Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Xaraʼs eyes widened in disbelief, as if her mind couldnʼt fully process what she was hearing. Her lips trembled before she bit them furiously.

”B-But I just used them… all of them… for my own goals—”

”Did you ever take my blood?” Aether asked suddenly, cutting her off.

”Huh?” she blinked in confusion.

Aether smiled, his gaze intense. ”Back then… when you were curious about my egoless self… even with all the chances you had, you never took my blood for testing. Not even once. Why?”

He leaned in dangerously close, his voice calm but deliberate.

Xaraʼs heart skipped. She immediately stepped back, instinctively creating space between them as her chest began to tighten with every beat.

”Come on,” Aether stepped forward, stalking her slowly. ”Answer me.”

”W-Well… I-I kind of forgot?” she stuttered, voice uncertain as her back finally met the cold surface of the wall.

Aether chuckled lowly, a dark smirk playing on his lips. ”Forgot? Thatʼs your excuse, woman?”

His voice dropped as he slammed his hand against the wall beside her, making her flinch. He lowered his head, breath brushing her ear as he whispered,

”No… You didnʼt forget. You just couldnʼt do it. Because deep down… youʼre a lovely woman who couldnʼt bear to hurt the ones closest to her.”

Xara gulped hard. She turned slightly, trying to slip past him, but—

BAM!

His other hand slammed into the wall on the other side, trapping her completely.

He leaned in, his face inches from hers. His voice grew husky, fierce.

”I know I was confused back then... lost. I fucked up. But not now.”His eyes burned with dangerous clarity.

”Now, Iʼm done holding back. Iʼm not losing you, Xara. No way in hell am I letting someone else steal you from me!

You are Mine and Mine Only, Xara~”

Xaraʼs heart pounded violently in her chest. Her face flushed deep red as she met his gaze—the sheer possessiveness in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

It wasnʼt just jealousy. It was an all-consuming hunger... He would kill for her. Burn the world down if anyone else dared to touch her.

”A-Aether… I… I...” she tried to speak, but the words tangled in her throat.

”It doesnʼt matter anymore,” he said firmly. ”I love you. Thatʼs it. Thatʼs the only truth that matters to me. What about you?”

His lips hovered dangerously close to hers, his breath warm against her skin.

Xara trembled, her voice barely a whisper.

”I… Iʼm so messed up, Aether… I donʼt think I can ever live a normal life. I might end up hurting you... you might start to hate me—hmm~”

He kissed her.

He silenced her mouth before she could spill more self-loathing, before she could pull herself deeper into that pit of shame and fear.

Their lips parted slowly, and Aether leaned in close, whispering against her mouth,

”Maybe I will. Maybe I wonʼt. But Iʼm willing to take that risk… because I love you. So tell me… what about you?”

Xara looked into his eyes. And for the first time, she saw no hesitation, no clouded thoughts, no confusion.

He was clear.

Clear as the sky after a storm.

She bit her bottom lip and lowered her head, her words stuck in her throat. She didnʼt say anything… but her ears were glowing bright red.

Aether couldnʼt help the wide grin that spread across his face.

”Oh my~ Someoneʼs being shy now~” he teased with a chuckle, ready to lean in again—

Crack…

Both of them froze.

They glanced up in unison.

Aetherʼs earlier slams had cracked the wall behind Xara—deep spiderweb fractures now crawling across the old, weak structure of the building... The building is already cracked and old... Aetherʼs slam just broke more.

And then...

”Oh dear,” Xara muttered.

”Oh dear,” Aether echoed at the exact same time.

Then—

BOOOOOOOM!!!

The abandoned building gave out entirely, collapsing with a thunderous roar of debris, dust, and chaos.