Chapter 25: Covenant Engine

Ember was so surprised that she jumped off Aiden’s lap.

Covenant? What the hell is that?

Ember couldn’t understand what was happening. All she did was put the bracelet in the space. Now, something called Covenant Engine is coming up.

Ember looked at the screen, amazement on her face.

The voice continued.

Instead of the usual upbeat and sassy voice she knew from the system, the one was more sultry and calming.

[The Covenant Engine is founded on a dual principle: Connection and Creation]

[To fuel the creation, the Engine now draws from two distinct energy sources. Crimson Lust (CL) and Azure Bond (AB)]

[Your bond with your consort, Aiden Montclaire, is the first and most powerful Azure Bond]

[The Azure Bond is incomplete]

Ember didn’t know what to do with herself. She stood there with her mouth open.

Aiden stood in front of her and she didn’t even notice.

It wasn’t until he was shaking her that she came back to her senses.

“Aiden…” she swallowed. She wasn’t sure what to say to him.

They’ve barely started preparing for doomsday, and now this thing, whatever it is, shows up.

Ember looked at Aiden, bewildered.

She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. It was already unbelievable that she could have a system. Now she had this. But it looks more complicated than the system.

Ember scratched her head.

She looked at the part about the bond being incomplete. She wasn’t sure what she needed to do to make it complete.

“Give me a minute. I’m trying to process.”

She held Aiden’s hand tightly as she said this. She didn’t want him to feel like she was ignoring him. For something like this, she felt she needed to tell him.

This time, she also didn’t use her mind to talk. She was going to tell him about the system, which is now the covenant. She is too overwhelmed and simply decided to let Aiden in.

She would just have to hope he wouldn’t send her to a psych ward after this.

“Covenant Engine?”

[Architect, I am at your service]

“You don’t need to be so formal. It’s kind of weird.”

[Would you prefer I continue with the same tone as before integration?]

“You don’t need to do that. Just find something you think suits you. Something not so robotic.”

[Very well. And should I use your name or would you prefer if I continue to refer to you as Architect?]

“Using my name is fine. I don’t mind.”

[Very well…Ember, what do you want to know?]

“What happened to the system?”

[It’s still here, but I’ve integrated it. Some of its directives are not beneficial to you. I changed a few things. And before you ask, I’m sorry, but before you have the strength, I will not tell you anything about the system’s objective.]

“Objective? Did the system want to do something to me?”

[Not to you specifically. That’s all I can answer for now. Don’t you want to ask me something?]

Ember could feel that the Covenant Engine was trying to shift the conversation. She didn’t question it anymore.

“There’s a lot I want to ask, but it needs to wait. I want to know what you mean by the bond. What bond do Aiden and I have? Why is it incomplete?”

[The bond between you and your consort is based on two things. Your emotional state and your physical state. Your emotional state is currently up to par. But physically, you both have yet to connect.]

“And by connect, you mean…?”

[Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. There are better words, but I like this one. You need to get him to fuck you until you can’t walk.]

Ember choked at the blunt words.

Aiden stood there watching Ember talk to herself. It wasn’t the first time he had seen it. The cameras in her room had caught it before.

He was a bit surprised now because she willingly did it in front of him. He was worried before because she started talking to herself. But coupled with the fact that she could make things disappear, he knew there was something going on that he didn’t understand.

He didn’t push. He knew she would tell him on her own when she was ready. Now, it seemed something shocking happened, and she couldn’t hold back anymore.

He smiled, looking at her expression. She looked so confused.

Aiden couldn’t help wondering what happened for her to become so confused.

Seeing her face turn red, he couldn’t help but stroke her cheek.

He watched her take a deep breath.

“Aiden, I think we need to talk.” Ember bit the corner of her bottom lip and looked at Aiden anxiously.

He kissed her lips. A small smile played on his face.

Aiden steered her to the couch in the study. He watched her sit, then sat down next to her. Close enough to make her feel his presence but not so close as to make her feel crowded.

He decided that if she needed him to be closer, he could let her know.

Aiden looked at her steadily, “You can tell me anything. You know that.”

Ember held her hands together tightly. She wasn’t sure where to start.

“Do you remember how you saw me make the stuff vanish earlier?” Ember asked.

Aiden nodded.

“Well, there’s more to it than that.” Ember closed her eyes and willed herself to continue. “I had this thing called a system. It claimed to be a lust system that was going to help me get through doomsday. Basically, I needed to make a base so that everyone could go there and live.”

“Then it would use sex to keep the base running. Not too long ago, I put my mother’s bracelet in the system space. It went silent, and then all of a sudden it came back. But it was different this time. Now it says it’s called The Covenant Engine, but it still runs on sex. Well, more like sex and emotion. But it’s not complete yet. Because, according to it, we need to fuck like rabbits to get things going.”

Ember gave the short version and spoke quickly. She couldn’t allow herself to stop until she finished everything she had to say.

When she was finished, she took a deep breath and waited for Aiden to ask whatever questions he had. She also hoped he would believe what she said.

She closed her eyes tight and waited.

She didn’t hear any sound in the room. Aiden hadn’t moved, and she didn’t know what his reaction was. She slowly opened her eyes, peeking through her lashes.

She saw Aiden looking at her with a sweet smile on his face.

Aiden, on the other hand, was genuinely surprised by what Ember just said. He didn’t expect she would say something like this. His first thought was to hide her away from everyone. If she were crazy, he was just glad she was willing to share the crazy with him.

But, if she was crazy, then he was too, because he saw her put the things away. Things don’t just disappear into thin air.

He took some deep breaths. He couldn’t find his bearings just yet. But when he saw her opening her eyes apprehensively, he couldn’t help smiling.

“Okay, I believe you. Now tell me about this thing properly. Don’t talk so fast this time.”

He reached for her, pulling her onto his lap. He didn’t give her any distance this time. He needed to feel her warmth.

“What do you want to know?” she asked, pouting.

Aiden couldn’t resist and bit her lip.

“Tell me about the new one. The Covenant Engine,” he said patiently.

“Well, I don’t know much about it. I only know that we have a bond, like I said before. I know it uses Crimson Lust, which is apparently just sex. I mean, it says physical gratification. Which, to me, is the same Lust Essence that the system says the world uses. The other one is Azure Bond. That’s for me and you. It’s an emotional connection. We can use it to do a lot of things that Crimson Lust can’t. Like expand the base.”

Aiden didn’t interrupt when she spoke. He needed to understand.

“I don’t remember you telling me about a base.”

“I did. I asked you about the best place for a base. You told me Mount Pleasure. I already put the base there.” Ember had been leaning against Aiden, but her back straightened when she mentioned the base.

“Wait, Covenant Engine. Is the base still there?”

Ember was having a mild panic attack. She forgot that the base was placed by the system. But the system isn’t here anymore.

[It’s fine. You don’t need to worry about it right now. If you wish, you can go and take a look to make sure it’s okay.]

“I’m good. I’ll wait til I finish talking to Aiden. I want to bring him there.”

Aiden watched her talk to nothing.

Yup, he decided. If she were crazy, he would be willing to be crazy with her.

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