Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 217 - 215: I want you

She slipped gently out of Azrael’s hold and stood, facing Eryx. "You get five minutes. And that’s it."

Azrael stiffened instantly. "Athena?"

She turned to him, voice softer but firm. "Azrael, please. Let me hear him out."

His jaw clenched as his hands flexed at his sides before he dragged a breath in through his nose.

"Five minutes," he repeated slowly, eyes never leaving Eryx. "That’s four minutes and fifty-nine seconds more than I’m comfortable with."

Leo whispered loudly, "Protective boyfriend mode activated."

Azrael ignored him.

He stood and stepped closer to Athena, lowering his voice just for her. "Do make me wait for too long."

Athena gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I won’t."

Azrael straightened, gaze snapping back to Eryx. "You say one thing that upsets her, and you’re going to hate me. Understand?"

Eryx nodded once. "I do."

Rhydric glanced between them and deadpanned, "Wow. Five minutes. Generous."

Theo hid a grin behind his hand. Whose side is this fucker on?

Eryx slid his hand in hers and guided her to somewhere far away. But they could still be seen, but not enough to hear them.

Eryx released her hand once they were far enough.

Athena crossed her arms, grounding herself. "What do you want to say?" Her tone was calm, but her chest felt tight.

Eryx dragged a hand through his hair, jaw working. "Athena... it’s about us."

She shut her eyes briefly and swallowed. "Eryx, please."

"No." He shook his head, stepping closer again. He reached for her hand and held it desperately. "You don’t get to shut this down anymore."

Her eyes snapped open. "Eryx—"

"Just listen," he said quietly. "That’s all I’m asking."

He exhaled, long and shaky, like he’d been holding it in for weeks. "I miss you."

Athena shut her eyes, already preparing herself to speak, but he shook his head quickly, stopping her. "You said you loved me," he continued, voice low but intense. "Even after you mated with Azrael. Right?"

Her throat tightened.

"Did that love just... die?" he asked, blinking hard. "Just like that?" His voice dropped, raw now. "I know what we shared was real, Athena. Please don’t make it sound like it was fake. My heart..." he swallowed, hand pressing briefly to his chest, "—it can’t take that."

Athena’s chest constricted painfully. She turned her face away, refusing to look at him, because if she did, she knew she’d crack.

"I can’t get you out of my head," Eryx went on, the words tumbling out like an unstoppable wave. "Not after that night. Not after everything. I keep imagining what it would be like to wake up with you beside me. I don’t want a life where you’re not in it." His voice broke. "Please, Athena. Don’t leave me."

When she finally looked at him, her breath hitched. Tears had gathered in his eyes, Eryx, who never begged, never faltered, was crying for her?

She stepped closer without thinking, both hands coming up to cradle his face. "Please don’t cry," she whispered, thumbs brushing beneath his eyes.

He let out a soft, broken laugh. "You see?" he said hoarsely. "That’s the problem."

She frowned slightly. "What is?"

"Even when you’re breaking my heart," he said gently, leaning into her touch, "you’re still the one comforting me."

Her vision blurred, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "Eryx..."

He smiled through the ache, resting his forehead briefly against hers. "That’s how I know what I feel is real. Because loving you has never been easy, but it’s always been worth it."

Athena’s lips trembled, her grip tightening just a little, emotions warring violently inside her as she fought to keep herself steady.

Athena’s hands slowly slid from his face, but she didn’t step back. Her voice came out low, tight, like she was holding herself together by sheer will.

"You think this is easy for me?" she said, letting out a short, broken laugh. "It’s not. It’s killing me too, Eryx. Every day. But I can’t..." She shook her head. "I can’t hurt Azrael. I won’t."

Eryx turned away abruptly, dragging a hand through his hair. For a moment, he said nothing. His shoulders rose and fell once. Twice. Like he was wrestling something inside himself.

"You think I don’t know that?" he muttered.

He faced her again, eyes darker and stormy. "Do you have any idea how many times I’ve told myself to let you go?" His jaw clenched. "How many times I’ve stood right there," he gestured vaguely behind him "... watching you with him and thinking, this is where I should walk away?"

He laughed under his breath, bitter. "I tried. I really did"

He stepped closer, until his chest was brushing her. "But then you look at me like that. Or you laugh. Or I remember that night." His voice dipped. "And everything I built to keep you out just... breaks."

Athena’s chest tightened. "I miss you," he admitted."And I hate that I do. I hate that my first thought in the morning is you, and my last at night is what it would feel like to wake up beside you."

His eyes flickered shut for a second. "I don’t want a life where you’re just a memory I pretend didn’t matter."

She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "Eryx—". "It’s hard for me too," she whispered. "It’s tearing me apart. But I won’t destroy someone else to save myself."

Eryx let out a slow breath, like he was steadying himself against a fall. "I know," he said. "And that’s why this hurts so damn much."

His hand slide to her waist. "I don’t want you because it’s easy. I want you even knowing I don’t get to have you. I want you knowing you choose him every day." His eyes locked onto hers. "I’d never ask you to betray him. Never."

Her lips trembled.

"But don’t mistake my restraint for weakness," he said firmly. "I want you. Fully. Completely. I’ve never wanted anyone like this."