**Caius' POV**
#### **Before It Happened**
I had been frustrated with Eloise before, but never like this.
Watching her laugh and smile with Rowan had twisted something deep in my chest, something I didn't want to acknowledge. The way she looked at him, the way she seemed eager to share everything with him—things she had only ever told *me*—made me feel like I was losing something I hadn't even realized I held so tightly.
I knew I shouldn't have walked away. I should've stayed, argued, made her understand. But I couldn't. Not when I felt like I was coming apart at the seams.
So, I left.
I stalked through the marketplace, trying to drown out my thoughts with the sounds of merchants shouting and the chatter of townspeople. I needed to clear my head.
But then—
A sick feeling crawled up my spine, an instinct honed through years of battle.
Something was wrong.
I turned, scanning the street. The table where I left Eloise and Rowan was empty.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I moved without thinking, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.
I ran.
#### **During It Happened**
I followed the trail of broken crates and overturned baskets, my instincts screaming at me. My breath was ragged, my pulse hammering as I turned a corner—
And saw them.
Bandits. Five of them.
One of them had Eloise, her wrists bound, her body limp as they dragged her toward a side alley.
A red haze filled my vision.
The next thing I knew, my sword was in my hand, and I was upon them.
The first man barely had time to register my presence before my blade tore through his chest. Blood sprayed against the cobblestone. The others turned, startled, but I was already moving.
I didn't fight with mercy.
I fought with *rage*.
Another bandit swung at me. I ducked, drove my sword into his stomach, and yanked it out in one swift motion.
Screams echoed around me.
One of the remaining bandits tried to run. I caught him by the collar, slamming him into the ground before driving my sword through his throat.
The last one, the one still holding Eloise, was frozen in fear.
"Let. Her. Go."
He hesitated.
I didn't.
A dagger was in my hand before I even registered drawing it. I threw it, the blade embedding itself in his shoulder. He screamed, releasing Eloise as he staggered back.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
She was unconscious, her face pale, her breathing shallow.
Panic nearly swallowed me whole.
I crushed it down, turned my attention to the last standing figure.
Rowan.
He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching with mild amusement.
"What the *hell* are you doing here?" I snarled.
He tilted his head. "Helping?"
I had never wanted to hit someone more in my entire life.
"You—" I cut myself off, shaking with rage. "You let this happen."
His smirk didn't falter. "I *fixed* it."
I couldn't trust myself to speak. I adjusted Eloise in my arms, her weight unsettlingly light.
If I stayed any longer, I was going to kill him.
So, I turned and walked away.
#### **After It Happened**
I didn't let go of her.
Not when we left that alley. Not when we reached the inn. Not even when I placed her on the bed, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest.
Three days.
That's how long she had been unconscious the last time I almost lost her.
I wasn't sure if I could survive it again.
I sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand down my face. I was exhausted, but sleep wouldn't come.
Instead, I stared at her.
At the small furrow in her brow, the faint mark on her wrist from the rope. I reached out before I could stop myself, tracing my fingers over the mark gently.
I had been a fool.
I had let my emotions get the best of me, walked away from her when I should've stayed. And because of that, she had been taken.
I wouldn't let it happen again.
Rowan had made a mistake—one that could've cost Eloise her life.
If he ever came near her again, I would make sure he never had the chance to regret it.
——
**Eloise's POV**
The morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft golden glow across the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, slowly running my fingers over the faint bruise on my wrist. It wasn't painful anymore, but the memory of what happened still lingered.
Caius hadn't left my side since that night. Even now, he was seated in a chair near the door, arms crossed, eyes closed—but I knew he wasn't sleeping. His fingers drummed lightly against his arm, a restless habit that told me he was still deep in thought.
And then there was Rowan.
He leaned against the windowsill, arms folded, watching me with that same infuriating smirk.
"Still mad at me, little creator?" he asked, tilting his head.
I shot him a glare. "You *did* hire bandits to kidnap me."
Rowan chuckled, completely unfazed. "A little test. Besides, I *did* save you in the end, didn't I?"
"*Caius* saved me," I corrected sharply, glancing at the knight who was now glaring daggers at Rowan. "You just stood there and watched."
Rowan sighed dramatically. "You wound me, Eloise. But I suppose I *did* take things a bit too far." He shrugged. "You *did* write me this way, after all."
I exhaled, knowing he was right. Rowan had always been reckless, charming, and impossible to control. He was created to challenge Caius, to bring a different kind of energy into the story. But now that I was here, living in this world I had written, it was hard to deal with him.
Caius scoffed. "You talk too much," he muttered.
Rowan grinned. "And you sulk too much."
The tension in the room crackled like a fire ready to spark into something dangerous.
I decided to step in before Caius lunged at Rowan. "Enough. We're leaving town tomorrow, and I don't want to spend our last day arguing."
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Leaving already? What a shame."
I crossed my arms. "You knew we wouldn't stay forever."
He studied me for a moment, then grinned. "True. But I'll miss our little chats." His gaze flickered to Caius, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And I'll *definitely* miss how worked up your knight gets every time I talk to you."
Caius shot up from his chair. "You—"
I quickly stood up and placed a hand on Caius' chest, stopping him. "Ignore him," I whispered. "He *wants* you to react."
Caius clenched his jaw, his muscles taut beneath my hand. He took a slow breath, then sat back down, though his glare never left Rowan.
Rowan chuckled, pushing off the windowsill. "Well, I'll let you two enjoy your last day in town. Don't miss me too much, Eloise." He winked before heading toward the door.
Just before he left, he glanced over his shoulder. "Be careful on your journey. The king's land is full of surprises."
With that, he disappeared.
The room fell silent.
I turned to Caius, who still looked furious. "You *can't* let him get to you," I said softly.
Caius scoffed. "He kidnapped you, Eloise. Do you really expect me to just let that go?"
I sighed, sitting beside him. "No. But I also know Rowan. He's reckless, but he doesn't mean harm—at least, not in the way you think."
Caius pinched the bridge of his nose. "That doesn't make what he did right."
I placed my hand over his. "I know. But let's not waste today thinking about him, okay? Let's just enjoy our last day here."
Caius was quiet for a moment, then he exhaled and nodded. "Fine."
I smiled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before letting go.
Tomorrow, we would leave this town behind.
But something told me Rowan wouldn't be out of our lives so easily.