Chapter 267

Evaline:
The moment Oscar asked the question, I froze. My entire body stiffened before I even realized it, and I knew Draven had felt it.
He turned his questioning gaze toward me, but I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. Instead, I stepped out of his hold. My feet moved on their own, and once again, I sat down beside Rowan.
Without hesitation, I placed a protective hand in front of him, as though my small move could shield him from the storm gathering in this room. My gaze locked firmly on Oscar, daring him to push further.
I saw the surprise flash in both of my mates’ eyes, their expressions hardening with disbelief. To them, I must have looked as though I was choosing Rowan over them, protecting him from their judgment.
Oscar opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Draven’s voice broke through the heavy silence.
“Are you… trying to protect him from us?” he asked, his voice low, carrying an edge I couldn’t mistake. Shock… or maybe jealousy… was burning in his tone.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t falter. Instead, I lifted my chin and answered with a firm nod.
Both men looked stunned. The source of this content ɪs.net
Rowan shifted slightly, trying to ease the tension. His voice was gentle as he whispered, “Eva, it’s okay. You don’t have to-”
But I cut him off immediately. “No. Rowan, listen to me. If I don’t stand up for you now, you are going to be in deep trouble. Please, go. Get out of here. Shower, get changed, and let me handle this.”
He stared at me, worry etched across his face, and then glanced toward Oscar and Draven. Neither of the brothers made a move to stop him. Their silence felt like a trap snapping shut.
Rowan hesitated only a moment longer before he stood up to grab his pajamas and a towel from his closet. With quiet, almost hesitant movements, he slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
The moment he was gone, I heard the click of the lock. Draven had moved, securing the door with an air of finality. His eyes then turned back to me, sharp and unreadable.
Before I could speak, Oscar suddenly stood up. His tall frame loomed as he began pacing the small room. The space was far too cramped for someone like him, and each step felt like thunder shaking the walls. My chest tightened as I watched him stop abruptly, spinning on his heel to face me.
“Do you have any idea how serious this is, Eva?” His voice was calm, but I could see the storm he was barely holding back.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation, keeping my voice steady. Now that it was Rowan who’s in trouble, I felt like all my energy was back in my body to defend and protect him. “I do. And still… I’m on Rowan’s side.”
The fire in his eyes flared.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly struggling to keep his composure. “How long have you even known him? How long for you to trust him this much?”
I didn’t even know what made me say it… but I did.
“As long as I have known you.”
The silence that followed was heavy enough to choke me.
The shock on Oscar’s face was unmistakable, as if I had slapped him. Even Draven’s carefully guarded expression faltered, his lips parting in surprise.
I stood from Rowan’s bed, the creak of the mattress loud in the quiet room. Slowly, deliberately, I walked toward Oscar. He didn’t move, but I could feel his emotions radiating like heat from a fire. Reaching out, I caught the sleeve of his long black coat, clutching it lightly.
“I’ll tell you everything,” I said, my voice softer now. “And you can ask Rowan all the questions you need to. But… please… tonight’s matter must stay a secret. No one else needs to know. Not Kieran. Not the Academy faculty. No one.”
His jaw tightened, his expression hardening even more. He clearly wasn’t happy with what I was asking of him. In fact, he looked furious.
But I was prepared for this. If I had to, I would use the only card I had – the one thing I knew neither of them could easily fight against.
Letting go of his sleeve, I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his waist. His body stiffened instantly at the sudden closeness. Resting my chin against his chest, I tilted my head back to look up at him. My eyes searched his emerald ones, pleading but unyielding.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Oscar,” I whispered. “But I need you to trust me when I say Rowan is a good person. Please… believe me.”
For a moment, I thought he would push me away. His hands twitched at his sides, as though he didn’t know what to do. But this was a battle he couldn’t win… not against me, not when I had thrown my heart into the plea.
I saw the fight leave his eyes, piece by piece, until finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “You have one chance. Tell us everything.”
Relief washed over me, though I didn’t let it show. Loosening my arms around him, I stepped back and nodded.
And so I told them.
I told them about the very first day of the entrance exams, when I had met Rowan. How, even then, he used to sneak out at night. How he had continued the habit even after the Academy term began. At first, he disappeared almost every other night, but as the classes became harder and the workload grew, his nightly escapades slowed. Eventually, he stopped… until tonight.
“Tonight was his first time sneaking out in a long while,” I explained. “And when he came back… he was injured. That’s how I found him.”
Draven’s eyes narrowed, he looked thoughtful and intense. Oscar remained silent, but I could see his hands curling into fists at his sides.
“I never asked him where he went,” I admitted, my voice soft but unwavering. “I never pushed him for details. But he never returned like this before. Hurt this badly. Exhausted. Something happened out there tonight. I know sneaking out breaks the Academy’s rules. I know it puts him at risk. But I also know he has his reasons. And whatever those reasons are… I trust him.”
I looked between both of them, my chest tight. “All I’m asking is that you hear him out before making any decisions. Don’t be rash. Don’t expose him. Please.”
Oscar’s expression was unreadable, though I could still see the simmering anger beneath the surface. He didn’t like this, he didn’t like any of it. But I also knew that, for now at least, he had agreed to my request.
And for Rowan’s sake, that would have to be enough.