[ alastor is never too busy to notice things. never, ever, ever. but he's so incensed, so angry that this piece of garbage tried to take his vox from him that he doesn't clock the door opening, doesn't clock vox stepping inside behind them.

no, he keeps talking, voice low. and when vox gets close enough to hear, it's not so much a lover's croon as syrupy-sweet vitriol. ]

You shouldn't have done that, you know. Put your eyes on him, tried to cozy up to him. And then, to be pulled astray by a single smile? You're not worth his time even if he was so inclined as to look back at you. He would never have gone for it anyway. You should have realized that right away.

[ his grip tightens, the choking desperation for breath getting louder and louder beneath him. ]

You deserve every second of this for trying to take what's mine. Because he is mine, and I'll never let him go. So as you die, think about how you should've kept your mouth shut and your eyes averted. Because I'm going to go home after this, and he's still going to be mine. He's still going to love me.

[ so, well, the most romantic thing a man has ever said. ]