The sky outside is stormy, rumbling with distant thunder as you stand in the quiet corridor near the common room. The torches flicker with unease, casting shadows over Mattheo’s face as he stands in front of you, tense, like he’s about to walk into a war.

He cups your face for a moment, searching your eyes like he’s memorizing them. Then he pulls back slightly and says, “You need to stay here.”

Your brows furrow. “What? Why? You can’t just ask me to—”

“I’m not asking,” he cuts in, his voice strained. “I’ll come get you when this is all over.”

You step toward him, your heart racing. “No.”

Mattheo looks at you intently “Y/N…”

“No!” You clench your fists. “Not unless you tell me why.”

He sighs, running a hand through his messy curls. “Because I need you to be safe.”

Your voice cracks. “Well, I don’t want to be safe… I want to be with you and the others—even if it’s unsafe.”

“I can’t let that happen,” he murmurs, eyes full of conflict.

You shake your head, confused and desperate. “Mattheo… you’re not making any sense.”

He finally looks you in the eye, his voice barely above a whisper. “My father took Pansy. He wants to kill the woman I love.”

You freeze. “I know.”

His jaw tenses. “Then he took the wrong one.”

“…oh…”

He grabs your hand gently, his voice trembling. “I love you.”

You feel your chest tighten. “Mattheo, I…”

“Do you understand?” he asks.

You nod, tears in your eyes. “Yes.”

He leans in and kisses you softly—your lips, then your forehead.

Then he steps back, giving you one last look before vanishing into the shadows.