Chapter 12 #2
His body shifted restlessly against the stone table.
His lips moved.
Whispers.
Barely audible.
“…forgive me…”
“…love…”
Lirith sighed softly.
She stepped closer and whispered an incantation.
Both of her hands began to glow, pure gold light spreading across her fingers and palms.
She leaned over him.
Then spoke softly, her voice shifting into an ancient demonic dialect, soft and melodic.
She pushed her hands into his torso.
Ulric leaned forward instinctively—
Aldric stilled.
Lirith felt it immediately.
The soul-space opened.
Warm.
Chaotic.
And strong.
Remarkably strong.
She frowned slightly.
Even weakened… his soul felt dense. Layered. Not like a normal mortal.
And then at the edge of it—
Something complex.
Older.
It almost felt like something from a bygone era.
As if a fragment of something long forgotten had settled deep within him, woven into the fabric of his being.
Lirith frowned slightly.
She pushed the thought aside.
Focus.
Her eyes opened slightly as she searched within.
The soul-space shimmered around her like fractured glass suspended in golden mist. Threads of light ran through Aldric’s essence, some steady, others flickering weakly.
Then she saw it.
A foreign presence.
A splinter.
Tiny.
Barely visible.
Like a hair caught between layers of light.
But it pulsed wrong.
Sharp.
Dividing.
Tearing.
Gods…
She moved carefully.
Slowly.
She reached.
The splinter shifted, as if aware.
She narrowed her eyes.
Then—quick.
She caught it between two fingers.
Pulled.
A faint tremor ran through Aldric’s body.
Then she withdrew her hands from his torso.
“Quick! Give me the rest of the shard.”
“What?”
“Now!”
He cursed under his breath, digging through his things.
Moments later, the pouch appeared beside her.
Gently, carefully, she lowered the splinter into it.
The moment it touched the shard within—
“There.”
Aldric stilled.
His breathing deepened.
The fever slowly began to recede.
He started to shiver.
He was cold to the touch.
Lirith whispered another incantation.
Aldric’s body lifted slightly, then drifted gently toward a nearby bed beside the fire pit.
She flicked her fingers.
The fire ignited.
Warmth spread through the cave.
Ulric watched.
His jaw worked.
She glanced at him briefly.
Then said calmly,
“This isn’t done yet. I need something.”
She walked behind him, reaching for supplies stored on the far shelf, leaning over him slightly as she searched.
Ulric went still.
Completely still.
“What are you doing?”
She walked away with some small glowing jar and pulled out a folding divider and set it up quickly.
“Rituals like that make my skin very itchy.”
Ulric’s eyes flicked past her toward Aldric.
“…And him?”
She glanced over her shoulder, following his gaze.
“He’ll be fine.”
Ulric didn’t move.
“He just needs rest,” she continued, already moving behind the divider. “Plenty of it. His body is… catching up, in a way.”
“Are you sure?” Ulric asked quietly.
She paused.
Then a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Aww…” She leaned slightly around the divider, peeking at him. “You care about your friend.”
Silence.
Ulric’s jaw tightened, his gaze drifting away.
She didn’t hear a response.
Her smile widened.
He’s so cute.
Trying so hard to hide it.
Fabric rustled.
She stepped out again.
A leather skirt with layered folds hugged her hips. A tight white frayed top clung to her torso, revealing her midriff. Her belly button showed. High-heeled boots completed the look.
She stepped forward.
Ulric inhaled.
Subtly.
His shoulders stiffened.
She smiled.
“Everything okay? Don’t tell me that this makes you uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You look tense.”
His back stiffened further.
His throat worked.
“You seem stressed. Are you hungry? Would you like to drink anything?”
She placed both hands behind her back, tilting slightly forward.
Ulric’s jaw tightened.
“Do all succubi talk this much?”
“Only when we find someone interesting.”
“I’m not interesting. Or interested. Leave me be.”
“You say that… and yet.”
She stepped closer.
Slowly.
Her scent surrounded him.
Warm.
Spiced.
Dangerous.
He took a slow breath.
And looked anywhere but her.
She tilted her head.
“Am I really that ugly?”
He sighed.
“Stop playing games.”
A subtle smile spread across her face.
“Do you think my ass is fat?”
She turned slowly.
Deliberately.
His jaw tightened.
He said nothing.
“Hmmm… what about my tits? Do they pass?”
That did it.
A faint crimson crept up his neck.
Then his face.
She noticed.
An even wider, pleased smile formed.
“Aww…” She leaned slightly closer. “Does me having a potty mouth make you feel good?”
“No.”
Too quick.
She smiled wider.
? ? ?
“I’ll tell you what,” she said lightly. “I have something edible for humans around here. Let me make you some food.”
And she sauntered off.
Hips swaying.
Effortless.
Ulric’s mouth went dry.
What magic was this…
He had never felt so—
Alive.
He fought with every ounce of discipline not to look after her.
He failed.
Just a glance.
She moved gracefully by the bench, mixing something in a bowl. Her movements were fluid, confident. Comfortable in her own space.
He swallowed.
He just wanted to know if she was as delicious as she—
Movement.
Ulric’s head snapped toward the bed.
Aldric shifted.
Ulric was at his side instantly.
“Ulric—where… where are we?”
“Relax, brother. We’re in the Demon Wastes. Lirith patched you up. You said that she can be trusted.”
Aldric’s eyes sharpened immediately.
A faint nod.
“How bad was it?”
“You were delirious the whole way here. It took us shy over three weeks to get here. And—”
Ulric glanced back toward her.
She was still by the bench, focused, mixing herbs and food.
“What magic is this? What is she doing to me?”
Aldric followed his gaze.
And then—
His lips curled.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
“What?”
“I told you…” Aldric murmured weakly. “You have no idea… Just have an open mind.”
Ulric frowned.
But before he could respond—
Aldric’s breathing deepened.
He had fallen asleep again.
Ulric exhaled slowly.
Then—
Click.
Click.
He looked up.
The most beautiful woman he has ever seen was walking towards him.
Unbothered.
Calm.
She set the food on the table, then took her seat across from him.One leg crossed over the other. The skirt shifted slightly.
“I hope you’ll find it to your liking,” she said softly.
Ulric didn’t move.
Something in him shifted.
He rose.
Slowly.
Then sat down across from her.
Close.
But not too close.
She showed no fear.
For a moment, he found himself unable to speak.
He wasn’t even hungry.
Still—
He took a bite.
Then another.
He drank.
The water was cold and slightly acidic, but refreshing.
The food was spicy, unexpectedly so, but it had substance. Weight. Something satisfying about it.
He ate quietly for a moment.
Then—
“Why are you being so good to me?”
She raised a brow.
“How so?”
“You made me food. You’re talking to me. You’re not scared of me.”
Her poise vanished in an instant.
Her expression softened.
Completely.
She gave him a look. Soft, almost vulnerable. Silver eyes wide, curious.
“Why would I be scared of you?”
“You know what I am. You know what I do to demons.”
“You did that… And something tells me those days are over. Besides… I can sense you.” She leaned slightly forward. “I’ve never met an Inquisitor before… but your soul feels… complex.” Her voice softened further.“Intriguing. Also… you came with Aldric.”
Her eyes drifted briefly toward the bed.
Then back to Ulric.
And in that split second—
He checked her out.
She caught him.
Fuck.
Her eyebrow lifted slightly.
His jaw tightened.
He finished the meal quietly.
“Thank you for the food.”
She smiled.
Beautifully.
What now?
Fuck…
I can’t talk.
I don’t know how to.
An excuse.
Quick.
“I’ll need to get some shut eye,” he muttered. “Haven’t slept for almost two days.”
She smiled again.
“Would you like to take a dip in the hot pool first? You’ll sleep better afterward.”
Something about how she said it…
Well…
It was just a pool.
It couldn’t hurt.
He nodded.
And he could swear—
Her eyes shone brighter as she got up to show him the way.
Moments later he was…
Warm.
The water seeped into his bones.
Into tired muscles.
Into joints that had carried him through weeks of relentless travel, fighting, and strain.
His core muscles screamed in protest.
But he didn’t complain.
He never complained.
He simply endured.
Always.
And now…
For the first time—
He had nothing.
Nothing to return to.
No mission.
No purpose.
He sighed quietly.
Am I supposed to just live without it?
The thought felt foreign.
His thoughts were cut short.
Click.
Click.
Click.
High heels.
His back stiffened.
Neck tense.
He turned slightly.
She approached slowly.
Silver eyes fixed on him.
She set down a small carafe, glass and a cup of water beside the pool.
“Demonwine. You might enjoy it. It has more spice than your human variants.”
Ulric grunted.
She lowered herself gracefully onto the warm stone beside the pool, laying on her side.
Perfectly in view.
Ulric’s jaw worked.
He took a sip of water instead.
“You don’t need to be so scared, you know…” she murmured.
“I’m not scared. I’m just careful not to trust—”
“A demon.”
Silence.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Hm?”
“Why are you here? Teasing me…”
She smiled.
Beautifully.
“Well… for me to tease you, you’d have to be interested. Are you?”
“No.”
“You say that… and yet I hear strain in your voice.”
She tilted her head slightly, silver eyes studying him.
“Let me just make sure.”
She slowly removed her heels.
Her movements were deliberate.
Unhurried.
Her eyes never left him.
She stood.
“What are you—”
The skirt and the top slipped down, pooling on the floor.
There was no hurry in her movements as she stepped over them.
For a moment, she covered herself one arm crossing over her breasts, the other resting low between her thighs.
Not fully hiding.
Just enough to suggest modesty.
Just enough to make it worse.
Then she tilted her head.
And slowly…
Her hands lowered.
As if she had forgotten they were ever there.
Ulric couldn’t look away.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
She stepped into the pool.
Slowly.