Athena stared at him, her expression shifting from surprise to something sharper.
The vulnerability in his voice hit her, but it also lit a fire in her chest. She leaned closer, refusing to let him hide. "Azrael," she said, voice low but firm. "Look at me."
He didn't at first. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes fixed on the wall like it was safer than facing her. Athena reached up and gently but insistently turned his face toward hers.
"I'm not going to pretend anymore," she said clearly. "I do want all of you. I love all of you and I already admitted to that before. And yes, I'm going to show it. I'm done walking on eggshells, worrying about who feels what, or trying to balance some impossible equation so no one gets hurt."
Azrael's eyes flashed with pain.
"So what am I then?" he asked, voice cracking slightly. "Just one of four? Equal shares? After everything we had before you disappeared? You were mine, Athena. My girlfriend. My mate. Not… this."
