Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 488

Annalise Johnston’s hand shot toward Daph’s face but froze just inches away, her palm hovering in the air.

Daph had caught Annalise’s other wrist in a grip so strong it felt as if she might snap the bones. Annalise gasped in pain, twisting around to bark at Selene, “Selene, control your kid!”

Selene’s voice was icy. “Daph, restrain her.”

“On it!” Daph replied with a fierce determination that belied her age.

Adrian glanced over. “Need a hand?”

“No, thank you,” Selene replied coolly. “But calling the police? That I can handle myself.”

She dialed emergency services. “Yes, hi—there’s an incident at The Ember Grill in Grand Joy Plaza. Someone’s causing a scene, attacking a child, and even tried to abduct him.”

Altair glanced uncertainly at Selene. Was she talking about him when she said “my child”?

His heart fluttered with confusion and fear. He felt as if his whole body had turned to stone, every pair of eyes in the restaurant pinning him in place like glue.

Daph stood protectively in front of him, still gripping Annalise’s wrists. Annalise’s face was ashen, cold sweat beading at her temples.

The pain in her wrists was sharp enough to keep her from doing anything reckless. She could only shout, “Let go! Didn’t you hear me?”

Daph’s eyes flicked to the hand Annalise still had clamped around Altair’s arm.

“Release him first! Don’t touch Altair!” Daph demanded, frowning.

Left with no choice, Annalise let go of Altair. Only then did Daph release her other hand.

Daph warned her, “You’re not allowed to hit anyone again, got it?”

Once free, Annalise cradled her wrists, her mouth open in shock as she saw how swollen and red they’d become. She’d thought this girl was just a bit chubby—but she’d never expected her to be so strong or so quick to react.

Adrian laughed. “If you don’t believe it, Mr. Waverly, you can always let Daph demonstrate on you.”

Selene sat down beside Altair, who had shrunk into the corner, his head bowed, silent and lifeless.

“May I give you a hug?” she asked softly.

Altair didn’t answer, retreating even further into himself.

Annalise scoffed. “See? He doesn’t want your hug.”

Just then, Selene felt Altair slip his phone into her hand. On the screen, he’d typed out, “Sorry.”

Selene and Daph had brought him here for his sake, to help him feel included. He’d started the evening in good spirits; he’d thought he was ready to join the world again, to try living like everyone else.

But the stares, the murmured gossip from strangers—those were enough to trigger his defenses. Out in the open, his breathing grew shallow. The world felt overwhelming.