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Chapter 100
~Spring’s POV~
Jade stirred within when she felt them co close, but as much as I wanted to jubilate, I wasn’t in the mood for such.
Their steps were unhurried, but their presence made the walls feel too small, and the air beca too thick. Students along the corridor lted to the sides without a word.
Lucien swallowed hard.
Storm’s eyes locked on mine first, then slowly shifted to Lucien.
"What did he say to you?" Storm asked in a sowhat gentle voice, but the flas in his eyes told a different story.
However, there was nothing gentle in the aura pouring off him—nothing soft in the fire behind his gaze.
He was only being careful for , for my sake.
I didn’t answer and gave him a subtle smile, then Jace stepped forward next, cracking his knuckles lazily. "Let guess. Sothing degrading. Sothing that deserves a dislocated jaw?"
Kael didn’t speak. He just walked up beside Lucien and tilted his head slightly, as if trying to rember whether he’d stepped on sothing as irrelevant before.
Tyrion smiled coldly, a charming smile that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. "You really thought you could insult her and walk away without consequence?"
Lucien tried to puff up again, but his voice ca out uneven. "She—she hit first—"
"And we’ll finish what she started," Storm growled. "But not here or now."
Jace chuckled darkly. "No, not where she can see. Spring doesn’t need to watch trash get cleaned off the floor."
I turned slightly, ready to tell them to stop—but Kael cut off with a glance.
"You’ve fought enough battles," he said. "Let us handle this one."
Lucien took another step back. His face was pale now, sweat gathering near his temple.
Storm leaned closer, just enough for Lucien to hear. "Say her na again like that. Just once. I dare you, and I’ll forget you are her mate."
Lucien didn’t speak. He didn’t dare to go against them.
"Pathetic," I finally muttered, looking him in the eye one last ti. "You were never like them. You never even tried to be."
Lucien winced, that insult cutting deeper than my punch had.
Storm turned to , offering a hand. I took it without hesitation.
He didn’t pull close, just walked at my side as we turned away.
The others fell in step, and we left Lucien standing in the middle of the corridor, surrounded by his disgrace.
And that proved I didn’t have to fight anymore or be alone. I finally understood what it ant to be protected, chosen, and loved, even in the face of cruelty.
*****************
That day, when I got ho, everything seed calm. Even after Storm and the others led away, we barely spoke.
They tried to care, but I wasn’t feeling anything. All I wanted was to go ho and have my well-deserved peace.
And I did.
The driver Rhys arranged for ca to pick up before my mates had ti to speak to .
I found out from the butler and maid in Rhys’ house that he would be having the night shift and he wouldn’t be ho until the next day.
He also had a few things to handle that day at the hospital; hence, he couldn’t pick up, nor could he wait for .
I greeted them, headed inside my room to freshen up, and when I was done, there was a text from Rhys.
Rhys: Sorry, I can’t be ho with you. I wanted us to have karaoke night, but I guess that would be another ti.
: It’s fine. I still have to read for my assessnt test tomorrow.
Imdiately, I placed my phone down, and his reply ca. I picked it up and unlocked my phone.
Rhys: Okay, little sis, big bro loves you.
: I know, right?
I knew he wouldn’t be expecting such a reply, but I gave it to him anyway.
As soon as it was sent, I added it.
: Love you too.
As soon as I said that, sothing in blossod in a way that made feel safe, sound and yet happy.
***************
By the next day, the halls of Noxshade Academy had never been this quiet.
The assessnt week was its own kind of curse—whispers replaced laughter, and even the wind outside seed to hush itself in respect for the collective panic in the air.
I had just finished my afternoon test, Chemistry, which honestly felt like an insult to my intelligence at this point.
Because they seed recycled thanks to Spring’s mory and my study.
I was done in fifteen minutes and had spent the remaining ti doodling in the margins of my answer sheet.
After submitting it and stepping outside, the afternoon sun kissed my face as I stretched and yawned.
I needed air and maybe sugar.
I started heading toward the small garden courtyard behind the west wing—the one with the ivy-covered benches and shaded trees. It had beco my thinking space and hiding place.
But as I turned the corner, I nearly collided with soone tall. I blinked up, startled. "Storm?"
He stepped back a little, his hand instinctively reaching to steady by the elbow.
"Didn’t an to spook you," he said softly, as always when it ca to . His eyes swept over once, checking, reading—maybe even morising. "You’re done with your test?"
"Yeah. Just now. What are you doing here?" I tilted my head.
He gave a one-shouldered shrug, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Nothing. Our next assessnt isn’t until thirty minutes from now, and I... I wanted to see you. Figured you might need a break."
My heart did that stupid flutter thing again. "You ca all this way just to see ? Or were you hoping to spy on from a certain window?"
Storm twisted his lips a little. "You already have a record of finishing early. I was hoping to catch a mont with you."
"Is that so?"
Storm didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stepped to the side and gestured. "Walk with ?"
I nodded and fell in step beside him. The path we took curved gently through a garden trail. The roses were still blooming, and the scent of sothing faintly lavender danced in the air.
He was quiet for a mont, then said, "Your scent’s different when you’re tired."
I turned to him, half-smiling. "That’s an odd observation."
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