Thunder rolled again, louder now, shaking the windows as Cassian and Anabeth hurried through the dim stairwell. The hallway lights flickered above them, their shadows stretching long across the walls.
"Cassian," she whispered, breath unsteady, "that person… they were inside the building."
"I know." His voice was tight. Controlled. But underneath, she heard something that made her pulse quicken.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
They stepped out into the empty south corridor. Rain battered the roof above them like thousands of tiny drums.
Cassian scanned the hallway. "Come on. We're heading to the eastern gate. Rafael's men will meet us there."
Anabeth stopped.
"Rafael's coming?"
"He's already on his way," Cassian said. "He didn't like the way you sounded on the phone yesterday. And after what happened today—"
He didn't finish. He didn't have to.
She tried to steady her breathing. "Cassian… what if this person actually wants to hurt me?"
He turned to face her fully, stepping closer, lowering his voice.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
The words vibrated between them like a warning and a promise.
Her heart throbbed. "I know. But you're just one person—"
"I'm enough," he murmured.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
But then—
Footsteps.
Echoing. Slow. Heavy. Coming from the far end of the corridor.
Cassian's hand shot out, grabbing Anabeth's wrist gently but urgently. "Stay behind me."
Her breath hitched as she pressed into his back, feeling the tension in his body as he reached into his jacket—prepared to draw a weapon if he needed to.
But the footsteps grew softer…
…then stopped completely.
Cassian narrowed his eyes. "He's toying with us."
He took her hand firmly. "Let's go. Now."
They moved quickly, shadows sliding over them as they crossed toward the courtyard exit. Rain splashed through the broken gutter above, drenching the entrance in silver streams.
Cassian pushed the door open—
And a group of figures stepped out from the trees.
Anabeth gasped and stumbled back, but Cassian stayed in front of her, widening his stance. His voice dropped into a low, lethal command.
"Identify yourselves."
Silence.
The figures approached—
rain dripping from their hoods—
faces hidden.
Cassian slid a hand toward the weapon on his belt—
When suddenly one of the figures raised their hand.
A familiar voice cut through the storm.
"Stand down, Cassian."
Anabeth froze.
Cassian stiffened.
The figures lowered their hoods.
And Rafael stepped out into the open.
---
Lightning cracked across the campus sky, illuminating him in harsh white light.
Rafael De Luca.
Powerful.
Unshaken.
Eyes burning with a storm of his own.
He wore a dark coat, rain rolling off the heavy fabric. The men around him fanned out instantly, forming a protective perimeter.
Rafael's gaze went straight to Anabeth.
But when he saw Cassian's hand lightly touching her waist—protective, close—Rafael's jaw clenched.
"Are you alright?" Rafael asked her, voice low, controlled.
"I… yes. I think so."
His eyes flicked to Cassian.
Something dangerous passed between them.
"Explain," Rafael said sharply.
Cassian stepped forward. "Someone was inside the building following her."
"Describe him."
"I didn't get close enough. He knew our movements. He vanished before I could intercept."
Rafael exhaled slowly, not with relief—
but fury.
He approached Anabeth, hand reaching up to brush her cheek with surprising gentleness.
"You're shaking," he whispered.
"I just… it felt like he was watching me the whole time."
Rafael's eyes darkened. "Then I'll find him."
She swallowed. "And then what?"
His voice was almost too soft.
"Then he disappears."
Cassian looked away, jaw tight.
Rafael noticed.
Their tension cracked like a spark in the storm.
"You've been close to her today," Rafael said quietly to Cassian.
Cassian didn't flinch. "You told me to protect her."
"Protect," Rafael repeated. "Not hold her."
The air between them thickened.
"Rafael, stop," Anabeth said quickly. "Cassian didn't do anything wrong."
Rafael's attention snapped back to her, and that tiny flare of jealousy softened.
He stepped closer.
"Anabeth," he murmured, brushing a wet lock of hair from her face. "You're trembling."
"I'm just cold," she whispered.
He placed his coat around her shoulders, pulling it snug against her. The gesture was warm, intimate—and Cassian looked away again.
Rafael gently touched her chin.
"I'm taking you somewhere safe."
She blinked. "Where?"
He hesitated. "My place."
Her breath caught.
Cassian's head turned instantly.
"Is that wise?" Cassian asked.
Rafael gave him a slow, dangerous look. "Do you think I would ever let her out of my sight again after what happened today?"
Cassian didn't respond.
Because they both knew the truth.
He didn't want her out of his sight either.
---
Rafael placed a hand on Anabeth's back. "Come with me."
Cassian stepped forward slightly. "I'll join you."
Rafael stiffened. "No."
Cassian stared him down. "With respect, boss… if she's going with you, I'm not staying behind."
Rafael's eyes flashed.
Rain poured harder, the storm swallowing the rest of the campus in sound.
Two men.
One woman.
Both trying to protect her.
Both pulled toward her in ways they tried to hide.
Both too proud to admit they were already rivals.
And Anabeth stood between them, heart racing, torn between the safety Rafael offered…
…and the burning connection Cassian awakened.
Rafael stepped close to her, voice deep.
"I'm taking you home."
Cassian spoke from behind her, voice steadier but just as intense.
"And I'm not leaving your side."
She inhaled sharply.
Because in that moment, she realized—
This wasn't just protection.
This was the beginning of a storm that none of them were ready for.