Chapter 63: Panic Attack

The moment Nikolai disappeared right after basketball practice without waiting for him as usual, Mikhail already knew something was off.

He ended up heading back to their room alone after parting ways with Eden, only to find that Nikolai was nowhere to be found, which was unusual. He could understand his brother’s attitude toward Starlight Dawson. Even though Mikhail knew Nikolai wasn’t actually as angry at her as he pretended to be, his brother still had a habit of locking himself away whenever he was annoyed or trying to sort through his thoughts.

If Nikolai wasn’t sulking somewhere in their room after ditching him earlier, then where exactly was he? Frowning, he pulled out his phone and fired off a quick message.

"What’s up, bro? Where are you?"

The reply came almost instantly.

"I’m busy. Talk to you later."

Mikhail’s brow furrowed deeper.

"What in the world is he busy with?" he muttered as he quickly typed back.

"Aren’t you forgetting something? It’s almost time for Combat Class. We talked about being among the third-year assistants helping out today."

Nikolai’s response came almost immediately again. "Can’t make it. Go alone. We’ll see later."

"What exactly is that idiot up to?" Mikhail snorted, tossing his phone onto the mattress.

It was so unlike Nikolai to skip out on their plans, especially this particular one. He might act like he hated the mere idea of them getting anywhere near Starlight Dawson, but Mikhail wasn’t blind. He had caught his twin staring at that one picture on her AsterBuzz profile more than once and discreetly following every update about her despite his desperate attempts to hide it.

The girl was clearly already rubbing off on him.

Nikolai had always had a thing for beautiful faces, and Starlight was undeniably gorgeous.

"Well, his loss," Mikhail grunted, shaking his head as he started changing out of his gym clothes and into the academy training uniform.

If Nikolai didn’t want to come, that was his problem. Mikhail would just enjoy having Starlight Dawson all to himself for once.

But whatever Nikolai was currently cooking up had better not ruin their original plan.

After changing, Mikhail glanced at the wall clock and cursed under his breath.

He was already a minute late for Combat Class.

Grabbing his things, he headed for the door, mentally calculating his options. Being late meant the students would probably already be paired up. If someone else had been assigned as Starlight’s third-year assistant, he would just have to make Ezabel switch it. It was a good thing she was the instructor in charge today.

He could easily persuade her to reassign him as Starlight’s assistant, either through shameless bribery or relentless pestering. Easy peasy.

But the moment he crossed the threshold of the Training Hall, every thought immediately vanished from his mind. Starlight was standing near the entrance, completely frozen in place.

Her body was trembling violently.

Her roommates were shouting her name as they rushed toward her. Then her knees buckled.

Mikhail moved instantly, crossing the distance in a blur of speed and catching her in his arms just before her body could slam into the hard floor.

"Miss Dawson?" Mikhail’s chest tightened with immediate concern. She was drenched in cold sweat, her eyes glassy and unfocused as shallow, desperate gasps tore from her throat.

Her body kept twitching against him, completely unresponsive to her surroundings.

"What happened to her? What’s going on?" Mikhail demanded, his voice laced with uncharacteristic panic as he held her upright.

"We don’t know!" Elle gasped, already kneeling beside Starlight, her face pale. "She was fine a second ago, then suddenly she just stopped moving and collapsed!"

Students from every corner of the hall were already crowding around, whispering frantically as they tried to see what was happening.

"Do you think something happened to her at the Headmistress’s office?" Chloe asked nervously, glancing between Mikhail and Starlight.

Mikhail frowned.

"None of that matters right now. I think we need to take her to the infirmary," Ariel said, her voice trembling with worry.

"Move back," Mikhail barked at the crowding students, pulling Starlight closer to his chest as he lowered himself onto the hard floor to better support her upper body.

He wrapped one arm securely around her waist to keep her upright while his other hand pressed gently against her shoulder blades, rubbing slow, steady circles into her back. "I think she’s having a panic attack," he muttered, watching her rapid breathing with growing concern.

"Starlight!" Elle called, visibly panicking as she leaned closer. There was no response.

"I think she’s waking up," Chloe said suddenly, noticing the faint movement behind Starlight’s eyelids. "Starlight!" Elle called again.

This time Starlight’s eyelashes fluttered. Her breathing remained heavy and uneven as she blinked rapidly, her unfocused gaze struggling to latch onto anything around her.

"Starlight! Please snap out of it!" Elle cried, gripping her shoulder and giving her a gentle shake. A violent gasp tore from Starlight’s throat.

Her entire body jerked in Mikhail’s arms as air finally rushed back into her lungs. She sucked in another shaky breath, then another, coughing slightly as her chest rose and fell in frantic bursts.

Mikhail immediately tightened his hold to steady her. "Starlight! Hey, stay with me! Breathe!" he said, leaning closer, his voice surprisingly gentle as the steady circles against her back never stopped. "That’s it. Just breathe. Yeah, just like that. Take your time."

Starlight blinked through the remaining haze, her vision slowly piecing the room back together. She took in the sea of worried and curious faces surrounding her. Her chest still felt tight, but the suffocating pressure that had crushed her moments ago had eased enough for her to breathe without fighting for every breath.

That monster, Otto, was nowhere among the crowd. She was sure she had seen him earlier.

She instinctively tried to sit up, but the arm wrapped firmly around her tightened immediately, refusing to let her pull away. Mikhail’s hand never stopped its slow, soothing motion against her back. Twisting in his hold, Starlight found herself looking directly at him.

She stared up at Mikhail’s sharp features, surprised to find genuine concern etched across them. She frowned and tried to pull out of his embrace, embarrassed to be seen like this, but his hold remained unyielding.

Of all the people to catch her, why did it have to be him? Planting a hand against the floor, she attempted to push herself upright. The moment she moved, Mikhail’s arm tightened around her waist, firmly preventing her from getting up.

"Don’t move," he said softly near her ear, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"You’re still not okay."

"I..." She swallowed. "I’m fine now. You can let me go," her voice lacked any real strength.

Mikhail scoffed softly, clearly unconvinced.

"You’re fine when the medical staff says you’re fine." Before Starlight could utter another word of protest, Mikhail shifted his grip and scooped her off the floor in one fluid motion, lifting her bridal-style into his arms. A startled yelp escaped her.

"Wait, Prince Mikhail!" she gasped, her hands instinctively grabbing his shoulders for balance.

Mikhail only adjusted her more securely in his arms. "Hold tight. I’m taking you to the infirmary," he said before turning to the crowd.

"Out of the way!" The students parted instantly.

Without slowing, Mikhail turned on his heel and strode out of the training hall.

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