Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)

Chapter 226 - 224: Thank God she’s wearing a jumpsuit.

Armand nodded slowly, like he was accepting this information for the sake of peace.

"I see."

Eryx did not see.

Eryx was already planning several crimes.

Armand gave them one last look, then turned and walked away, disappearing down the corridor and leaving the siblings to sort out their nonsense.

The moment he was out of sight, Eryx snapped.

He grabbed Laila’s wrist and shoved her lightly.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Laila barely stumbled. She straightened immediately and rolled her eyes hard.

"Oh my God, relax. Stop being an overprotective dick. You’re my big brother, not my boyfriend."

"That’s not the point!" Eryx hissed, hands clenched at his sides. "You don’t flirt with people like that, especially not him...Alaric."

"And why not?" she shot back. "Because you said so?"

"Because you don’t even know him!"

"And?" Laila shrugged. "That’s literally how knowing someone starts."

Eryx let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You walked into my school, dressed like that, flirted with a guy you’ve never met, embarrassed me in front of half the class, and you’re asking why not?"

She crossed her arms. "You’re embarrassed? I’m the one who got talked about like trash in your classroom, remember?"

That hit him hard.

Eryx’s jaw tightened. "That’s different."

"No, it’s not," she snapped. He dragged a hand down his face, pacing once like a caged animal. "You’re doing this on purpose."

Laila tilted her head, eyes flashing. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I’m tired of you acting like I need permission to breathe."

Silence stretched between them.

Eryx looked at her for a long time.

"Stay away from him," he said finally, voice low. "From both of them."

She laughed softly, not amused at all.

"You don’t get to control who I like, Eryx."

"I’m trying to protect you."

She stepped closer, gaze unwavering.

"From what? Them? Or from losing control over me?"

That shut him up.

Laila shook her head, turning away. "Get it together, big brother."

She walked off down the corridor, leaving Eryx standing there, chest tight, anger and worry twisting together in a way he absolutely hated.

=================================

Armand slid back into his seat beside Alaric.

Alaric glanced at him. "Where were you?"

"Restroom," Armand replied easily.

Alaric nodded, accepting it without question.

A second passed.

Then Armand smirked, leaning closer just enough to be annoying. "Oh, by the way... someone asked me to tell you you’re cute."

Alaric blinked. "...What?"

Armand’s smirk widened. "Yep. Exact word."

He frowned, suspicious. "A girl? What’s her name?"

Armand shrugged, eyes forward, completely unbothered. "Didn’t catch her name."

Alaric stared at him for a beat, then scoffed. "You’re lying."

Armand chuckled under his breath. "Believe what you want, pretty boy."

Alaric leaned back in his chair, lowering his voice. "Who was that?"

Armand didn’t even look at him. "No idea. But she looks like Eryx, so I’m guessing... Eryx’s sister."

"A baby?" Alaric raised a brow.

Armand snorted. "You say that like Athena isn’t eighteen too. By that logic, she’s a baby as well."

Alaric scowled slightly. "I already got past my crush on Athena."

"Oh?" Armand glanced at him. "So you’re into older women now?"

"No," Alaric shot back. "I just don’t want anything to do with an underage girl, or Eryx’s sister."

Armand hummed. "She doesn’t look underage to me."

Alaric turned fully toward him, brows lifting. "Wait. Are you rooting for her?"

Armand shrugged, lips curling into a lazy grin. "She’s fun and bold."

Alaric scoffed and turned to stare out the window. A second later, his gaze snagged on a familiar figure outside. The girl he saw with Eryx the other day.

He elbowed Armand lightly. "Is that her?"

Armand followed his line of sight, then nodded. "Yeah. That’s her." He paused for a beat. "She’s hot, right?"

Alaric didn’t even deny it. "Yeah... she is." Then he sighed, shaking his head. "But she’s Eryx’s sister. And he and I already don’t like each other."

Armand smirked. "So?"

"So I’m not about to become his brother-in-law," Alaric muttered, turning back to his desk. "I value my life."

Armand let out a quiet laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Relax. You’ve survived worse than an overprotective brother."

Alaric shot him a look. "You say that like you wouldn’t enjoy watching Eryx lose his mind."

Armand grinned unapologetically. "I absolutely would."

Alaric huffed, then went quiet again, eyes drifting back to the window where Laila was getting back into her car. He must say the girl has a nice figure.

"Besides... it’s not happening."

"Why?" Armand asked lightly.

Alaric turned to him, dead serious. "One, she’s Eryx’s sister. Two, she’s a werewolf. Three, she’s younger. And four," he added, lowering his voice, "you and I are over a hundred years old. We’ve seen empires rise and fall, and we drink blood for a living Armand. I’m not about to explain that to an eighteen-year-old."

Armand’s grin softened into something more thoughtful. "Fair point."

Alaric scoffed. "Exactly. I don’t need that kind of headache."

Armand tilted his head, smirk creeping back. "Still... you didn’t say she wasn’t attractive."

Alaric groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "That’s enough."

"And you’re in denial," Armand shot back pleasantly.

===========================

Laila drove to Rhydric’s house. She entered and saw Azrael walking down the stairs.

He looked stunned when he saw her. "You’re here?"

She smiled brightly and hugged him. "Oh God, you look like a car ran you over."

He just smiled and hugged her back. "When did you arrive?"

She raised a brow. "My brother didn’t say anything?"

"No."

Laila rolled her eyes. "He’s such a dick. I came a few weeks ago."

"Oh." That was all he said.

"Where is Rhydric?"

"He should be in his room."

Just then Rhydric descended from the stairs and Laila laughed, "Hello!" she said between her giggles like a baby.

Rhydric raised his brows as a small, rare smile tugged at his lips. "Didn’t know your little ass still existed," he said as he walked down the stairs.

Laila giggled like a little kid, stepping closer. "I’m not that easy to get rid of," she teased.

Rhydric groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Can you at least hug like a normal, cute girl? I don’t do violence."

Laila laughed, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I like violence."

Before he could react, she jumped, wrapping her arms around his neck and locking her legs around his sides.

Rhydric froze for a moment, then muttered under his breath, "Thank God she’s wearing a jumpsuit... what would’ve become of her otherwise?"

Azrael, standing nearby, shook his head and laughed. "I can’t with you two."

Rhydric just gave him a pointed look. "Don’t encourage her."

Laila only laughed harder.