Everything felt warm.

Way too warm.

I shifted slightly on the bed, my body feeling heavy… but also weirdly good.

The sheets around me were soft, silky… and there was this sweet smell in the air. Like flowers and… something even sweeter.

Then I felt it.

A soft touch.Warm fingers brushing against my chest.

“Haaagh…”

I let out a shaky breath without meaning to.

My eyes opened slowly.

The room around me was covered in a soft, red light. It looked almost like a sunset had poured itself into the walls.

And then—I saw her.

A woman.

Sitting on top of me, her body barely covered by a thin, almost see-through black dress. Her skin looked soft and glowing.

Her long black hair spilled down like a river, and her red eyes were staring right into mine… almost pulling me in.

A little mole sat under her left eye, making her face even more sinful to look at. She was smiling—no, smirking—like she knew every dirty thought in my head.

“You look so tense, my dear…” she whispered, her voice like honey dripping into my ears.

Her hands moved again, sliding up from my chest to my shoulders.

Light touches.

Barely there, but sending sparks through my body.

Was this… a dream?

A lucid one?

Does this mean that… she’s my ideal type?

My head felt heavy, like I was drunk on the air itself.

My instincts screamed that something was wrong.

But my body… my body wasn’t listening.

Her fingers trailed down again, this time slower. Her lips curved into a deeper smile as she leaned closer, so close that her long hair brushed against my face.

“Won’t you let me… take care of you?”

Her voice was low, soft, and playful.

It sounded almost like a command.

And even though a part of me knew something was off—

—I still couldn’t move.

I could only watch…

As her red eyes started glowing faintly.

Her hands slid down my chest, tracing every line of my muscles like she was memorizing them.

“You’ve been working so hard…” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear.

“Fighting… bleeding… hurting…” She kissed the side of my neck, feather-light, and a shiver ran through me.

“You deserve a little reward… don’t you?”

My body tensed, but not from fear.

It was something else.

Something dangerous.

I could feel it now.

Something dark was swirling in the air, mixing with that sweet smell.

But even knowing that…

It felt so good, I didn’t want to move.

Her fingers traveled lower, slow and teasing, like she was testing how much I could take. Every time she touched me, it felt like sparks went off under my skin.

Soft sighs left her lips, making the whole scene feel more real… heavier.

I stared at her face.

That perfect face.

Her dark hair framed it perfectly, falling over her shoulders like black silk. Her red eyes were half-lidded, almost lazy, but full of a promise.

A dangerous, wicked promise.

“You trust me… don’t you?” she whispered, her fingers brushing over my heart.

“Let go… just a little…”

I felt her mana starting to slip into me.

Soft, gentle… like it wanted to wrap around my soul.

A part of me… almost gave in.

Almost.

But deep inside, a tiny spark of instinct flared up.

Danger.

Trap.

I tried to move my arm.

It twitched slightly, heavy like stone.

Her smile grew wider, as if she could feel my struggle.

“Shhh…” she cooed, leaning closer, her lips almost brushing mine now.

“I’ll take care of everything… You just have to say yes.”

Her hand slipped behind my neck, pulling me up slightly towards her, so close that I could feel the heat of her body, her heart beating against mine.

“Say it for me…” she whispered sweetly.

“Say you belong to me.”

Her nails lightly scratched the back of my neck, sending goosebumps down my spine.

The room spun slightly.

My heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears.

I opened my mouth, feeling the words almost fall out—

But somewhere deep inside, something wild and furious stirred.

Not yet.

Not so easy.

Not me.

My mouth continued open, the word right there on the tip of my tongue…

“Good boy…” she whispered, her lips ghosting over mine.

Her hand slid behind my head, fingers tangling into my hair, holding me in place gently — but firmly.

Like she was afraid I’d pull away. Like she knew I might.

Her other hand drifted across my chest, her nails lightly scratching me, leaving faint trails of heat behind.

It felt good.

Too good.

The sweet smell around her grew thicker. It was like honey and roses and something sharper underneath — something like blood.

Her eyes glowed brighter now.

Red, alive, and practically… hungry.

“You’re tired of fighting…” she whispered, her lips brushing my jawline.

“You’ve fought enough…”

Her words slipped into my ears like silk.

“You deserve peace…”

Another soft kiss on my skin.

“Love…”

Another kiss.

“Pleasure…”

Her tongue flicked against my neck.

My body jerked slightly, a deep shudder running through me.

I couldn’t help it.

“You just have to say it,” she breathed out, her voice trembling with excitement.

“Say you belong to me.”

Her hand pressed against my heart now, right over where it beat hard and fast. I could feel her mana pulsing against mine — like a slow, powerful tide — trying to drown me.

The bed beneath us shifted slightly, creaking as she pushed herself even closer. Her body molded against mine, hot and soft in all the right places.

My vision blurred at the edges.

It would be so easy…

Just say yes.

Just fall.

But then…

Something sharp pricked at the back of my mind.

A memory.

A feeling.

No.

This isn’t… fucking real.

The air around her shimmered slightly.

For a second, her pretty smile twitched — just a little too wide.

Her nails were digging just a little too hard into my chest.

Something in her…

It wasn’t just lust.

It was hunger.

Real, terrifying hunger.

She wanted more than my body.

She wanted everything.

And if I said yes…

I would never wake up again.

My fingers twitched again, stronger this time.

Her smile faltered.

She leaned down, her lips hovering over mine.

“Don’t fight it, sweet boy…” she whispered, voice shaking with need.

“I can give you everything you ever wanted.”

Her hips pressed against mine.

“You just have to… say it.”

Her nails dug deeper.

The room twisted around us, dark colors bleeding into the dream.

The soft, sweet smell was choking now.

My heart slammed against my ribs, fighting the pull.

Fighting her.

Not yet.

Not like this.

I gritted my teeth and finally managed to move my hand—

Grip!

I grabbed her wrist.

Tight.

Her red eyes widened slightly, real surprise flashing through them.

“You…” she breathed out, her voice still silky, but underneath — a snarl was starting to form.

“You’re stronger than you look.”

I smirked up at her weakly, even as my body still shook.

“Sorry, sweetheart…” I rasped out.

“I’m not that fucking easy.”

For a second, there was silence.

And I already figured out who it was.

I mean…

Only a truly powerful demon could invade my dreams and even nearly seduce me to the point of infatuation.

However, I didn’t expect that she would act so soon.

Lilith.

“Shit…”

I cursed before turning to Lilith.

Lilith just stared at me, her pretty face frozen like a cracked doll.

Her smile stayed, but her eyes…

Her eyes darkened.

The air grew colder.

The warmth of the bed, her touch — it all started to rot at the edges. The smell of honey and roses twisted into something foul… something like burning flesh and wet soil.

Lilith’s fingers twitched in my grip.

Then, she smiled again.

But this time… it wasn’t sweet.

It was sharp.

Predatory.

“You could’ve had it easy, little boy…” she whispered, her voice no longer soft — it slithered against my skin, oily and cold.

Her body shifted.

She didn’t look like a perfect woman anymore.

Her skin looked too tight over her bones, her hair twisted and floated unnaturally, and her mouth—Her mouth was full of too many teeth.

Still smiling.

Still beautiful.

But in the way a spider’s web is beautiful — right before it wraps you up and drains you dry.

“You could’ve slept forever in my arms…” she cooed.

A dark mist rose up around us.

The bed beneath me melted into black nothingness.

“You could’ve been my favorite little pet…”

She leaned close, her breath icy against my ear.

“But now…”

Her fingers stabbed into my chest, right above my heart.

Sharp and cold.

I sucked in a harsh breath, pain snapping through me like lightning.

“…I’ll have to break you properly.”

CRACK!

A sound like breaking glass echoed in the dream.

The dream world started crumbling.

Chunks of black sky fell into the void.

The ground split under us.

Lilith’s hands wrapped around my throat, but she wasn’t choking me —No, she was holding me still.

Like she was trying to keep me trapped as the dream collapsed.

“I’ll find you again…” Her voice was soft again, almost loving.

“I’ll crawl into your dreams every night if I have to… until you give in.”

I glared at her, breathing heavily.

“You’re gonna have to try harder than this… I’m not weak as that horny shit of an emperor.” I growled back.

Lilith laughed.

A sweet, broken, haunting laugh.

She didn’t even seem surprised that I knew that she was controlling the Emperor.

The last thing I saw was her red, glowing eyes boring into mine—before everything shattered into white.

CRASH!

I jolted awake, gasping for air, my body covered in cold sweat.

The hotel room ceiling stared back at me.

…This time, it wasn’t a dream.

It was real.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I lifted a shaky hand to my chest where her nails had stabbed me in the dream.

There — faint but real — were five tiny, red marks.

My blood ran cold.

She touched me.

Even in the real world.

“Haaagh…”

I sat up slowly, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

“Fuck… I really need to find a way to wipe this demon mark off my shoulder,” I muttered, my hand moving up without thinking, massaging the back of my neck.

It was sore.

It felt like a brand, burning into my skin.

I turned my head to the side.

The kids were still sleeping soundly, their little faces peaceful.

I let out a long breath of relief.

At least they didn’t wake up.

Turning my gaze to the window, I watched as the sun slowly climbed up into the sky.

The soft golden light touched everything, making the whole room feel warmer, calmer.

It was morning already.

And today…

Today, I could finally go back to Silverleaf.

Back home.

I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes for a second.

“I miss them…” I whispered to myself, smiling a little.

I missed their noisy laughter.

Their bright, curious eyes.

Their stupid little fights over nothing.

Their hugs.

I missed… feeling like I belonged somewhere.

I couldn’t wait to see them again.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep