Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)

Chapter 253 - 252: Is this a joke to you

Eryx immediately coughed behind them. "That is the biggest lie I’ve heard today."

Laila didn’t even look back. "Nobody asked you, asshole."

Theodore let out another short laugh, shaking his head again. "She’s worse than before."

"I’ve matured," Laila insisted, still holding Azrael’s sleeve. "I just express it differently now."

Azrael looked down at her for a second, then lightly flicked her forehead with two fingers. "No," he said calmly. "You haven’t."

Laila gasped. "That was violent," she pouted, holding her head.

Eryx snorted. "She would have burst into tears if I was the one who flicked her head like that."

Theodore tilted his head at her. "...I remember why I didn’t miss you," he said plainly.

Laila blinked, caught completely off guard. Then she pointed at him. "Excuse you? What exactly is that supposed to mean, Frost?" she asked as she strolled toward him.

Theodore slid a hand into his trouser pocket, clearly pleased with himself. "It means," he said, unhurried, "you’re exhausting. And I had a very peaceful few weeks not having to deal with you." Then he added, almost thoughtfully, "Honestly, I should thank the moon goddess for the break."

Laila froze. Her mouth fell open slightly before she gasped, clutching her chest like she’d just been stabbed. "Oh my god," she said dramatically, stepping back a little. "You all came back united just to bully me."

She turned suddenly to Rhydric, who had been silent the entire time, his foot tapping lightly against the floor like his patience was thinning.

"You..." she pointed at him accusingly, "say something."

Rhydric didn’t look at her. "I have nothing to add," he said flatly.

Laila stared at him. Then her eyes narrowed. "So you agree with him."

Rhydric’s foot stopped tapping, before finally looking at her. "...I didn’t say that."

"That sounded like agreement," she shot back instantly.

Eryx let out a quiet laugh behind her. "He didn’t defend you either."

Laila turned sharply. "You’re enjoying this too much."

"I really am," Eryx said without shame.

Laila looked between all of them, then shook her head slowly like she’d reached a conclusion. "Unbelievable," she muttered. "I leave you people alone for a few weeks and you come back worse."

Theodore shrugged. "We improved."

"That is not an improvement," Laila snapped.

Rhydric cleared his throat, impatient. "Laila... where’s Athena?" he asked, like he was done searching the room and had decided she was the only answer left.

Laila swallowed. All four of their attention settled on her at once. She hadn’t thought they would ask this soon.

For a second, she just stood there, her fingers tightening slightly against her gown before she forced a smile back onto her face.

"...Wow," she said lightly, glancing between them. "Straight to the point. No ’how have you been’, no ’you look amazing’, nothing?"

No one answered. Eryx just raised a brow at her.

Laila let out a small breath through her nose, then nodded once like she was accepting something only she understood. "Right. Tough crowd," she muttered.

She clapped her hands lightly together. "Anyway, have you guys eaten? The food here is actually decent for once, which is shocking, because last time—"

"Laila." Rhydric’s voice cut through it.

She stopped mid-sentence.

Eryx tilted his head slightly. "Don’t do that."

"Do what?" she asked quickly.

"Talk around it," he said. "You only do that when something’s wrong."

Laila let out a small laugh, a little too quick. "Nothing’s wrong. Why would something be wrong?"

Azrael finally spoke, his voice quieter than the rest.

"...Where is she?"

Laila’s smile stayed, but it didn’t reach her eyes anymore.

She looked at him for a second, then away, like she was searching for something else to say. Anything that would save her from this calamity.

"She’s..." she started, then stopped.Her fingers curled slightly at her side.

"Laila," Theodore said, watching her closely now. "Answer the question."

She exhaled softly, shaking her head like they were all overreacting. "You all just walked in and decided to interrogate me immediately? At least sit down first, you’re making this look serious."

"It is serious," Eryx said with humor this time.

L

aila’s throat tightened just slightly. She looked at them again. And none of them were letting it go.

"...You guys are so dramatic," she tried again, quieter now. "She’s probably just—"

"Laila."

This time, it was Azrael. And it made her stop completely.

Laila didn’t have anything ready to say.

Eryx looked like he’d lost every bit of restraint he had left.

In the next second, he crossed the distance between them.

His hand closed around her arm as he pulled her toward him, forcing her to face him fully.

"Laila," he said, his jaw tight with incoming anger. "Stop."

The movement startled her, her balance shifting slightly before she steadied herself, her free hand instinctively pressing against his wrist. "Eryx—"

"No," he cut in immediately. "You don’t get to dodge this."

The noise in the hall had dulled into something distant, like it didn’t belong anywhere near them anymore.

"Look at me," he said.

She already was. But she wished she wasn’t. Because there was nothing easy in his expression now. He looked like if she didn’t talk he would murder her.

"Where is she?"

Laila’s lips parted slightly. Her fingers tightened slightly against Eryx’s wrist. "...You’re hurting me," she said quietly.

Eryx didn’t let go. In fact his grip tightened. "Then answer me," he said.

Laila looked at him, then past him, like she was trying to find something in the distance that would fix this for her.

A/T: Girl nothing is saving you.

"She’s not here," she said, and shut her eyes.

"What did you say?" Eryx’s voice came out low, and dangerous.

Laila’s fingers tightened slightly where they rested against his wrist. For a second, she didn’t open her eyes, like if she didn’t look at them, she wouldn’t have to see what came next.

Then she inhaled softly. And opened them. "I said," she repeated, quieter this time, "she’s not here."

All traces of calmness disappeared from Azrael’s face. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean? Is this a joke to you?" he asked, his voice rising, sharp and unrestrained.

The shift was immediate.

Conversations around the hall faltered. As curious gazes turned, one after another, until attention settled fully on them.

Laila flinched at his tone, her gaze dropping to the floor, her throat tightening as the weight of it all pressed in at once.

She was about to speak, when a voice came from behind them.

"Eryx."