before she tries to get her claws in you. She likes to pretend to be good, but there's nothinggoodabout some weak, bitter–”

Knox yanks Xanders shoulder, making him stumble back slightly and cutting him off.

The look they share is hard and cutting, the room falling pin-drop silent with their darkening expressions and stand-off.

Knox opens his mouth but before he can speak, Seria slides in between him and Xander, placing her hands on each of their chests and sweetly calling their names. They both turn to her, Xanders gaze softening instantly and Knox’s dark expression lightly seeping from him.

They both give her a small nod as I turn away.

Stopping before I head back to my seat, I turn back and whisper my thanks to Ezra.

He may have done it for the class or the atmosphere. But for whatever the reason, he had tried to help me. And that doesn’t happen often to me.

He turns toward me, ignoring the annoying hallmark scene playing out behind us, and gives me a small nod and smile.

Just as I’m making my way over to my seat, I hear my name. Her voice is affectionate and soft as she calls me. “Micai?”

I ignore it and take my seat.

Just as I hear my name again, Mrs. Fleur bursts into the room. She’s holding a large unsteady stack of sheets in her hand as she rushes over to her desk to put them down. A large grin plays on her lips as she makes it there without them tumbling over.

Ezra takes his usual seat in front of me. He sits down glancing at the rest of the class briefly, all whispering and glaring at me as Seria and the rest take their seats together.

He turns back toward me, his eyes bearing a hint of sympathy.

“You okay?” He whispers.

I meet his turquoise eyes that are flecked with lilac swirls, the colours always dazzling and bright. The gaze he gives me seems sincere enough, so I nod.

“Always.” I mutter.

An unreadable look flickers across his features as a small smile spreads across his lips.

He leans slightly closer to me, his scent surrounding me as he whispers.

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