-Finn-
I wake up and stretch, my eyes landing on the bags I packed last night. The conversation with Alexia replays in my head, running on a loop that won't shut off. She needs space—from the school, from everything… and especially from my idiot friends.
And honestly? I don't blame her. The girl has just discovered that she possesses not one kind of magic, but two—nature and chaos. Chaos, of all things. Like the universe couldn't resist throwing her into the deep end. Then, on top of that, she learns she's got not one mate, not two, not even three—but four. Four. And of course, one of them is the biggest dumbass I've ever met.
It's no wonder she wanted out. I'd want out, too.
With a sigh, I drag myself out of bed and head into the bathroom. I splash water on my face, trying to clear my head, but it doesn't help. Every thought circles back to her. Her laugh. The way she chews her lip when she's nervous. The way she hides her fear behind that stubborn tilt of her chin. She's probably doing it right now, wherever she is—pretending she's fine when she isn't.
Coffee. That's what I need. For me and for her. Something normal in the middle of this chaos. Maybe if I showed up at her door with her favorite drink, it'd remind her she's not as alone as she thinks.
I shrug on my jacket and head down to the café, order her usual, and grab a black coffee for myself. The barista gives me a look when I'm tapping my foot impatiently, but I don't care. Every second feels too long.
With the cups finally in hand, I head back toward her room, rehearsing lines in my head. Maybe I'll make a joke about how she owes me for carrying both coffees. Or perhaps I'll just sit with her in silence. She doesn't need words right now—she needs someone steady. And that's what I can be.
But when I push open her door, the room is empty. Not just empty—wiped. Her bags, her things, even her scent that always lingered in the air. It's all gone like she was never here.
My stomach drops.
"Kaia!" I snap, spotting her at the end of the hall.
She freezes, shoulders stiffening before she slowly turns. Her eyes flicker to the coffees in my hands, and guilt flashes across her face like she'd been waiting for this moment.
I storm up, my grip tightening on the cups. "Where is she? What the hell happened?"
Kaia swallows, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She left."
I blink, stunned. That's it? That's all she's going to say? My patience shreds in an instant. "Left? That's it? You just let her walk out?"
"She needed to go, Finn." Her voice is calm, but there's an edge to it—something final. "I didn't stop her. I didn't ask questions. And if I did know where she went…" Her gaze hardens, locking on mine. "…I wouldn't tell you. Not with the other three in the picture."
The words slam into me. Not just because she said them, but because I know she means it. Kaia's never been the type to bluff.
My jaw tightens. "You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm not." Her tone softens, but her eyes never waver. "I know you love her, Finn. I also know you had nothing to do with what happened to her. She knows it, too. She knows you love her. But she didn't want to take you away from finishing your degree, from finishing school."
Her words gut me. The heat rises in my chest until it's almost choking.
"I don't care about that," I snap, my voice cracking under the weight of it. "I just want her. None of this—school, degrees, any of it—means a damn thing without her."
Kaia opens her mouth like she wants to say more, but she never gets the chance.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoes down the hall.
The door bursts open, slamming against the wall, and the other three storm in. Asher, Jasper, and Soren. Their faces pale, their eyes sharp, and all three freeze when they see the state of the room. Empty.
"She's gone," I bite out, my voice low, dangerous. My gaze snaps to Asher, and something inside me breaks loose.
Before I know it, I'm across the room, slamming him back into the wall so hard the plaster cracks. Hot coffee spills down my wrist, scalding, but I don't feel a damn thing.
"This is on you!" I snarl, fist bunching into his shirt. "You turned her in to the council. You're the reason they bound her powers. You're the reason she's gone!"
Asher struggles, his eyes wide, lips moving soundlessly as I cock my fist back, ready to break his face.
"Finn, stop!" Jasper's voice cracks, thick with despair. He's pale, shaking, and for once, the easy grin he always hides behind is gone and completely gone. "We didn't—We thought—" His words die, his head bowing like the weight of his guilt is crushing him.
"You knew," I roar, eyes burning. "Both of you knew, and you let him do it. You let her suffer."
My fist swings forward—only to be caught in midair.
Soren. His grip clamps around my wrist like iron, his eyes blazing with warning. "Enough." His voice is a growl, steady but fierce.
I shove against him, but he doesn't budge. He's the only thing keeping me from putting Asher in the ground right here and now.
Asher stares at me, throat working, fear flickering in his eyes—but there's no apology. No regret. And that makes my blood boil hotter.
"You don't get to breathe easy after this," I spit, my voice shaking with rage. "If she doesn't come back, Asher… if anything happens to her… I swear to the gods, I'll finish what I started."
The silence that follows is deafening. The only sound is Jasper's ragged breathing, Soren's grip still locking me in place, and the echo of Alexia's absence ringing louder than anything else.