Evie curled her knees to her chest, trembling as the cold air wrapped around her like a second skin. The deeper parts of the forest carried a stillness that made her uneasy, shadows shifting like unseen eyes watching her. Her breathing was uneven, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

She had run, hoping to escape the pain in her chest, but now that she was alone, the fear crept in.

Did I make a mistake?

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her dress. No... It was better this way. They didn't need her causing trouble. Rowan had made it clear—she was just a responsibility to them.

But then why did it hurt so much?

The crunch of leaves startled her. Her head snapped up, heart pounding.

Something's out there. ______________________________ Princes POV

The forest was vast, filled with endless paths and darkened trails, but none of them would stop until they found her.

Seth's air magic pulsed outward, searching for even the faintest trace of her scent. His golden eyes burned with frustration.

Sunshine, where are you?

Duke's hands curled into fists as his ocean-blue gaze scanned every shadow. "She could be hurt," he muttered, barely able to contain the worry in his voice.

Sol's face was set in grim determination, his earth magic reaching through the ground, searching for any sign of her presence. His usually calm demeanor was slipping, panic evident in the tightness of his jaw.

And Rowan—Rowan was silent. But inside, the guilt was suffocating. This is my fault. His crimson eyes were fierce as he moved through the trees, desperate to find her.

Then—

Seth's head jerked up. "I felt her magic flare."

No hesitation. They all ran. ______________________________ Third person POV

A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the stillness.

Evie's breath hitched. She turned sharply, heart hammering in her chest. Glowing red eyes burned through the darkness, piercing her with an unholy hunger.

Her body locked in place. Fear rooted her to the spot.

Then it moved.

A blur of shadows, sleek fur rippling like liquid night. Claws scraping against the ground. It was huge—larger than any creature she had ever seen, its muscled form shifting unnaturally.

It lunged.

Evie barely had time to scream.

A primal instinct kicked in—something deep within her that she had never known existed. She flung up her hands, but before she could even comprehend what she was doing, something inside her snapped.

The air around her erupted.

A brilliant, blinding light surged from her palms, crackling with power. Wind howled, whipping around her in violent spirals. The ground trembled beneath her feet as a shimmering force blasted from her body, slamming into the beast mid-leap.

It yelped, crashing against a tree with a sickening crack.

Evie staggered, her vision blurring. The energy—the raw, untamed magic—was leaving her as quickly as it had come. Her knees buckled. The world tilted dangerously.

Too much...

Her head swam, her body trembling violently as the power drained from her veins.

The beast growled again, shaking itself off. It was injured but not defeated. Its red eyes locked onto her, filled with rage.

Evie tried to lift her hands, to summon the magic again. But her arms felt like lead. Her vision darkened at the edges.

She was too weak.

The beast roared, ready to strike—

And then—

A golden blur crashed into it, a powerful gust of wind following like a storm's wrath.

"Evie!"

Seth. ______________________________ Before she could collapse, strong arms wrapped around her.

"Damn it, Sunshine," Seth's voice was strained, shaking. His hands grasped her shoulders, pulling her into him. "You used magic?! Evie, it could have backfired on you. You are still yet to learn the control over it." His forehead pressed against hers for a brief moment, his breath ragged. "You could've—damn it."

"H-he could have k-killed m-me Seth"Evie let out a stammered response with teary eyes.

Duke was suddenly beside her, his ocean-blue eyes wide with concern. His hands were gentle as he cupped her face. "Evie... Little Wave, look at me." His thumbs brushed her cheeks, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're burning up." His jaw clenched, his worry barely contained.

Sol knelt in front of her, his hands steady but his usually calm face tight with fear. "Easy, Blossom. Breathe." His voice was low and soothing, but his grip on her wrist was firm, as if making sure she was still real, still here.

And then there was Rowan.

He was shaking. Not from cold, not from exhaustion, but from barely contained fury. His crimson eyes burned as he stormed toward her, his jaw locked, fists clenched.

"What the hell were you thinking?" His voice was sharp, cutting.

Evie flinched.A deep growl was heard -surprisingly from Sol. His eyes were blazing in darkness, even if he tried not to show , the beast in him was taking control of him.

"Sparks," Rowan exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. His expression twisted into something unreadable—anger, relief, something deeper. "You shouldn't have been out here alone." His voice had softened, but it was raw, thick with emotion.

She wanted to speak, to explain, but her body swayed in Seth's arm, the exhaustion catching up to her.

Seth caught her instantly, holding her upright. "We need to get her back. Now." ______________________________ Later, after they had carried her back to a clearing, Evie sat wrapped in Sol's jacket, leaning against Duke as she tried to regain her strength.

"I didn't know I could do that," she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Sol crouched in front of her, studying her closely. "Your powers are waking up," he said, his tone serious. "But this forest... it's dangerous at night."

"Why?"

A heavy silence followed.

Then Sol spoke, his voice low. "There's a prophecy," he admitted. "An ancient one tied to Redblood Academy and this forest. It speaks of a force that can either save or destroy realms... A force connected to all of the four elements.Force connected to someone who doesn't yet know their true power." His eyes were trained on Evie

Evie's stomach twisted. "You think that's... me?"

Rowan scoffed but looked away. Seth elbowed him. "Evie, whether you believe it or not, you're important. To this place. To us."

Sol sighed. "Creatures are drawn to strong auras. That beast—it attacked because it sensed your power flaring."

Guilt twisted inside her. "So it was my fault."

Duke's grip on her hand tightened. "No. Don't do that." His blue eyes darkened. "You defended yourself. That's not something to blame yourself for."

Seth exhaled, running a hand through his golden hair. "Look, Sunshine. We're not leaving you alone again. Got it?"

Evie swallowed. "Got it."

________________________________________________________ Later, when Evie had fallen asleep between them, the princes sat in silence.

"She could've died," Rowan muttered, his fingers digging into his palms. His usual cocky demeanor was gone, replaced by something raw, something unguarded.

"But she didn't," Duke countered, though his voice lacked its usual steadiness. "Because she fought."

"That's the point!" Rowan snapped. "She shouldn't have had to." His voice cracked. He exhaled sharply, looking away. "She shouldn't have been alone."

Seth sighed, rubbing his temples. "I get it, man. We all screwed up."

Sol's gaze was distant, his fingers brushing through Evie's hair absently. "She's strong... but she doesn't know how to control it." His jaw tightened. "She needs us."

"And we're supposed to help," Seth said quietly.

Rowan let out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah? And what if we can't?" His eyes flickered toward Evie, sleeping peacefully. "What if we fail her?"

Duke's expression hardened. "Then we don't."

Seth nodded. "We protect her. Always."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Then Rowan exhaled, staring at Evie. "Damn it," he muttered. "She matters."

And they all knew, deep down, that there was no turning back. _____________________________

Heyya guys . What more would you like to see in the story next???