**Caius' POV**
Rage.
It surged through me like wildfire the moment I saw her struggling.
Eloise—pale, trembling, surrounded by those *vermin.* Their filthy hands had dared to touch her, to corner her like some helpless prey.
I saw red.
The moment I struck, the leader was nothing more than a ragdoll, his body slamming into the stone wall with a sickening crack. He groaned, sliding to the ground, but I wasn't done.
The others hesitated, their earlier amusement vanishing the second they realized who I was.
"Shit... it's *him*," one of them whispered.
Good. They should be scared.
I stepped forward, placing myself between Eloise and the remaining scum. My grip on my sword tightened, the blade gleaming under the moonlight.
"You had one chance to walk away," I said coldly. "You wasted it."
One of the men charged at me, a dagger flashing in his hand. Sloppy. Desperate.
I moved faster.
With a swift pivot, I dodged his attack and slammed the hilt of my sword into his gut. He gasped, stumbling backward before I kicked his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.
The remaining two hesitated, glancing at each other. Then, like cowards, they turned and ran.
I let them go. They weren't worth my time.
Instead, I turned to the last conscious man—the leader—who was groaning against the wall, holding his ribs. I grabbed him by the collar and lifted him effortlessly, forcing him to meet my gaze.
"You made a mistake," I told him, my voice low and deadly. "Touching *her* was the last thing you'll ever regret."
He opened his mouth—to beg, to curse, I didn't care—but I drove my fist into his face before he could say a word. His body went limp, unconscious.
Silence.
The only thing I could hear now was the ragged sound of my own breathing.
Slowly, I turned to Eloise.
She was staring at me, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her face was pale, her lips slightly parted as if she was trying to find the right words.
I took a step toward her.
She flinched.
Something inside me *cracked.*
My anger vanished in an instant, replaced by something far worse—guilt.
I had scared her.
I had *never* wanted to scare her.
"Eloise..." My voice came out softer than I expected.
She looked away. "I... I didn't need you to—"
"Don't," I cut in, my jaw clenching. "Don't you *dare* tell me you didn't need me."
Her eyes shot up to meet mine again, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension was suffocating. I was still furious—not at her, never at her—but at myself, at them, at the fact that I had almost lost her.
I reached out hesitantly, brushing my fingers over her arm, needing to feel that she was *real.*
She didn't pull away this time.
"Let's go," I muttered, my voice hoarse.
She nodded, still silent.
As we walked away from the alley, I forced myself to take deep breaths, to calm down. But I knew the truth.
If anything like this ever happened again—
I wouldn't hesitate to kill.
——
**Eloise's POV**
Rowan had an irritating way of inserting himself into my life.
Ever since we met, he always seemed to be around—watching, asking too many questions, prying into things that weren't his business. He wasn't as stoic as Caius, nor as serious. Instead, he was charming, playful, and incredibly persistent.
I didn't know why he was so interested in me, but something about him unsettled me.
At first, I thought he was just curious. But now, it felt like something more.
Something calculated.
***
The day had been peaceful—until it wasn't.
Caius had left to gather supplies, and Rowan had offered to keep me company. I didn't think much of it at the time.
That was my mistake.
We walked through the outskirts of town, the air crisp and cool. The streets weren't as crowded here, which gave me a false sense of security.
Then, everything changed in an instant.
A hand clamped over my mouth, yanking me backward. Before I could scream, a rough voice whispered in my ear, "Don't fight, little bird."
Panic surged through me.
I struggled, kicking at my attacker, but another man appeared, grabbing my arms and twisting them behind my back.
Bandits.
I opened my mouth to yell for help, but a cloth was shoved against my lips. A sickly-sweet scent filled my lungs, and my body instantly weakened. My vision blurred, my strength fading fast.
"Easy now," one of them sneered. "No need to make it rough."
I barely registered the sound of Rowan's voice as he rounded the corner.
"Well, well," he said, his tone far too casual for the situation. "That's not exactly what I had in mind."
The bandits stiffened, their grip on me tightening.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them barked.
Rowan sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "You weren't supposed to *hurt* her."
Confusion swam in my fading mind. What was he talking about?
Rowan stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Let her go. I'll handle it from here."
"Not until we get our pay—"
That was the last thing I heard before the darkness swallowed me whole.
***
When I woke, I wasn't where I expected to be.
Instead of a cold, dark prison, I was in the middle of another fight.
Swords clashed, men screamed, and the unmistakable sound of Caius' furious roar cut through the chaos.
I forced myself to sit up, my vision swimming. My hands were still bound, but the moment I turned my head, I saw him.
Caius.
His sword was drenched in blood, his expression murderous. The bandits who had taken me were either dead or on the verge of collapse.
And Rowan—
Rowan stood off to the side, watching with an unreadable expression.
I barely had time to react before Caius was at my side, kneeling in front of me. His hands were gentle as he cut the ropes binding my wrists, but his face was anything but calm.
"You're safe," he murmured, his voice tight.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Rowan—"
Caius' expression darkened further. "I *know.*"
His eyes lifted to Rowan, who was still standing there like he wasn't responsible for any of this.
Caius stood slowly, his sword dripping blood onto the ground.
Rowan smirked. "Oh, come now. Don't give me that look, *senior.*"
Caius moved faster than I could process. In an instant, he had Rowan by the collar, slamming him into a nearby wall.
"If you *ever* touch her again," Caius growled, his voice low and dangerous, "I will kill you."
Rowan didn't seem fazed. If anything, he looked amused. "Protective, aren't we?"
Caius didn't loosen his grip. "I am *warning* you, Rowan."
There was a tense silence before Rowan chuckled, lifting his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. No more bandits, I promise."
Caius didn't release him right away. His body was still rigid, his rage barely restrained.
But eventually, he let go.
Rowan dusted himself off, shooting me a glance before flashing his usual grin. "See you around, Eloise."
Then, just like that, he was gone.
I let out a shaky breath, still trying to process everything.
Caius turned back to me, his expression softening just slightly. He reached out, hesitated, then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice gruff.
I shook my head. "I... I don't know."
Caius' jaw clenched. "I should've been there sooner."
I met his gaze, my heart tightening. He looked *wrecked*.
"You saved me," I whispered.
His fingers curled slightly, his hand still resting on my shoulder. "I always will."
And for the first time, I truly believed him.