Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet garden, the tension between Eryx and Athena settling like a storm cloud just overhead.
Athena's heart thudded in her chest, and she instinctively glanced at Eryx, unsure of what he was going to say next.
Eryx's gaze didn't waver from hers. He ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to find the words that could make this less unbearable.
"I… don't even know where to start," he admitted, voice low, raw. "And I know you're probably going to be annoyed with me after this, but I need you to understand… I didn't take advantage of you."
Athena's chest tightened at his words, her hands clutching the folds of her white gown.
Eryx stepped closer, his presence heavy, unwavering. "If I wanted… if I wanted to sleep with you, I would've done it. We were alone in that room… but I didn't."
