Morning came too easily.
Anabeth woke before her alarm, the faint gray light slipping through the curtains of the apartment. For a moment, she lay still, listening. No raised voices. No sudden movement. Just the quiet hum of a city pretending nothing was wrong.
But her body knew better.
She sat up slowly, running a hand through her hair, her thoughts already racing toward campus — toward lecture halls, familiar paths, faces that no longer felt harmless.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Anabeth," Rafael's voice said quietly. "You awake?"
"Yes," she replied.
He stepped inside a moment later, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted coat, looking far too composed for a man who had slept maybe three hours. His eyes scanned the room automatically before settling on her.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded. "I think so."
He studied her a moment longer, as if committing the sight of her calm to memory. Then he nodded once.
"Cassian's downstairs," he said. "We're moving earlier than planned."
Her stomach tightened. "Why?"
"Because someone accessed the faculty parking system at six a.m.," Rafael replied. "That system only gets touched when someone is expecting company."
She swung her legs off the bed. "So… he's setting something up."
"Yes."
"On campus."
"Yes."
There was no drama in his tone. No panic. That frightened her more than shouting would have.
They drove in silence.
Cassian sat in the front passenger seat, dressed like any other graduate student — hoodie, backpack, glasses that softened his sharp features. He looked ordinary. Invisible.
Only his eyes gave him away.
"Rules haven't changed," Cassian said as the university gates came into view. "You don't walk alone. You don't take shortcuts. If something feels wrong, you don't question it — you move."
Anabeth nodded. "I understand."
Rafael's hand rested on her knee for just a second — grounding, steady — before he withdrew it as they parked.
Campus was already alive.
Students streamed across walkways, coffee cups in hand, earbuds in, conversations overlapping. It was too normal. Too open. Danger felt out of place here, which made it worse.
As Anabeth stepped out of the car, she felt it again.
That sensation.
Not eyes exactly — but attention. Like a subtle pressure against her skin.
Cassian noticed instantly. "You feel it?"
"Yes."
Rafael's jaw tightened. "He's close."
They walked with her between them, not touching, not hovering — just present. Anyone watching would see a couple and a friend. Nothing more.
They passed the library.
Anabeth forced herself not to look.
"Good," Cassian murmured. "Act natural."
They reached the main quad when a voice called her name.
"Anabeth!"
She froze.
Rafael's body went rigid beside her.
Cassian's hand slipped into his jacket pocket.
She turned slowly.
Professor Hale stood near the fountain, smiling warmly, a leather briefcase in hand. He looked exactly as he always had — composed, friendly, respectable.
"Good morning," he said. "You look well."
Every instinct in her screamed.
"Good morning, sir," she replied, keeping her voice steady.
Hale's gaze flicked briefly to Rafael — assessing, curious — then to Cassian.
"I don't believe we've met," Hale said pleasantly.
Rafael didn't answer.
Cassian smiled politely. "I'm auditing your ethics seminar next month."
Hale's eyes sharpened for half a second — so brief most people would miss it.
"Ah," Hale said. "Always nice to see students taking initiative."
He turned back to Anabeth. "I was meaning to email you. I've been reviewing your last paper. Exceptional insight."
"Thank you," she said, heart pounding.
"You have a rare mind," Hale continued. "I'd hate to see it… distracted."
Rafael stepped closer. "She won't be."
Hale chuckled lightly. "Protective friends are important. But independence is more important, wouldn't you say?"
Cassian spoke calmly. "Some independence requires backup."
Hale laughed again — but his eyes never left Anabeth.
"Of course," he said. "Well, don't let me keep you. I hope to see you in class later."
As he walked away, Anabeth realized her hands were shaking.
"That was deliberate," Cassian said quietly. "He wanted you unsettled."
Rafael's voice was low and dangerous. "He wanted to see if she'd flinch."
"I didn't," Anabeth said.
Rafael looked at her — really looked — and something like pride flickered through his jealousy.
"I know," he said.
The lecture hall was crowded.
Anabeth took her seat near the middle, Cassian a few rows back, Rafael lingering near the exit. The professor began speaking, words flowing, slides clicking — ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Halfway through the lecture, a note slid onto her desk.
She stiffened.
Don't look around.
Just read.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
You're doing very well today.
Calm suits you.
Her breath hitched.
Cassian was on his feet instantly, eyes scanning.
Rafael moved faster.
The student beside her looked confused. "I didn't—"
Rafael held up a hand. "Stay seated."
Cassian traced the source in seconds — a row behind, left side.
A man stood abruptly and bolted.
"Go," Cassian muttered.
Rafael was already moving.
Chaos rippled through the room as students gasped and shouted. Anabeth stood frozen until Cassian was suddenly beside her.
"Eyes on me," he said firmly. "We're leaving."
They moved fast.
Outside, Rafael returned, breathing hard, fury barely contained.
"He got away," Rafael said.
Cassian nodded. "But he wanted that."
Anabeth looked down at the note still clenched in her hand. "He was close."
"Yes," Cassian said. "Too close."
Rafael took the note gently from her fingers, reading it once before crushing it in his fist.
"This ends now," he said.
Anabeth met his gaze. "How?"
Rafael's jealousy was gone — replaced by something colder.
"We stop reacting," he said. "We make him show his hand."
Cassian nodded slowly. "He's confident. That makes him careless."
Anabeth drew a steady breath. "Then don't shut me out."
Rafael hesitated — then nodded. "I won't."
The bell rang in the distance.
Students poured back into the quad, unaware that lines had just been crossed.
High above them, from an office window, Professor Hale watched the scene unfold — Rafael's anger, Cassian's precision, Anabeth's composure.
He smiled.
Because the game had moved into the open.
And no one ever won by hiding forever.