Athena walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a short towel that barely behaved itself, another towel twisted around her head like a crown.
The air slling faintly of lavender.
She stopped short when she saw Azrael.
The great alpha of the south was in the middle of her closet like a man on a mission or a man possessed. Each one suits him.
Her dresses were everywhere. On the bed. On the chair. On the floor. One was dangling from his arm, another clutched in his fist as he muttered to himself like the fate of the world depended on sequins and fabric cuts.
"No, no, absolutely not," he said, tossing a perfectly fine dress over his shoulder. "This one is too soft. I want sothing that says I arrived and everyone else should go ho."
Athena blinked. Why was he giving Felicia’s vibe tonight?
"...Are you okay?" she asked slowly.
He spun around, eyes lighting up when he saw her. "There you are!" He marched toward her, then paused, frowned, and pointed accusingly at the towel. "You cannot look like that right now. I’m trying to focus."
She snorted. "Not my business if you can’t keep your eyes to yourself."
"Oh it is..." he teased as he pulled her by the waist. " Because who would be screaming beneath when I’m in action?"
Athena eyes widened and she hit his arms. "Shut up... you’re not any better."
He laughed then, turned back to the closet, digging again. "Adrianna is hosting a poolside birthday party and I refuse, refuse to let you show up looking anything less than devastating."
Athena leaned against the doorfra, amused. "You know I could wear a sack and still survive."
"Yes," he agreed imdiately. "But I want her to suffer."
He pulled out another dress, held it up, squinted, then shook his head. "No. This one says ’nice.’ We are not being nice tonight."
Athena laughed, the sound soft and warm. "Azrael, you’ve turned my closet into a cri scene."
He looked around, completely unapologetic. "It’s necessary destruction."
She stepped closer, peering at the chaos. "So what exactly are you looking for?"
He glanced at her, eyes darkening just a little as they swept over her towel-clad form. "Sothing that makes people forget their own nas."
Athena rolled her eyes, smiling. "You’re dramatic."
"Yes," he said proudly. "And you’re the reason for that.."
She shook her head, laughing. Then she folded her arms...well, as much as the towel allowed and cleared her throat loudly.
"For your information, Husband," she said, lifting her chin, " I already have sothing to wear."
Azrael froze.
Slowly, he turned around, one eyebrow arching as if she had just deeply wounded him.
"Oh," he scoffed, placing a hand over his chest in exaggerated offense. "I see. So all this" he gestured broadly at the disaster zone that used to be her closet. "was for nothing?"
He glanced down at the dresses littering the floor. "Do you know how emotionally attached I’ve beco to so of these?"
Athena laughed. "You’re being dramatic again."
"Again?" he gasped. "Athena, I was protecting my honor as your husband. I take my duties seriously."
He stepped closer, eyes narrowing playfully. "So what exactly is this mysterious outfit you’ve been hiding from ?"
She smirked. "You’ll see."
Azrael clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. But if, you walk into that party and everyone collapses, I’m taking full credit."
Athena smiled sweetly. "Dream on."
He grinned back. "Oh, I am. And I like what I see already."
Athena stepped carefully into what remained of her closet, kicking aside a dress and hopping over a pair of heels. From the very back, she dragged out two neatly packed bags and dropped them on the dressing table with a satisfied little thump.
"Here it is," she announced proudly.
Azrael turned, arms crossed, eyes imdiately narrowing. "That’s it?" he asked, clearly unimpressed. "All this chaos for two bags?"
She ignored him and pointed toward the door. "Now turn around and give so privacy so I can change."
Azrael let out a short laugh, clearly offended. "Privacy?" He tilted his head, smirking. "Mate, I’ve already seen everything. What exactly are you hiding from ?"
Athena rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck. "Don’t ss with my patience. Now move."
He sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up. "Fine. Reject your loving husband. Break my heart."
As he walked toward the door, he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear, "If you destroy with that thing you’re about to wear, I’m suing for emotional damage."
Athena laughed, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at his back. "Out!"
He chuckled, shut the door behind him, and she heard him say through the door, "I’ll be right here. Suffering. Waiting."
Still smiling, Athena turned back to the bags.
A few minutes later, Athena called his na.
"Azrael."
He walked back in almost imdiately and Athena shook her head.
Azrael froze.
His eyes dragged over her slowly, from the white knee-high heeled boots hugging her legs like they were custom-made, up past the black micro skirt that sat dangerously high on her thighs, to the white cropped top clinging to her torso, leaving her stomach bare and unapologetic. The cropped black-and-white jacket frad her perfectly, sharp and bold, giving her that don’t-touch-but-you-want-to aura.
Azrael swallowed.
"What..." his voice ca out rougher than intended, "...the hell."
Athena tilted her head slightly, pretending innocence. "Is that good or bad?"
He stepped closer without realizing it, eyes darkened as his jaw tightened "That," he said slowly, "is you walking into a room and making every man forget how to breathe."
She smirked. "You were the one who said you wanted to kill."
He let out a low, disbelieving laugh and ran a hand through his hair. "I didn’t an massacre."
She shrugged lightly. "Overachiever."
Azrael reached out, fingers brushing the edge of her jacket, possessively. "You know," he murmured, "I’m going to spend the entire night reminding everyone that you’re mine."
Her smile sharpened. "Good. Because I don’t plan on being subtle."
He leaned in, forehead touching hers. "You look dangerous."
Athena’s eyes glead. "I am... you’re just too late to realise it."
At the party, different silhouettes were already dancing to the soft music playing by the DJ, so swimming, so drinking, so gisting and laughing loudly.
The pool lights reflected off the water, making everything feel electric.
Eryx was sitting by a table, nursing a glass of whiskey. Theo had specifically told him Athena was coming, and he wasn’t about to miss that. Although she already publicly said it, but that might just be her trying to bruise Adrianna’s ego.
anwhile, Theo was dancing with a female student, whispering sweet things into her ear. The girl blushed furiously, clearly hanging on every word, even though Theo wasn’t planning anything, he was just teasing.
It looks like what Eryx would do.
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