Fallen Angel's Harem in the Abyss

"Prey"

Azareel blinked, his head tilting slightly. "I—wait, am I?" he asked, his voice soft, a hint of surprise coloring his tone.

"Obviously," Nyxsha snapped, her fangs glinting as she shot him a glare, though her tail curled protectively closer to his leg.

Sylvara's smile was thin, her vines rustling faintly behind her.

"You sleep with him curled in your tail," she said, her voice a gentle accusation, her amber eyes narrowing.

"He's warm," Nyxsha growled, her fur bristling slightly.

"You slapped a vine off his cheek when I touched him," Sylvara continued, her flowering hair blooming a shade brighter, as if emphasizing her point.

"It startled me," Nyxsha retorted, her claws flexing against her arms.

Virelya leaned in, her serpentine grin widening, her mask tilting with mock innocence.

"You growled when I coiled him," she whispered, her golden eyes glinting.

"Because you hissed while doing it," Nyxsha shot back, her tail lashing hard enough to scatter a few loose petals.

"Darling," Virelya sighed, her voice dripping with amusement, "that's how I breathe."

Meanwhile, Azareel, true to his nature, had quietly wandered toward the glowing edge of the garden, his bare feet sinking into the soft moss.

The vines rustled open without resistance, curling back like welcoming fingers, their crimson leaves parting to reveal clusters of shimmering berries.

One particularly bold vine dropped a fat, juicy fruit into his hand, its glow illuminating his pale face.

He blinked, his silver eyes wide. "Oh. Thank you," he said softly, his voice sincere, as if speaking to an old friend.

Another vine tapped his cheek, light and playful.

He turned—and Virelya was already there, her coils slithering around him like a silk scarf with ulterior motives, her mask inches from his face.

"I missed you, Still One," she breathed, her golden eyes narrowing with possessive delight.

From behind him, Sylvara stepped into view, her hands outstretched, a small platter of vines cradling exactly three kinds of berries—each one glittering with morning dew, their hues shifting from orange to deep blue.

"You didn't try the duskfruits last time," she said softly, her voice a melodic hum, her amber eyes softening with quiet longing.

Azareel looked between them, a bit dazed, his silver hair tousled by a gentle vine.

"They're all so generous…" he murmured, his voice warm with gratitude.

From the edge of the clearing came a low growl, rumbling like distant thunder.

Nyxsha stood with her arms crossed, one foot tapping violently against the stone, her claws scraping faint grooves.

Her tail lashed once, twice, then calmed slightly when Azareel glanced her way, his innocent smile diffusing her fury just a fraction.

"Do not let them swallow you," she warned, her golden eyes flashing, her voice a sharp command.

Azareel smiled gently, raising one berry in his hand.

"They just want to share. That's all," he said, his tone earnest, as if the rivalry swirling around him were nothing more than a misunderstanding.

Nyxsha narrowed her eyes, her massive form tensing.

"They want to eat you," she snarled, her tail thumping the ground.

He tilted his head, his silver eyes thoughtful. "Doesn't sharing come from hunger, too?" he asked, his voice soft but profound, hanging in the air like a gentle revelation.

Sylvara actually paused, her vines stilling mid-curl, her amber eyes flickering with surprise.

Virelya blinked, her mask tilting slightly, her golden eyes narrowing in confusion.

Nyxsha sighed—loudly—and stomped over, her paws thudding against the moss.

"You know what? Fine. If you get eaten, I'm dragging your dumb corpse back myself," she grumbled, her voice thick with reluctant defeat.

She stopped at the edge of the blanket of moss, refusing to sit, refusing to relax, but refusing to leave either, her golden eyes vigilant.

Sylvara smiled faintly and offered her a berry, its glow tempting in her palm.

Nyxsha slapped it away, the fruit bursting in a spray of juice.

Virelya offered her a coiled cushion, her mask cracking with a smirk.

Nyxsha kicked it, sending it tumbling across the moss.

Azareel scooted over, holding out a glistening blue one, his silver eyes hopeful. "

This one tastes like starlight," he said softly.

She paused, her tail twitching.

Then snatched it, biting down hard—and spat it out instantly, the juice arcing through the air.

"Disgusting," she muttered, wiping her muzzle with the back of her paw.

But she stayed, her massive form a brooding presence amid the blooming chaos.

And the garden, for once, was still—not at peace, but something near it, the air humming with a tentative truce.