The cold stone walls of the lavish yet suffocating mansion pressed in around you, a gilded cage designed to hold you captive.

The heavy oak door of your chamber rattled against its hinges as distant shouts echoed through the corridors. The sound of magical blasts and crackling energy sent a jolt of hope surging through your veins. Your heart pounded wildly.

He had come.

You rushed to the barred window, pressing your hands against the cold iron as the courtyard below erupted into chaos. Mattheo’s army—his most trusted spellcasters—swept through the grounds, their wands casting streaks of fire and bursts of lightning. Shields of shimmering light clashed against dark, writhing curses as the battle unfolded before your eyes.

A deafening crash sent you spinning back toward the door. The lock had been obliterated by a surge of raw power, and through the swirling dust and embers, he emerged.

Mattheo.

His dark curls clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, his eyes wild with fury and determination. Magic crackled at his fingertips, the air around him shimmering with power as he stepped toward you, the years of shared childhood promises flashing between you in an instant.

"Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?" he murmured, his voice rough but gentle as he reached for you, fingers brushing against your cheek, his touch grounding you amid the chaos.

"I knew you would," you whispered, your voice thick with emotion.

"Come," he said, pulling you close, his arm strong around you. "We don’t have much time."

The two of you raced through the corridors, dodging fallen enforcers and shattered relics.

Ahead, his allies had taken control of the main gates, their spells illuminating the night as the last of his father’s forces fell.

As you stepped into the night, Mattheo turned to you, his hands cradling your face, his gaze burning into yours.

"You’re safe now," he vowed. "And I will never let anyone take you from me again."