Chapter 133 Guide him right!

Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Guide him right!

Back at the dining table, Oliver, Lamia, and Rose had finally returned to find Marcus still there. Well—Marcus wasn’t exactly waiting for anyone. He was eating. And not eating normally either—the man was practically inhaling the food.

Lamia stared at him incredulously as Marcus shoved another mouthful into his mouth and chewed as quickly as possible. "You didn’t go after your man?"

Marcus didn’t answer. Instead, he reached for a glass of water, gulped it down, and continued eating for another few seconds. Lamia blinked. "Marcus." Nothing. "Did you even hear me?"

Marcus finally swallowed the food, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and stood. Then he let out an enormous belch. Everyone froze. Marcus looked around awkwardly. "Now I can go after him." He cleared his throat. "And I’m sorry about my manners." Before anyone could respond, he dashed through the door.

Rose stared after him. "Did he seriously just eat an entire meal before deciding to chase after his man?"

Oliver shrugged. "Priorities."

Lamia slowly lowered himself into a chair. The moment his body touched the seat, pain shot through his legs and arms. "Ah!" He groaned loudly, grabbing his ankle. His body was still aching badly from Lysander’s attack. Lamia looked down at his bruised leg and sighed, then covered his face with both hands. "I am a horrible person, aren’t I?"

Rose and Oliver exchanged a glance. "I shouldn’t have said all of that." Lamia lowered his hands. Now that he had time to think about what had happened, his own words sounded worse and worse. He had wanted to protect Noah—that was all. At least, that was what he had told himself. But when he replayed the conversation in his head, he could hear how it must have sounded from Noah’s perspective. He hadn’t sounded like a friend trying to protect someone he loved. He had sounded jealous. Controlling. Like some bitter friend who couldn’t accept that Noah had made a choice he didn’t agree with.

Lamia groaned. "Oh, gods..." He buried his face again. "I sounded like a jealous bitch."

Rose tried not to laugh. She failed. Lamia immediately glared at her. "This isn’t funny."

"I know." Rose straightened herself. "I’m sorry." She wasn’t.

Lamia sighed. "I just wanted him to understand that Lysander isn’t safe."

"And he knows that." Rose’s voice softened. "But maybe he doesn’t want to hear it from you anymore."

That hurt. Lamia knew she was right. Oliver, who had been quietly listening, suddenly disappeared toward the kitchen. Lamia watched him. "What is he doing?"

A moment later, Oliver returned carrying a small bowl filled with water and a soft cloth. "Move a little." Lamia blinked. "What?" "I want to clean your wound." Oliver placed the bowl on the floor and knelt beside him.

Rose’s eyebrows shot upward. She had seen Oliver fight, seen him unleash Phoenix flames, seen him tear through supernatural creatures that would have terrified ordinary people. Yet here he was, kneeling on the floor and carefully cleaning Lamia’s bruised ankle. It was almost ridiculous—especially because Oliver was supposed to be the powerful, confident macho type. Rose still wasn’t completely used to the fact that there was another side to him.

Lamia lifted his leg slightly. "I don’t think—" Oliver touched the wound. "Ahhhhh!" Lamia nearly screamed. Oliver immediately placed a hand over his mouth. "Shhh." Lamia glared at him through his fingers. "That hurts!" "I know." Oliver gently massaged the area around the injury before continuing to clean it. "You’re the same person who was turning me against a wall the other day."

Lamia’s eyes widened. "Oliver!"

"So don’t tell me you suddenly became fragile." Oliver gave him an amused look. "Put that same energy into sitting still and letting me take care of you."

Rose’s face immediately turned bright red. She looked away. Oh. So that was what they were talking about. She suddenly felt like the world’s most unwanted third wheel. "I think..." Rose cleared her throat. "I should go check on the others." Neither of them responded. Rose looked at them. Still nothing. "I could also carry the food away since it’s obvious nobody is eating anymore." Nothing. Lamia was too busy staring at Oliver, and Oliver was too busy cleaning Lamia’s wound.

Rose slowly narrowed her eyes. "Wow." Still nothing. "Okay." She placed a hand over her chest dramatically. "That’s a very good way of saying you don’t need me." She rolled her eyes. "I guess I’ll just carry my ass away and leave you two lovebirds alone." Still nothing. Rose shook her head as she walked toward the door. "Unbelievable." The moment she reached it, she glanced back—they were still completely focused on each other. Rose sighed. "Being single around you two is becoming a personal attack." She left.

And the moment the door closed, the room became quiet. Oliver continued cleaning Lamia’s ankle. Lamia watched him for several seconds. "That hurts." "I know." "It really hurts." "It will stop soon." Oliver squeezed the cloth in the water and carefully continued. "You don’t need to worry."

Lamia stared at him. Oliver sighed. "And about Noah..." Lamia’s expression immediately changed. "What about him?" "You should accept that Lysander might actually be the one who can lead Ashton toward the right path." Lamia’s jaw tightened. Oliver continued before he could interrupt, "Lysander is powerful—extremely powerful. One of the strongest beings in the world, second only to the ancient Purebloods in certain aspects."

Lamia looked away. "That’s exactly what scares me."

Oliver frowned. "Why?"

"Because power doesn’t make someone invincible." Lamia’s voice became quieter. "If I’m afraid of anything, it’s that Lysander will eventually believe he’s too powerful for anyone to kill." He stared at the floor. "And then someone will find the thing that can actually destroy him."

Oliver stopped cleaning for a moment. Lamia continued, "Do you remember the oldest vampire in supernatural history?" "Of course." "He was supposedly immortal. No one believed he could die." Lamia gave a bitter laugh. "And guess what happened?" Oliver’s expression became serious. "He died." "Exactly." Lamia looked toward the garden. "Someone eventually discovered his weakness." His voice trembled. "So what happens if the same thing happens to Lysander?" Oliver remained silent. "What happens to Ashton then?" Lamia swallowed. "I don’t want him to die." His voice cracked slightly. "And I don’t want any of us to die either." He looked down at his hands. "I want us to live together. I want him to be happy. I want to see him survive everything that’s coming." His eyes became wet. "And instead of telling him that, I almost chased away my only friend." Lamia covered his face. "What have I done?"

Oliver immediately moved closer. Lamia leaned into him, allowing himself to be held. For once, there was no argument, no sarcasm, no stubbornness—just fear. Oliver wrapped his arms around him. "You’re scared." Lamia nodded. "Of course I’m scared." "Then stop treating fear like it’s proof that you’re right." Lamia slowly lifted his head. Oliver continued, "Look at Ashton." He wiped away the moisture beneath Lamia’s eye. "He’s dealing with too many things at once—the Emperor, the Purebloods, his powers, the Alphas, Lysander, the supernatural world." He shook his head. "Anyone would break under that pressure." Lamia listened quietly. "Instead of arguing with him every time he’s afraid, help him through it." Oliver smiled faintly. "And be happy for him."

Lamia sighed. "You really think I should support him?"

"I think you should be his friend." Oliver squeezed his hand. "Because if a Pureblood chooses a mate, I don’t think anyone is going to change that decision."

Lamia looked toward the ceiling. "So I’m either going to abandon my friend because I’m afraid..." He took a breath. "...or I can stand beside him and face whatever comes."

Oliver smiled. "Exactly."

Lamia’s eyes became teary again. "I’ll apologize." "Good." "I still want him to be safe." "I know." "I was just too dramatic." Oliver chuckled. "Extremely." Lamia hit his shoulder. "Shut up." Oliver laughed.

For the first time since the argument, the heaviness in Lamia’s chest began to disappear. "I’ll apologize to him." He looked at Oliver. "Thank you." Oliver smiled. "Anytime."

There was a brief silence. Then Lamia’s pheromones suddenly shifted. Oliver froze—his expression changed almost immediately. Lamia noticed. "What?" Oliver swallowed. "Nothing." "Oliver." "Your pheromones are getting stronger." Lamia blinked. "Oh." He hadn’t even noticed. Oliver suddenly looked away. "Maybe you should calm down." Lamia raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Oliver didn’t answer. Lamia’s lips curled into a small smile. "Oliver." The Phoenix witch finally looked at him. The tension between them changed instantly. Lamia reached toward him. Oliver hesitated for only a moment before pulling him closer. He leaned closer, and Lamia’s fingers curled into his shirt.

AUTHOR NOTE: AS I SAID EARLIER I WAS SO SICK. MEANT TO DO MASS RELEASE BUT MY BODY COULDN’T HANDLE IT. ON WEEKEND I WILK TRY MY BEST WITH FOUR ChapterS FOR BOTH DAYS, BUT FOR NOW PLEASE BARE WITH ME...