—Finn—
By the time I reached the old music room, the world smelled like wet grass and cold stone, like a storm waiting to break—and not enough like her. Dust swirled in slants of light through cracked windows, catching on warped floorboards and scattered sheet music. The air hummed with old magic, quiet but watchful. Jasper perched on the piano lid, flipping a coin over his knuckles, boots tapping a restless rhythm. Soren stood by the window, arms folded, gaze unreadable. Asher paced, boots scuffing, tension rolling off him like heat off summer pavement.
"Where is she?" Asher demanded the second he saw me.
"With Kaia. She's fine." I leaned against the cold wall.
Jasper's eyebrow lifted. "Define fine."
"She's awake, complaining about stale gummy worms, stealing Kaia's chocolate, breathing. She's... trying." I swallowed, seeing her as she'd been that morning, clutching coffee like it was a lifeline, Zeus pressed against her side.
Asher slowed, but the restless energy still thrummed under his skin.
"I told her," I added.
All three turned.
"Told her what?" Jasper asked, coin freezing mid-flip.
"About the bond."
Silence snapped across the room like a whip.
Then Asher's snarl ripped through it. "You what?"
I pushed off the wall. "She deserved to know."
"You think dropping that on her now was smart?" Asher's voice was sharp, but it was fear under the anger.
"She asked," I said, heat creeping into my voice. "I wasn't going to lie."
"She doesn't need your dragon instincts clouding her choices!" Asher snapped, stepping forward, eyes flashing gold.
"It's about her right to know," I shot back, the dragon in me stirring. "She gets to choose."
Asher's jaw tightened. "She's already carrying enough."
"We all feel it, Asher. You're just too stubborn to admit it."
His eyes narrowed. "Watch it, Finn."
"Enough." Soren's voice was quiet but cut through the tension like a blade.
Asher stepped back, glaring, but didn't argue.
Jasper let out a low whistle, flipping his coin. "Well, this is cozy."
I took a breath, steadying the dragon simmering beneath my skin.
Jasper snapped his fingers, summoning a gold-tinged parchment. It fluttered down onto the piano, and I snatched it before it hit the keys.
"Alexia Mae Carter. Immediate audience requested. Headmistress Shade."
A growl rumbled in my throat before I could stop it.
"She's calling her in," Soren said, his calm gone cold.
"She's not going alone," I said immediately.
"No argument here," Jasper replied, sliding off the piano.
Asher's head lowered, but he didn't argue.
Soren slipped the parchment away. "Then let's move."
The hall smelled of rain and stone, old magic buzzing faintly under my skin as we walked. Asher stalked ahead, tension in every step. Jasper whistled softly, spinning the coin. Soren walked beside me, silent, but it was the kind of silence that meant he was watching everything. As we neared Alexia's door, the bond hummed, pulling, restless.
Asher glanced back, scowling. "You'd better hope you're right about this."
I stepped in front of him, planting a hand on his chest, meeting his glare. "Don't make this harder for her."
Asher's jaw worked, but his eyes flicked away, gold simmering. "Fine."
Jasper strolled past, smirking. "Let's go collect our chaos queen."
And we did.
—Alexia—
Kaia was in the shower, humming off-key, Zeus curled against my legs as I tried to breathe like a normal person.
Then the knock came. Zeus lifted his head, letting out a low whuff.
"Don't bark," I whispered.
Another knock, firmer. I stood, the hoodie I wore hanging off one shoulder, still faintly smelling of Finn's soap from his hug that morning. Armor, in its own way. I opened the door. Finn stood there, hand half-raised, eyes softening when he saw me. Soren beside him, Jasper smirking, Asher scowling at the floor.
"Hi," I managed.
Finn's lips twitched. "Hi."
"Kaia's in the shower," I blurted, because my anxiety had apparently decided that was vital information.
"Good to know," Jasper drawled.
I glanced at Finn, who was searching for words. Not a good sign.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Soren stepped forward, pulling out a gold-edged parchment.
"It's from Shade," he said.
I stared, the letters shimmering like they were alive.
"What does it say?" My voice was small.
"She's requesting to see you," Finn said gently. "Now."
Zeus pressed closer, grounding me. Kaia chose that moment to burst out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her, steam swirling like a chaotic halo. She blinked at the boys, then at me.
"Did you open the door for your boy band while I was in the shower?" she deadpanned.
"Kaia," I hissed.
"What?" She rummaged for clothes. "They've seen worse."
"Kaia," I repeated, sharper.
She paused, her teasing falling away as her eyes met mine. "You okay?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Thought about the courtyard, the fire, the fear.
"No," I admitted, voice thin. "But I'm getting there."
She nodded, soft but fierce. "That's my girl."
Then she disappeared back into the bathroom, yelling, "Bite her if she's mean!"
"Kaia!"
The door slammed.
Finn stepped closer, his warmth brushing against me without touching.
"Lex," he said softly, using that nickname only he did, like it was something precious. "You're not going alone."
I glanced at him, at Jasper's steady gaze, Soren's calm, Asher's scowl that didn't quite hide the worry in his eyes. I took a breath, letting it settle.
"Okay," I whispered. "Let's go."
And for the first time, walking toward chaos didn't feel like a fall. It felt like I had people at my back.