𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑺 𝑾𝑬 𝑶𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫 || 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐒 (ON HIATUS)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟻

Y/N'S POV

I hadn’t expected him to grab my wrist.

One moment I was standing there, trying to dig answers out of him, determined not to let him slip through my fingers again. The next, his hand was around my wrist, pulling me away from the crowd, and I barely had time to register what was happening.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “And don’t ask questions.”

For once, I didn’t. His grip was firm, but not painful. I followed him without protest, my pulse quickening as we moved away from the ballroom. The noise and laughter faded into the background, and I could still feel the warmth of his hand against my skin. I didn’t even know his name, yet here I was, being whisked away into the shadows by this strange boy—no, not a boy. He was something else. Something older, sharper, more dangerous than he appeared.

And I wasn’t afraid.

As we slipped through one of the side corridors, I glanced back over my shoulder. I caught a glimpse of Alex in the crowd, his sword drawn, facing a group of startled nobles. I could see the tension in his posture from here, the way he stood like he was ready for anything. I’d never seen him like that.

“Wait—what about Alex?” I managed to say, my voice coming out more breathless than I’d intended.

“He can handle himself,” the boy said without looking back, his pace never slowing. “Right now, we need to get out of here.”

Out of here? I didn’t understand. The ball had just started, the night was young, and yet, something was clearly wrong. The shift in the atmosphere, the way he’d reacted to Alex’s standoff—it told me this was more than just a misunderstanding between nobles.

“Where are we going?” I asked, breathless but trying to keep my voice steady. I wanted to sound strong, even as my heart pounded in my chest.

“Somewhere safe,” was all he said.

I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of it all. I still didn’t know who he was—this mysterious boy who had appeared out of nowhere. He’d come to the ball as if he belonged, but I knew better. He wasn’t one of us, wasn’t a part of this world. And yet, there was something about him that made me feel… connected. Like he understood something I didn’t.

Like he could see through me.

I didn’t resist him, not when every instinct told me I should. I wasn’t supposed to be doing this—being dragged through the palace by a stranger, abandoning my brother, my parents, the safety of the ballroom. But I couldn’t stop. There was something about him that pulled me in, something that made me trust him even when I knew I shouldn’t.

As we rounded a corner, I finally pulled my wrist free, planting my feet on the marble floor. “Wait!” I hissed, my voice louder than I intended. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”

He stopped, turning to face me. His eyes were hard, like they always were, but there was something else behind them now—something darker, more dangerous. His face was unreadable, but I could sense the urgency in him. Whatever this was, it was serious.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice low and intense. “There’s no time for this. If you stay here, you’re going to get hurt. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

Safe? I didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “You don’t even know me!” I shot back, my frustration spilling over. “Why are you doing this? Who are you?”

He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto mine, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. There was something in his gaze—something cold and calculated, but also… conflicted. Like he didn’t want to be doing this either, but he had no choice.