xaden had always been fiercely protective of all of his friends. hell, he even was overprotective of people he did not deem friends. if they were put under his watch, they were his.

he knew from the first day that you were one of those people.

it was hard to forget crossing the parapet. his memories of the wind howling around him and the threat of those crossing behind him were vivid. he remembered you clearest of all. how you had been sure footed in front of him. how your eyes had narrowed when you had turned to look at him over your shoulder.

how him reading your intentions had been his warning to the man behind him readying to kill them both.

he had shoved the man over. but he knew you had been the one to save the both of you, even if you had no idea.

ever since then he had grown close with you. you were competent, to start. he liked that you seemed to not mind his secrets and silence. it was the only reason the two of you had remained friends.

at least, he had convinced himself that was all it was. he refused to let his heart skip when you met his gaze across the classroom. he definitely ignored the way his shadows seemed to move to protect you on their own.

all of his self control vanished the moment he watched your opponent palm a dagger. your yelp of pain did it in.

he had crossed the mat before he’d even realized what he’d done. yet the person you’d been fighting had been thrown back.

“how bad is it?” he asked, turning his onyx eyes onto you. his voice was deceptively calm. even his face didn’t give away the storm of emotions he was feeling.