She squeezed her eyes shut, she could feel her heart trembling in her chest.
"I can't," she whispered. Her voice cracking even when she tried to steady it. "I...I need to clear my head."
Eryx didn't give any reaction, just stared at her. The Athena tried to rise from his lap, his hands tightened again around her.
"Don't...go." he said under his breath. Almost pleading.
Athena placed her hands on his chest, not pushing… just resting them there. Her head bowed anything to avoid those eyes of his.
"Eryx…" Her voice was barely audible. "Please."
That one word hit him like blade. He inhaled sharply and then, his fingers unclenched from her waist slowly.
Athena slid off his lap, legs weak for a second before she steadied herself. She didn't say anything else as she turned and began to walk away.
Eryx watched her retreating figure silently, his eyes following her every step like she was drifting away from the place she belonged.
