Thriving out of spite.

Rage prickled across his skin. Erik's scarlet eyes locked on this greenish-skinned freak as they circled his mate, the magic of the Flipped Realm tickling across her scent. A snarl rumbled up from the depths of his chest, putting himself between her and Lucy. She stalled in her pacing, green eyes meeting his gaze for a moment, before a smirk graced her maw. She tisked, as if he were nothing more than a cub, and her aura crashed into him like a tidal wave. His joints buckled for a moment, wavering under its pressure, before righting himself. A laugh bubbled up her throat.

"Come now, pet. Leave the discussions to your betters."

Disgust and rage prickled along his spine. Betters?! His maw opened, a lashing on the tip of his tongue, when a crushing weight came over them. He gasped, hunching to his belly as a pressure as if being under thousands upon thousands of water crashed down upon them. He shuddered, feeling as if his bones might break, grinning as he saw the other-realm native fall under his mates crushing aura. He could feel Lucy's rage radiating off of them as they moved to step over him, a protective habit, not willing to leave him to his own devices under their exhilarating, smothering aura. He glanced up, shivering at the calm rage dancing within Lucy's half-blinded gaze.

"My mate is a jealous thing, yet you insult him twice. First, by approaching me. Second, by insinuating you're above him." Lucy's voice came out in that deep, familiar growl that left Erik leaning on every word. The pressure suddenly lifted as Lucy repressed their aura once again, and Erik found himself longing the loss of their power. He stretched out, watching the shuddering breath of the Flipped Realm sor before them as she hesitated to stand. Her eyes flicked between himself and Lucy, and an anger twisted itself onto her face.

"He-"

"Is my mate." Lucy cut off, finishing the sentence for her. "And I suggest you lay your affections elsewhere, before your tongue digs yourself deeper."

Her maw snapped shut, eyes flicking between them once more, before she rumbled a low growl directed at him. He didn't watch as she slunk off, letting his eyes drift up to Lucy, who watched her with disinterest. Once they were certain she was gone, their gaze flicked down to him. They observed him for a moment, smirking at the love-struck expression likely plastered onto his face. They raised a brow, expression soft and teasing. "Yes?"

A soft sigh escaped him.

"I love when you show off~"

A laugh rumbled up their chest... a laugh that sounded like music to his ears.