CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 80: UNLIKE THEODORE... I CAN WARM YOU UP.

Athena forgot how to breathe.

Theo lowered his hand a little, breathing hard, not from strain, but from the intensity of his focus.

He didn’t look at the castle. He looked at her.

Her white hair glowing.

Her lips parted.

Her eyes reflecting his ice like starlight.

"What do you think?" he asked, voice low, almost hesitant.

Athena didn’t answer at first.

She reached out with trembling fingers, touching the nearest frosted edge of the pool.

The cold shocked her skin. It’s real, alive, she wasn’t illusinating.

"It’s..." Her voice cracked softly. "...beautiful."

Theo’s jaw tightened just slightly, his chest rising with a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Then he said, quieter,

"Not everything about being a werewolf is a curse."

Athena turned to look at him fully, really look at him.

And for the second time since stepping into this house of monsters...

She didn’t feel fear. Just awe.

And something warm spreading beneath her ribs.

Theo’s gaze locked with hers, his eyes now back to normal.

"You wanted proof," he murmured.

"There it is."

Theo didn’t expect her next words.

"Show me more." Athena demanded, her eyes bright like a child staring into a world she wasn’t supposed to see.

Theo’s breath caught.

"More?" he echoed, a brow lifting.

Athena nodded, her white hair glowing in the moonlight. "Yeah. Can you?"

For a moment, he didn’t move. Didn’t say a word.

Just stared at her...this small human girl sitting beside him, barefoot, legs dangling in cold water like she belonged here.

Then, slowly...

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"...Alright."

He raised one hand again, this time not toward the pool, but toward the sky above her.

Athena watched his fingers curl and twist like he was pulling invisible strings.

A soft rumble vibrated through the air.

Then...

right above her head a small, shimmering cloud formed out of nothing.

Thin. White. Fluffy.

Athena blinked.

"Is that..."

Before she could finish, the tiny cloud pulsed... and released a gentle cascade of snowflakes.

They drifted down around her like feathers settling on her hair, her lashes, her shoulders.

Athena gasped softly, cupping her hands.

A few flakes landed on her palms, melting against her skin that is now getting cold.

She laughed.

A real laugh, although small, breathy and disbelieving, but genuine.

And warm despite the cold.

Theo couldn’t help but stared at her laughing under the snow he created.

Her white hair shining.

Her cheeks pink from the cold.

Her smile soft and real.

Something in his chest shifted painfully, sharp before settling into something warm that terrified him.

Athena tilted her head back, letting the snow fall on her face.

"Okay... this is actually amazing."

Theo felt the corner of his mouth twitch upward again an involuntary smile that he couldn’t fight.

"Yeah?" he said quietly.

She nodded, brushing snow from her lashes. "Yeah."

The snow cloud kept drifting lazily over her, releasing flakes like it existed only for her.

Theo watched her...reckless, infuriating girl who talked back to werewolves and didn’t know fear even when she should and a thought whispered through him, something he already acknowledge long ago.

She looks... beautiful.

He swallowed hard, tearing his eyes away for a second.

But still the smile stayed.

Athena tipped her head, snowflakes kept dropping on her skin. "Show me more," she said softly, almost breathless from wonder.

Theo’s small smile vanished. "No."

She blinked. "Why not?"

"No." He repeated it flatly, already pushing himself up from the rock he sat on.

Athena frowned and immediately followed. "Theo, why?"

He kept walking, shoulders tight, avoiding her eyes like the question physically stung.

She noticed the shift, the way the air around them had become colder, sharper. Her cheeks were flushed pink from it, but she didn’t complain. She only kept chasing him, stubborn as always.

"Theo," she said again, picking up her pace. "Why?"

He didn’t answer.

So she moved ahead of him, planting herself right in his path. Drops of melted snow slid down her cheek. Her shirt was damp in places where the tiny storm had kissed her, thin enough for him to sense the heat beneath her skin... and thick enough that she was grateful nothing showed. Because she was wearing nothing beneath.

Athena lifted her chin. "Are you seriously going to keep ignoring me?"

Theo finally met her eyes.

That was all it took for her breath to hitch.

His eyes darkened as he peered down at her and the little cloud at the top of her head.

"You want to see more?" he asked quietly.

Athena’s heart stumbled, not from fear but anticipation. "Yes."

Theo stepped closer. Slowly. As if crossing a line he hadn’t planned to cross tonight.

"Do you want to see the beauty of it all at once?" His voice dropped, deep and careful.

She didn’t move away.

In fact, she leaned a little closer. "Show me."

That was when he slid his hand around her waist. Not roughly just enough for her to feel his cold fingers press through the damp fabric. Enough for her to understand he could sense every degree of temperature her body gave off.

Her breath caught.

His eyes lowered briefly, noticing just how flushed her cheeks were... because of him. He swallowed, jaw tightening.

"That’s why I said no," he murmured. "You’re getting cold."

Athena’s lips parted. She hadn’t even realized how chilled her skin had become.

But she whispered, "I’m fine."

Theo let out a soft, humorless breath. "You’re pink like you’ve been standing in winter for hours."

Still, he didn’t pull his hand away. Neither did she.

"Do you still want more?" he asked, voice brushing over her skin like frost.

Athena nodded once.

Theo’s fingers on her waist flexed.

"Alright," he said. "Then I’ll show you everything."

Athena didn’t look away when Theo’s fingers slid from her waist. She watched him take a step back, turned around slowly and stayed behind her. His hands on her shoulders

"Fine," he murmured. "You want more?"

Before she could answer, he lifted one of his hand from her shoulder.

The air around them snapped.

A shimmer of frost spiraled outward from his palm...thin at first, then solidifying so fast the sound cracked like lightning.

An ice blade formed in midair.

Long. Sharp. Beautiful in a deadly way.

Athena’s breath hitched.

And then...

WHOOSH

The blade shot forward with terrifying speed.

She didn’t even gasp until it stopped three inches from her chest.

So close she could feel the cold radiating off its edge.

So close her heart slammed against her ribs hard enough to hurt.

Athena froze, lips parted, breath shaking as breathe heavily.

What the actual fuck?

Theo didn’t even react...he looked almost unbothered.

And then, with a flick of his fingers, the blade shattered...Falling into harmless snow at her feet.

He finally spoke.

"Do you still want to see more?"

Athena exhaled, the breath trembling out of her lungs as she turned to face him. "Are you... scaring me on purpose?"

Theo’s eyes narrowed. "Aren’t you supposed to be scared?"

"Well, for your information.." she lifted her chin, even though her heart was still racing, "I’m not scared."

Theo stared at her for a long moment.

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

"Well," he said softly, "you should be."

He stepped past her without sparing her a glance.

He just walked straight into the mansion, shutting the door behind him. So did the cloud on her head. Leaving Athena outside in the cold.

She didn’t have home to breath when she heard...

"Looks like you’re having a good time with Theo too."

Athena stiffened at the voice.

She turned and saw Eryx leaning against a stone pillar, arms folded, a smirk pulling one side of his mouth. His red hair standing out even more under the moonlight, and his eyes...those molten golden eyes, watched her too closely.

"I didn’t know you were good at making friends with someone who planned on wiping your memories," he added lazily.

"Eryx, please," Athena exhaled, already tired. "I don’t have time for your jealousy. It stinks."

He scoffed. "Yeah, I’m jealous. So what?"

He straightened and took a slow step toward her. "Aren’t you tired of messing with everyone’s head? Your boyfriend... Azrael... and now Theo?"

Athena’s brows drew together. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Eryx. Excuse me."

She tried to walk past him.

But his hand shot out fast and caught her wrist.

Before she could react, he tugged her forward.

Athena collided with his chest, warm...no, hot, too hot.

Her breath hitched instantly. Her skin prickled. She knew he ran warm naturally, but this... this was like standing near open fire.

Eryx leaned down slightly, eyes burning as they dropped to her lips, then slowly lifted to her eyes.

"I can also show you my powers," he murmured, voice dangerously soft. "Unlike Theodore... I can warm you up."

And he wasn’t lying.

Heat rolled off him in waves, coiling into her stomach, making her nerves twist.

Athena swallowed. "I... don’t want to see it."

"Why?" he pressed, his gaze sharpening. "Why don’t you want to see mine? Theodore showed you his...so why not see mine too?"