The air in the royal dorm was thick with tension, as if the walls themselves knew danger was closing in. After the guard's warning, no one spoke for a long moment. The gravity of the situation hung over them like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Evie sat curled up on the couch, clutching a blanket around her shoulders. The warmth she had felt just moments ago from their confession was now overshadowed by cold dread.

"How the hell did he escape?" Seth finally broke the silence, pacing the room like a caged animal. His usual carefree energy was nowhere to be seen—his hands were clenched into fists, his jaw tight.

"We don't know," Rowan said, his voice flat but laced with fury. "But he had to have had help."

Duke leaned against the wall, rubbing a hand down his face. "The cells in the academy are reinforced with magic. No ordinary person could just walk out."

Evie swallowed hard. "Then that means..." She hesitated, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket. "That means someone inside the academy helped him."

Her words made everyone stiffen.

Sol's usually composed demeanor cracked slightly, his golden eyes flashing. "A traitor." His voice was low, dangerous.

Seth scoffed. "Great. As if things weren't already complicated enough."

Duke turned to Evie, his expression serious. "Until we figure out who it was and where Alaric went, you're not leaving our sight."

"Not even for a second," Rowan added.

Evie blinked at them. "But—"

"No buts," Seth cut her off, flopping onto the couch beside her and pulling her into his side. "You're ours, remember? And we're not taking any risks."

Evie's heart thudded in her chest. She had barely adjusted to the idea of having all of them, and now this?

"I don't want to be a burden," she murmured, guilt creeping in.

Sol crouched in front of her, his large hands covering hers. "Evie, listen to me. You're not a burden. You're everything to us." His voice was calm, grounding. "And we're going to keep you safe. No matter what it takes."

She looked at each of them—Rowan with his silent intensity, Duke with his quiet protectiveness, Seth with his fierce loyalty, and Sol with his unwavering support.

They weren't just saying this. They meant it.

"Okay," she whispered. "I trust you."

They all visibly relaxed at her words, but the tension in the air remained.

Rowan stood, his expression unreadable. "I'm going to find out who helped Alaric escape."

"We all are," Duke corrected, standing as well. "We need to alert the headmistress and start searching immediately."

Seth cracked his knuckles. "And when we find them, they will regret it."

Sol sighed. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, we gather information."

Evie nodded, though worry gnawed at her. If Alaric had escaped, that meant he wasn't finished with her.

And that terrified her.

Later That Night The princes insisted she stay in their dorm, not wanting her to be alone even for a second. Evie was too exhausted to argue.

But sleep didn't come easily.

She tossed and turned, her mind replaying the trials, the pain, Alaric's chilling words, and now the fact that he was out there somewhere, waiting.

A soft knock on her door made her jolt upright.

Before she could respond, it opened slightly, and Seth peeked his head in. "Can't sleep?"

She shook her head, sighing. "No."

He smirked. "Me neither." He stepped inside, then hesitated. "Want some company?"

Evie nodded. She didn't trust herself to be alone with her thoughts.

Seth climbed onto the bed beside her, pulling the blanket over them. "We're not letting him get to you, you know," he murmured. "He won't even get close."

Evie turned to face him, their noses almost touching. "You promise?"

Seth's usual cocky expression softened. "Yeah, princess. I promise."

Something about the way he looked at her made Evie's stomach flip. His emerald eyes weren't just teasing or playful like usual. They were serious, intense.

He lifted a hand, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. "I thought I lost you today," he admitted, voice low. "And I swear, I've never been that scared in my life."

Evie's breath caught. She reached up, resting her palm against his cheek, mirroring the way he had comforted her so many times before. "I'm here," she whispered. "I'm okay."

Seth exhaled sharply, as if hearing her say it finally eased something in him.

And then, before she could overthink it, before either of them could pull away, he kissed her.

It was soft at first, hesitant, as if waiting for her to pull away. But Evie didn't. She melted into it, into him, her fingers tightening against his cheek as she kissed him back.

Seth let out a low groan, deepening the kiss for just a moment before he forced himself to pull back. His forehead rested against hers, his breathing unsteady.

"Shit," he murmured, chuckling slightly. "I was trying to be the patient one here."

Evie's lips tingled, her heart racing. "Who said I wanted you to be patient?" she teased, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seth grinned, pressing another kiss to her forehead before pulling her tightly into his arms. "You're dangerous, princess," he murmured against her hair.

She smiled into his chest, finally feeling warmth again after the darkness of the past few days.

Whatever storm was coming, they would face it. Together.