**Eloise's POV**
I was *fascinated.*
Rowan was nothing like Caius. Where Caius was brooding and intense, Rowan was smooth and effortless, carrying himself with a confidence that almost seemed *lazy.* I had written him that way—charming, cunning, and unpredictable—but seeing him in person made it all the more *real.*
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the wooden table as I listened intently to his story about a legendary shipwreck. "So, you *really* saw the ship sink? You were *on* it?"
Rowan smirked, swirling his drink before taking a sip. "Oh, I was more than just on it, Creator. I *caused* it."
I gasped, eyes wide. "You *what?*"
"Rowan has a habit of being at the center of chaos," Caius muttered beside me, voice tight.
I turned to him, raising an eyebrow at his tone. He hadn't spoken much during the meal, but I *felt* his gaze burning into me every time I laughed at something Rowan said.
Rowan, of course, *noticed.*
"And yet, I *always* manage to escape unharmed," he added, flashing Caius a knowing grin.
I could practically *see* the vein in Caius' temple twitch.
Trying to defuse the tension, I reached under the table, giving Caius' knee a small reassuring pat. But instead of relaxing, he stiffened even more.
Rowan watched the exchange, eyes glinting with mischief. Before I could react, he casually draped an arm over my shoulder, pulling me in just slightly.
I felt Caius' entire presence shift beside me, his hand tightening around the mug he hadn't even touched.
"You know, Creator," Rowan mused, completely ignoring the *death glare* Caius was shooting at him, "I must say, I'm a little jealous. Here I thought *I* was your favorite character."
I opened my mouth to respond, but the *sound* of Caius setting his mug down a little *too* hard made me freeze.
Rowan chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Ah, don't look so serious, Caius. I'm just getting to know our lovely Creator here. She *did* invite me, after all."
Caius' jaw tightened. "Don't push it, Rowan."
"Or what?" Rowan grinned. "You'll *glare* me to death?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Okay, enough." I turned to Rowan, nudging his arm off my shoulder. "You're *not* helping."
Rowan just smirked, but he backed off.
I turned to Caius next. His eyes were locked onto Rowan, as if he was debating whether or not to *actually* start a fight right here at the lunch table.
"Caius," I said softly, pulling his attention back to me. "Relax. It's just a conversation."
His gaze softened slightly, but the tension was still there.
I had *definitely* made him jealous.
———
**Caius' POV**
I *knew* it was irrational.
But watching Eloise light up while talking to Rowan—*laughing* at his stories, leaning in as if she wanted to soak up every word—it gnawed at something deep inside me.
She had *never* looked at me that way. Not with that kind of excitement.
I gripped my mug tightly, the warmth of the untouched drink long gone. At first, I had held my tongue, letting her satisfy her curiosity about him. But the more she talked, the more she *revealed*—about herself, about *us*—the harder it became to sit still.
Did she not realize? Did she not see how careless she was being?
"I've never had a best friend before," she admitted to Rowan, her voice laced with an honesty that cut deeper than it should have.
A *best friend.*
I had thought *I* was the one she confided in. That *I* was the one she trusted the most.
I clenched my jaw as Rowan smirked. "Well then, Creator, maybe you've been keeping the wrong company."
That was it.
I pushed back my chair, the legs scraping loudly against the wooden floor.
Eloise turned to me in surprise. "Caius?"
"We're leaving," I said firmly.
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
"You've said enough." My voice was tight, controlled—but barely. "Come with me."
But to my frustration, she hesitated.
And then, with the smallest shake of her head, she said, "*I want to stay.*"
Something inside me snapped.
I scoffed, looking away as I exhaled sharply. "Of course you do," I muttered.
Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked away, my footsteps heavy with frustration.
I didn't look back.
I didn't *want* to see her still sitting there with *him.*
——-
**Eloise's POV**
I watched as Caius walked away, his broad shoulders tense, his hands curled into fists at his sides.
For a moment, I almost went after him. Almost.
But something inside me held back. *Why should I?*
I had done nothing wrong.
Rowan, seated beside me, let out a low whistle. "Ouch. Someone's got a temper."
I shot him a glare. "It's not funny, Rowan."
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Depends on who you ask."
I sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted. The excitement from earlier was now overshadowed by guilt. "He's just—" I hesitated, unsure of how to explain.
"Possessive?" Rowan offered.
"No," I defended quickly. "He's just... protective."
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "That so?"
I frowned. Was it? Or was there something else?
The look in Caius' eyes before he left—it wasn't just frustration. It was something deeper, something raw. And I had been too caught up in my own excitement to notice it sooner.
Had I hurt him?
I pushed my plate away, my appetite gone. "I should talk to him."
Rowan shrugged. "Your choice. But if you ask me, let him cool off first. You might not like what he has to say right now."
I knew he was probably right.
But still, the uneasy feeling in my chest wouldn't go away.