After a while, the food was finally served, and the group gathered around the dining table. Plates clattered, and the warm aroma of the al filled the room.
Armand sat at the head of the table with Felicia beside him, still glancing occasionally at him with a soft smile. Leo and Levi were across from each other, playfully nudging each other between bites, occasionally making silly remarks that had the others laughing.
Of course it’s always them making stupid comnts. Unserious couple.
Laila slid into the seat beside Alaric, leaning just slightly toward him. He stiffened the mont she sat down, his knife pausing mid-air as if he wasn’t sure whether to eat or stay alert.
"Relax," she whispered, brushing her fingers lightly over his arm. "It’s just dinner."
Alaric exhaled through his nose, trying to calm himself, but his eyes kept flicking to her, sharp.
"Just... don’t make this harder than it already is," he muttered under his breath.
She smirked, unbothered, and picked up her fork. "Harder? ? Never."
Everyone continued eating in relative silence, the occasional clink of cutlery and plate is the only sound in the room.
Laila’s hand moved subtly under the table, brushing against Alaric’s leg. He stiffened imdiately, a sharp intake of breath betraying him, but he didn’t look at her.
Slowly, her hand slid higher, grazing the inner part of his thigh. His grip on his fork tightened, and a low, frustrated groan escaped him. "You really don’t know when to stop, do you?" he muttered, eyes still fixed on his plate.
She tilted her head, letting a sly smile tug at her lips. "I’m just... keeping you on your toes."
He let out a heavy sigh as his eyes remained fixed on his plate.
Laila’s hand didn’t stop, moving deliberately up his inner thigh, her fingers settled in the center and he froze. The fork Alaric had been holding slipped from his fingers and clattered loudly onto the plate, the sound echoing through the room.
Every pair of eyes snapped toward him.
"What’s wrong?" Felicia asked with raised eyes brow.
Laila tilted her head, mock-serious, and glanced at him. "Are you okay, Alaric?" she asked, letting her hand grab him through his pant.
Alaric shot her a warning look under his lashes, then firmly grabbed her hand beneath the table and shoved it away from his thing.
How dare she touch it little brother like it belong to her?
Laila smiled and calmly resud eating as if nothing had happened.
Across the table, Leo squinted slightly, sensing sothing but not quite catching it.
Then suddenly, he leaned back in his chair. "Laila... is Eryx coming for prom?"
The question shifted the air.
Laila shrugged casually. "He won’t. You know Athena,"
Leo nodded slowly in understanding, a knowing look passing between him and Levi.
That explained enough. He already had his doubt, especially since they didn’t attend school after the day Athena was missing.
Laila rested her elbow on the table and touched her chin thoughtfully, eyes distant, calculating."Okay guys..."
Laila began slowly, leaning back in her chair. "I know there’s nothing we can do to convince them to co if Athena isn’t going to be there... but we can trick them, right?"
Felicia and Armand exchanged a look.
Levi and Leo looked at each other, then at Laila.
Even Alaric, who had been silent until now, lifted his gaze toward her, trying to read what she ant.
"What do you an?" Levi asked cautiously.
Laila cleared her throat, folding her hands together like she was presenting a master plan.
"We don’t tell them Athena isn’t coming."
Leo blinked. "You want to lie?"
"Not lie," Laila corrected smoothly. "Omit."
Armand frowned slightly. "And when they show up and realize she’s not there?"
Laila smiled faintly. "By then, they’ll already be there. In front of everyone. Too late to make a dramatic exit without looking suspicious."
Levi leaned forward, intrigued now. "You’re saying we bait them."
"I’m saying," Laila replied calmly, "that sotis people need a little push. Once they’re in the sa room, they won’t walk out. Pride won’t let them."
Felicia hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around her fork. "That doesn’t sit right with . What if we think they won’t make a scene... and they do?"
"They won’t," Laila replied calmly. "I know them perfectly. Eryx would, of course, yell at ..." she shrugged lightly, "...but Rhydric wouldn’t let him do more than that."
Rhydric had always been protective of her since she was young, but that doesn’t an he wouldn’t get annoyed that she trick them. Still he wouldn’t take it too deep like how Eryx would or Azreal, the mate.
Levi leaned back slowly. "You sound very sure."
"I am," Laila said without hesitation.
Felicia still looked uneasy. "But isn’t that playing with their hearts?"
A brief pause followed.
Laila’s expression didn’t change, but sothing in her eyes shifted into sothing serious now. "Yeah," she admitted. "It is."
"But all their Mom is going to be at prom," she continued quietly. "What happens when she cos... and doesn’t see him? Isn’t that also bad?"
The table went still.
Leo exhaled slowly. "So you’re saying either way... there’s going to be drama."
"There’s always drama," Laila said softly. "I’m just choosing the one we can control."
Alaric looked at her carefully. "So what’s the plan?"
Laila’s lips curved slowly. "Good," she said, pleased he was finally engaging. "I’m going to call the most reasonable of them all."
Leo blinked. "That sounds dangerous already."
Laila leaned back in her chair. "Theo."
Levi let out a low whistle. "You’re going for Frost? I don’t like to get on that guy’s wrath."
Armand frowned slightly. "You think he’ll agree?"
"He will," Laila replied calmly. "Theo doesn’t like unnecessary conflict. If I fra it the right way, he’ll convince the others to at least show up."
Felicia tilted her head. "Fra it how?"
Laila tapped her finger lightly against the table, thinking. "I’ll tell them Athena is coming."
Levi’s brows shot up. Leo actually choked on his drink.
Alaric’s eyes narrowed. "And you think they’d believe you? After all the searching they did? They practically lost hope."
The room fell quiet. But Laila didn’t flinch. "They didn’t lose hope," she corrected calmly. "They lost leads. That’s not the sa thing."
Armand folded his arms. "This isn’t a small lie, Laila."
She looked around the table slowly, then leaned forward. "They trust ."
Leo blinked. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she said simply. "Because I don’t speak unless I’m certain."
Alaric studied her face carefully. "Are you certain?"
"I’m certain she’ll be there," Laila replied smoothly. "I just didn’t say in what way."
Felicia frowned. "What does that an?"
Laila’s lips curved slightly. "Athena won’t show up physically."
Confusion spread across the table.
"But her na will," Laila continued. "And that’s enough to bring them."
Alaric’s jaw tightened. "You’re playing with emotions."
"Yes," she said evenly. "Because sotis that’s the only thing that moves people."
Felicia let out a small laugh, though it carried uncertainty. "I don’t know... I don’t think this is nice." Felicia said gently. "Just because things are ssy doesn’t an we should make them ssier."
Leo nodded slowly. "She has a point."
Levi leaned back, folding his arms. "This could blow up in our faces."
Laila exhaled, resting her elbows on the table. "It’s going to blow up anyway."
Everyone went quiet.
"You think avoiding it makes it disappear?" she continued. "It doesn’t. It just delays it. And when it finally happens, it’s worse."
Felicia studied her carefully. "Or maybe... it gives people ti to heal."
Laila’s smile faded slightly at that. "Healing doesn’t happen in hiding," she said quietly. "It happens when you face what you’re running from. And these guys are my big brothers and I love them."
She looked around the table, her playful expression gone now. "So I need your support," she said calmly. "But the consequences are on . Entirely."
Silence settled into the room.
Leo straightened slightly. "You an that?"
"Yes."
Armand frowned. "You can’t just carry sothing like that alone."
"I can," Laila replied evenly. "And I will."
Felicia’s voice softened. "Why does it have to be you?"
Laila’s jaw tightened just slightly, barely noticeable. "Because it was always going to be."
Levi studied her carefully. "And if this backfires?"
She gave a small shrug. "Then they yell at . They bla . They cut off for a while." Her voice didn’t shake. "I’ve survived worse."
That made Alaric’s gaze sharpen. "You don’t have to do this," he said quietly.
For the first ti, she looked directly at him. "I know," she replied.
Leo exhaled. "You’re insane. Fine I agree, but I’m blaming you too if this backfires."
"That’s fine by ," she laughed lightly.
Felicia looked around the table, then back at Laila. "...If we do this, we do it together."
Armand nodded slowly.
Levi smirked. "Well. If we’re causing chaos, we might as well do it properly."
All eyes turned to Alaric.
He held Laila’s gaze for a long second.
Then he finally said. " I’m in."
Laila couldn’t help the smile that blood on her face. "Thank you."
Alaric looked away scratching his neck. "It’s okay."
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