Maybe they did. Lucian must’ve told them. Of course he did.
Noah is the first to move. He crosses to me with that calm steadiness he always carries, like his presence is meant to slow the world down.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his voice low.
Tex’s eyes sweep the room like he’s ready to move if anything is out of place. “You check everything already?”
I nod. “Three times.”
He still walks over to the window and tugs on the latch to double-check. Meanwhile, Luca hovers near my bed, looking at me the way someone might study a wounded animal, like he wants to offer comfort but isn’t sure I’ll take it.
He shrugs, hands in his pockets. “Wasn’t gonna sit through another ethics lecture when I knew you were spiraling.”
“I’m fine,” I lie.
Jace stands by the bookshelf, his arms folded, his jaw tight. “Clearly,” he says flatly.
I shoot daggers his way. “What are you even doing here?”
“Guild obligation,” Jace says.
“Cut it out, she’s part of the team now.” Luca slaps a hand against Jace’s chest.
Jace scowls.
Tex drags a hand down his face. “They never should’ve let him out. Ever.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I know. But they did. And now…”
“Now you don’t have to worry about it,” Jace cuts in. “Because we’re already handling it.”
I blink. “Handling what?”
He looks at me, eyes cold in a way that makes me feel like I’m not the one he’s angry at for once.
“From this point on, you’re not alone,” he says. “One of us will be withyou at all times. Classes, training, meals, walking across the damn courtyard. You’re not stepping anywhere without backup.”
My mouth drops open.
Luca flops into the chair near my desk. “Say goodbye to your alone time, pretty girl. We even argued over who gets first shift. It got dramatic.”
Noah snorts. “You wrote your name on the notebook in glitter pen.”
“It was strategic,” Luca replies. “She needs someone with charisma.”
Tex shakes his head. “She needs someone who can put a guy in the ground if he shows his face.”
“I don’t need any of you to?—”
“You do,” Luca says, cutting me off. “Not because you’re weak. Not because you can’t handle yourself. But because you shouldn’t have to.”
The room goes quiet.
He continues. “You shouldn’t have to watch the door. Or flinch when someone moves or makes a sound. You shouldn’t have to sleep fully dressed and ready to fight. That’s not living. That’s surviving, and you’ve survived enough.”
My chest aches.
Luca’s tone softens, just barely. “We’re not going to let you do that alone anymore. We’re a team.”
