"We?" He repeated, his tone low and dangerous. "I am a son of a witch myself. Does that mean you are not fond of me? Are you a threat miss?"

"To me?"

Her eyes widen in shock as his narrowed on hers. Though he could feel her fear growing, he could not help but feel insulted. She was so pretty to him and yet so irritating now.

"Ezra!" a voice said, a hand on his shoulder. "She helped us, and you too. Please you're scaring her!"

Ezra looked up and noticed Terrance, his face calmer. He looked over and noticed Tati was resting against a tree, her smile slight but her eyes tired. It seemed that she was coming in and out of consciousness.

"How is she?" He asked. Terrance smiled, "better, but she comes in and out of it. She's exhausted. She smiles but hasn't been able to speak a word. She tried but it hurt her. Rei here gave her a first aid spell and gave me some herbs that really helped and went over to you as I went to scout the area. She tried to help you but said she could only minimize the effects."

Ezra looked back at the girl under him, he released her hand and then lifted his torn shirt to notice runes. He could see their mark in red and he clicked his tongue. He looked back at the girl and gave her an embarrassed boyish smile, "Sorry about that.  Thanks for helping me and my friends miss."

The girl relaxed under him and nodded. As he got up, he helped her up. Terrance smiled and dismissed himself to keep an eye on Tati.

As she stood next to him, Ezra could not help but have questions running through his head. She was tall, almost reaching him. Her complexion was beautiful in the moonlight, he could not help but steal glances that he felt her return. Her eyes were like the yellow moonlight. He finally turned to her.

"I-im sorry if I hurt you. I am not trained to be gentle when restraining, strength control is my worst habit." He whispered. She smiled, "I didn't expect you to move like that, or wake up... judging by your wounds. Oh, and by the way, your right wrist is broken ."

He laughed at her analysis. He figured that was the case, he hadn't been able to move it since.

"Would you like to wait with us?" Ezra offered. He immediately regretted it. What did he even mean? Wait with us? He did not have anything to offer her. He had literally taken her down a few minutes ago.

"Sure, I am Rei. Like a ray of moonlight... just spelled R-e-i."

Ezra smiled, that was exactly what she felt to him.

"Are you ashamed to be a witch? Do you hate them even when you are one?" he asked softly. The girl stayed quiet before sighing.

"Do you know of the placing ceremony everyone goes through when you are younger?" Ezra nodded.

"Well, I was born in Xion, the country or territory to the south. We get placed at birth, age of 7, and age of 12 for confirmation of status. Here I know it's only the age of 7 and then 12 right?" Ezra nodded.

"At birth, I was labeled as a magic potential (MP) when I was placed on the placement stones. At 7 I was re-assigned to half-blood since I was unable to either change the fire color or light more than 5 out of the 12 fireplaces. Then we moved here."

"Magic potential at birth? Me too." Ezra said with a smile. "Though we only get placed at 7 and at 12... my mom's family placed me secretly when I was born in their homeland. But we never told anyone. They are witches... well prefer mages."

She smiled, "I went through placement again here at 12... I ended up with the same results. I was secretly really bitter about it. I thought I would be able to light up at least 6 fires... because I was able to perform super low-level spells but half-bloods can't. I thought I would be placed somewhere else but nope.

On the bright side, Ever Green has a lot of dislike of mages... witches in general so my family said it was the best result. Here they really don't like mages or anyone that can say incantations or spells. So, I stay quiet about it and so does my family. Mages are sort of hated here... even the ones that are related to them so... I thought that you..."

Ezra gave her a concerned stare that was turning cross as she was finishing her words. She knew then that talking about hatred of witches was not the way to go with him. At least he was easy to read, though it seemed that he did not even notice his own subconscious reactions.

"As I said earlier... my mom was a witch and so is my mom's family, do you hate me like it seems everyone hates them here?" Ezra said and she froze at his words.

"But you're a shifter aren't you? I thought that it isn't allowed. Witches and shifters getting married?" she asked confused.

"She was my dad's mate... so it was allowed by her covenant. She also died when I was born as it seems is expected and why it rarely happens... my family also did not think my mom would conceive since it's rare too... but it happened. I'm something uncommon, and everyone likes to remind me..." he trailed off trying to stop talking.

She gave him a sad look he knew too well when he brought it up. Her eyes then shifted to the trees.

"I love my mom's family; it's why I like witches. You're the first I've met outside my family; it makes me like you too so I hope you don't hate me or regret helping us. I would like to thank you for—

The way he spoke was so sincere and vulnerable. She could not help but feel guilty for insulting him earlier.

She started waving her hands in front of herself, "I think I'm giving you the wrong idea of myself! I don't hate witches!"

He smiled at her, his eye closing, and laughed, "Great! Cus I would love to see—

"S-stop. Wait." She whispered raising a hand to her lips. Her other hand instinctively went to cover his mouth as she stepped closer to him. Ezra gave her a look as she looked around.

"I hear someone coming. And Ever Green residents, would not be kind to you if they hear us. They are getting closer." She said nervously. Ezra on the other hand could feel the heat on her hand and could not help but look into her eyes. They were so kind so—

"Are you Ezra? You must be!" A voice cut in. Rei jumped removing her hand to look behind her. The man was a bit shorter than Emir, he had silver dreadlocks and a warm smile.

"I am our Regent's Sigma. My name is Efren. I brought aid and you will be going back home." He said warmly. Ezra nodded and saw two men with medical bands on their arms.

"How will we?" Ezra asked. Efren pointed to Terrance and Tatyana, "She will be teleported back to Rosewood with them after checking her vitals. You two will walk home with me."

Before Ezra could say anything smart, Terrance was at his side thanking them and ushering them to Tati. Before leaving, Ezra looked at the girl in front of him. He wanted to talk to her more, see her again.

"How can I thank you? For helping us?" He asked, hoping that she would request something of him, something, anything so that he could see her again.

"No need really, I am happy I was able to help." She said reluctantly. Rude. He had to try again.

"How about I see you next Saturday... same place, maybe 8 PM? I could help pick some herbs for the ones we used?" He offered. Ezra could feel his heartbeat pick up, hoping she would agree.

"Sure." She said with a shy smile. As she spoke with him and planned their next meeting, he could feel his eyes travel over her, hoping to brand her features and her voice to his memory.

****

The interaction stayed with Ezra the whole time he walked home with Terrance and Efren.

"Wow, you're healing already after those herbs? Even after the seal? I'm impressed, kid." Efren commented.

"I still have a broken hand," Ezra responded irritated.

"Your Denizen Ceremony is tomorrow, by then the Native Tribes will be filled in on this event. Tensions may arise. I suggest you tell your father, not that he won't ask or find out." Efren said amused.

"I'll make sure to report it," Ezra said waving his good left hand. Suddenly there was a pause and Ezra felt a tug as his hand was grabbed. It was not painful but it had been so swift and firm that he had not even sensed it.

"Interesting ring Ezra. Both of you have the same color bands... different than the ones that are commonly given as shifter rings. But yours is even more interesting Ezra, you have three tiny stones. Tell me how do you know a Hecate?" he asked as they stopped moving.

"A H-Hecate?" Ezra repeated confused. Efren smiled.

"They are powerful and can be dangerous. But I don't see how an omega from a newly established Denizen tribe would have access to one... You must have a close relationship to a covenant if they would waste their time crafting a shifter ring. Could it was it a gift from your Akaz extended family? Only Regent families have such easy access to a Hecate." Efren finished curious. Though his tone held a smile, Ezra could feel the hint of danger in it.

"I still don't know what you mean by access to a Hecate." Ezra said confused and he tried to gently pull his hand away, which Efren did not allow. It seemed that the air had gotten tenser.

"A Hecate consists of a maiden, mother, and crone from a covenant. Different female mages in those three stages of life. There is a male equivalent, but... they are very dangerous."

Ezra sighed and shrugged cutting him off. "My mother was a witch. It was a gift from her family after my first shift. So, I did not need to get one from Rosewood."

Efren raised an eyebrow at his words. "In Rosewood? Must have been hard to make friends when you were younger and placed at the age of 7 as a MP... with no clear placement of witch or shifter and your lineage. They have a fear of mages."

"Well, I managed to make two friends... not that your Regent cared. I mean he almost ended them today right? Are you going to try to finish Terrance off?" Ezra asked boldly.

"No?" Ezra asked when Efren did not answer or move.

"Ezra." Terrance warned, but Ezra did not apologize. He swiftly pulled his hand away.

"Knowing them, I know they will soon be blessing everyone with their presence soon," he muttered with a sigh as he continued walking.

That was something Ezra was sure of, ever since he got the ring, it was like they could sense if he ever got gravely hurt. If anything they were probably already following protocol and would soon be in town, he just hoped he could tell his father before they gave him notice.

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