“Stop, Finn,” Ezzy giggles between coughs. “It hurts too much to laugh.”
We step inside.
Finn’s perched at Ezzy’s side, leaning over with a grin. He’s blocking most of her face, but his fingers are clearly wrapped around hers like it’s the most natural thing in the world. But the second he clocks us he shifts, hand sliding away, coming to rest on the blanket beside hers.
Rowan doesn’t seem to notice, or care; his gaze is locked, taking in the full extent of Ezzy’s injuries. He’s at her bedside in three deliberate strides.
“Ezzy, when I heard—” His voice cracks, and he swallows hard, cutting himself off. “Stars, for a second, I thought I’d lost you. That he’d…”
She blinks. But before she can answer, he’s already talking again.
“Why aren’t you sitting up properly?” he questions, reaching for the pillows behind her back. “You need to keep your lungs elevated after trauma.”
Ezzy stiffens. “Rowan, I’m?—”
He tugs the pillow up anyway. “Just let me... there. Is that better?”
“She’s fine,” Finn huffs.
But Rowan ignores him, straightening the blanket, smoothing it over her legs like she’s about to catch a chill and drop dead. “Have the healers been in? Did they run a full check? Because sometimes internal bleeding doesn’t show until?—”
“They ran it twice,” Ezzy grits out.
“Your shoulder... do you want me to adjust the sling? You’re not holding it right.”
Ezzy gives him a look. “It’s a dislocated shoulder, Rowan. Not a death sentence.”
As I watch them go at it, my hand tightens around the door handle. Rowan spiralling into full lecture mode might be the only chance I get to slip out, avoid this whole thing, avoid their questions...
But out of the corner of my eye, I catch him, Finn’s watching me. Not threatening. Just… waiting. Like a friend barely holding back a grin because he knows there’s gossip, and he’s dying to hear it.
“And what the hell was Professor Strannt thinking?” Rowan continues his rant. “Pairing you with Elijah? Was this sanctioned? Because if it wasn’t, I swear, I will?—”
Ezzy lets out a tight breath through her nose. “Rowan.” His head jerks toward her. “I’m not dead, I'm fine. I'm not as fragile as you think. Icanlook after myself, sometimes, you know… so maybe dial back the dramatics.”
The silence that follows is taut, stretched thin between them. Rowan doesn’t move. Just stares at her like she’s ripped straight through something he wasn’t ready to admit was there.
I don’t move either, my body locks up as a sour taste rises in the back of my throat.
Because I know it’s not true.
If I hadn’t interfered, if I hadn’t stopped him, she wouldn’t be breathing right now. But do they know?
“I know you’re not fragile,” Rowan finally replies, voice breaking slightly. “You’ve always been stronger than people see. Stronger thanIsee. But you’re all I’ve got left.” His tone drops. “You’re not just family, Ez. You’re my responsibility. Protecting you… that’s the one thing I’m good at. And when I heard what Elijah did... when I thought I was too late…” He swallows hard. “Ishould’veseen it coming. I didn’t see it coming. I’m so sorry.”
Ezzy’s mouth opens slightly, nothing comes out; but the heat in her face softens, just a little.
“I don’t mean to smother you.” Rowan continues, a weak smile tugging at his mouth as he sinks into the chair across from Finn. “I just… didn’t know how to breathe until I knew you were okay.” A hand drags over his face, tension loosening. “But stars, what’s Elijah’s problem? I don’t think you’ve evenspokento him this semester. Why take it this far?”
The thump in my chest sharpens, like my body’s trying to outrun what I’m not saying. I should tell them. They should know. Should have the chance to protect themselves. That it wasme. That they used Ezzy to get to me, dangled her like bait, and meant to throw her away when they were done.
My lips twitch, words clawing their way up, scraping against everything I know better than to risk. If I say it, everything unravels. But holding it in? I don't kn?—
“It’s my fault.” Finn’s voice cuts through, shattering my mental spiral like glass. “I’m sorry, Rowan. I should have done something... but I just froze. When I saw the look on Elijah’s face, I knew what she was walking into, and I didn’t?—”
Ezzy reaches for him, her fingers brushing his. “It’s okay. You couldn’t do anything. You know the rules. If you’d interfered, they would’ve Reassigned you. Maybe both of us.”
Finn eases his hand back and forces a grin, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. Guilt is still sitting there, plain as day. She smiles at him, the edge of pain in her eyes softening.
