“I’m hungry, Jerome. I need to feed,” Csala’s whispered voice reached him from a few feet away where she was lying, pretending to sleep.

“Really. How often do you feed?” he replied using the same method she used to communicate with him

“Ooh?” He heard her breathe a laugh. “So you finally learned. Good for you. I’m hungry though. Or should I feed off one of your friends?”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“Hmmm. The tall one looks appetizing. And he’s been eyeing me like a steak since you rescued him from the den of the unbound.”

“Let’s go outside,” Jerome stood up and crossed the threshold of the barrier, out of the cave. He left a surprise for the Itakars. Something he worked on for a while after his training with spell frames.

It had been over ten hours since he began training and night had fallen already. The cold of the night embraced him the moment he crossed the threshold. The north wind blew his hair out of his face — hair he had been told he needed to cut shot. His hair was reaching down to the back of his thighs already. He would cut his hair later. Firstly though, he had to feed the hungry succubus and tell her some things he couldn’t tell her before.

He took a deep breath, absorbing the essence in the air. The cold essence filled his lungs and raced around his channels until finally settling in his core where it was converted. The portion that couldn’t be converted to his mutated essence was expelled from his body. This was the first time he had sensed something like that.

“So that’s how essence is absorbed,” Jerome muttered in wonder. “Or is that specific to just me, Achilles?”

Achilles chuckled. “No, Xerae. The world doesn’t revolve around you.”

Jerome snorted.

“Everyone absorbs essence the way you just sensed it. But only those whose psychic energy has evolved to a certain stage can sense the minutest of filtering and absorption. What you sensed just now is just the tip of the iceberg.”

That was interesting. He could see how useful such an evolved psychic energy could be. No wonder the succubi were like apex predators on Terra Praeta after the fall of the fae.

Is there a way to measure the progression of psychic energy? You know, like how the progression of a sacred artist’s core is measured in the different realms?

“The Fae were very secretive when it came to their psychic energy. They never liked to reveal how powerful they were. Someone could tell from their core how powerful or how much essence a fae or human could wield — if they weren’t using a veil.

“But one couldn’t look inside someone else’s mind to figure out the strength of their psychic strength. The mind becomes stronger the more advanced you are, and can resist such psychic arts. One can also practice such psychic arts to strengthen their mind, turning it into an impregnable fortress. So they left it without a system of progression.”

“Hmm,” Jerome nodded. That way they could keep information about themselves safe. Everyone wants some level of privacy in their lives I guess. There’s a kind of safety in that.

Jerome folded his arms and took a deep breath. So a veil, Achilles. Was that how the Fae went into stealth mode?

“It’s still what is being used in your world. I can help you make it.”

Hmm. I’ll need a lot of veils if we are to cross the dark forest safely. But were you just waiting to drop that hint all this while? Jerome said with a smirk.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Xerae.”

~~~

Csala

Csala took her time adjusting her garment before heading out to feed off Jerome. She had no idea why she was doing that, only that she was giddy and the idea of feeding off him again brought a light feeling to her heart — and gut. Like the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings. Or many butterflies. She felt like she was floating on clouds and it was the best feeling ever.

“Are you going to come over or what?” Jerome’s voice reached her from outside.

Her mood was spoiled after that. Didn’t he know that a succubus had to look her best before she ate?

“You better be ready to make up for spoiling my mood. I’ll drain you dry if I have to.”

“I suggest you don’t,” he called back.

“What?” Csala added a bite to her words for effect. “Did I hear you right?”

She felt Jerome sigh. That was odd. She could tell that he could sense she was just poking fun at him. Why the gloomy sigh?

She crossed the threshold of the barrier and the cold assaulted her as well. Csala very nearly dumped the idea of feeding just to remain within the warmth of the cave. She chided herself though. Crossing the remaining steps to stand in front of him, she made sure to put an extra sway into her steps so he’d take notice. And take notice he did, alright. The heavy cloak was not enough to camouflage her beautiful legs and wide hips.

Succubi were givers of pleasure. Men should be grateful for the opportunity to give a part of themselves to the succubi. They should worship the very ground on which she walked for it was their destiny to be worshippers and hers to be worshiped like a deity. But she was a graceful succubus. Gratitude alone wasn’t enough to placate her subjects. The least she could do was to make sure she looked appealing enough so men could look upon her beautiful visage and be blessed with the memory of her in their hearts.

She felt Jerome’s eyes on her as she walked towards him. But there was no lust in them — not like there used to be, and not like there was in the eyes of the other Sprouts inside the cave. Somehow she wanted to see that. She wanted him to lust for her. No. She stopped right in front of him with her brows creased as she dived into her thoughts for a moment. She wanted more than just lust from him. And she realized in that moment that the only eyes on her that would matter to her were his eyes.

Jerome embraced her, breaking her out of her thoughts. The next moment, they were in the air.

~~~

Selene

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“Hey, perverts! Don’t act like yer asleep. We could feel yer eyes on her.” Nia threw Selene’s other boot at the boys who were pretending to sleep.

Selene glared at her friend but said nothing. With a slow gesture of her wrist and fingers, she summoned a fog with her essence and carefully guided it with her mental energy. The fog latched onto her boots like tendrils and slowly pulled them back to her.

“Csala said they were going farther North,” she said. “Jerome wanted to help her with something.”

“Going farther North?” Trudhorn asked, raising his upper body from the floor. ”What could be out there that’s so important?”

“Only Light knows. But my gut tells me it’s going to be something powerful,” Selene replied.

Bram stood up to stretch. “Hmm. His luck is damn good, that one. Imagine da full-plated armor and spear. And it looked new too. He knows something we don’t.”

Ajax snorted. “Dare to say that to his face when he’s here?”

“My point is, I suggest we follow,” Selene said, looking around at her teammates. “There’s only one reason they would be heading farther North in such harsh weather conditions…”

“More power,” Trudhorn finished for her. “It’s uncomfortable being around him now. Even more so because he doesn’t act the way I expect someone who’s obtained so much power would act. It’s like walking on needles. But I’ll follow you, Selene. Know that it’s you I follow.”

Everyone nodded and hummed their acknowledgment of Trudhorn’s words. Ajax stood up and walked up to her, patting her affectionately on the shoulder to let her know he was with her all the way.

Selene smiled up at him. “So it’s settled then. We’re going farther North. It’s good we’re well-rested now. We have enough energy to cross the distance.” She looked at the formation Jerome had placed in the center of the cave. It was still pumping essence in the air. It felt cold, she noted, but welcoming. Like the embrace of a parent. How was that possible? A few moments ago it was pumping in pure essence.

The wolves barked and huffed to let everyone know they were coming too. Selene laughed, walking up to their alpha to give him a rub. Seems they have a superpower to be invisible even while being present in a room.

“Can you sense that?” she asked, looking around at her teammates.

“I do,” Trudhorn said, eyeing the formation in the center of the cave. “Jerome must have done it. He created the formation after all.”

The rest of their teammates finally caught up. Ajax took a deep breath. Without waiting for anyone, he sat down cross-legged and began cycling. Everyone followed suit. It was going to be a long night of cultivation.

~~~

With feather-light kisses to her lips and jawline, Jerome roused the succubus’ sexual urge. Slowly, methodically, and patiently, he took his time tracing the curves of her body through the layers of fur she wore.

“This has to go,” he whispered in her ears and took off the red overcoat she wore.

Jerome had barricaded them in a warm alcove at the top of a hill. Here, warmth embraced them both and their excess clothing was becoming too much for comfort. Jerome continued tracing her body with his lips. Layer after layer of robes fell off her body before Csala had the presence of mind to know what was going on.

“Jerome, I can’t,” Csala said, gripping his hands with strength that should not be possible with such slender fingers.

“Shh, shh, shh. I’m not going to abuse you, Csala,” he whispered softly in her ears. “I want you to know what it’s like for someone else to pleasure you.”

Csala reared her head back to look him in the eyes. Seconds passed as she tried to search for the lie in his eyes. He was sure that if the space was big enough, she would have put him at arm’s length. But they were in a ten-foot-long by five-foot-wide alcove that he formed moments ago. Even his head was almost touching the roof.

“Don’t you trust me, Csala? My oath is still active.”

“You sound like you know something,” she said at last with a suspicious glint in her eyes.

“Everyone has their secrets —, I know I do. And I know you do too. So I try not to pry,” he said, evading the question but giving her an answer he knew would make her feel safe. He did know something else, however: fae secrets to pleasuring a partner.

Csala didn’t say anything so he quickly took her lips before she changed her mind.

Jerome kissed her senselessly while tracing every curve of her body with feather-light touches. Their tongues intertwined in a sensuous dance. He had finally taken off the last piece of clothing on her, which not surprisingly, was lingerie from his previous world. Jerome would have made a note to talk to Achilles about it later but his mind could think of nothing else but the beauty in his arms.

He had to cleverly massage the tension in her muscles to get her to relax. He put himself in vulnerable positions so she could do anything to him if she sensed him doing anything untoward to her. Jerome took his time, patiently massaging her. Csala was shivering throughout the massage. Not from cold — there was enough warmth in the alcove — but from fear and uncertainty.

He wished he had body oil. This would have been a lot more pleasant for her if there was less friction between his hands and her skin. But he made do. Something dropped into his void space the next moment. Jerome felt the urge to scoff but held himself back. He retrieved the bottle of oil, holding it in the air with his psychic energy as he scanned its content.

It felt like ordinary oil. He couldn’t tell but he trusted Achilles knew what he was doing. Jerome poured the oil on Csala as he massaged her. She visibly began to relax as he massaged the oil into her skin. When she was completely relaxed, Csala did something he wasn’t expecting. She helped him to disrobe — with her psychic energy nonetheless. The woman was a wonder to learn. Jerome watched as his shirt peeled away from him, followed by his pants, and underwear. He smiled at her and she smiled back. Her eyes were half lidded and he could smell the scent of her arousal. It was heady.

“You’re gonna teach me how you did that.”

“You already know how,” Csala said as he embraced her. “But Jerome…” He could hear the uncertainty still.

“Trust me, Csala.” Jerome locked lips with her once again.

Every touch from him elicited a sensual moan from her. He took his time, giving very little of his vitality in short spurts while learning every curve of her bare body as she sang with sweet moans to his ears.

Jerome lay Csala down on a bedding Achilles had provided beforehand. Her body was bare before him as his was bare before her. He had a wealth of knowledge to draw from — even if he had no practice — and since he knew she wasn’t experienced in the ways of sex, he knew he was going to make sure she had the time of her life. She might know how to please a man but she didn’t know how to be pleased by a man.

He fondled her large breasts and played with her nipples until they became hard as pebbles. Csala moaned in pleasure from everything he did. Succubi and even the Fae’s anatomy were quite similar to a human’s. So finding her sensitive spots was quite easy.

Jerome kissed his way down her jaw. He took his time, leaving love bites on the skin of her neck and shoulders before continuing down to her breasts. This was where he got the most moans out of her. Csala’s tits were very sensitive. He marveled at the size and thickness of her plump milk-makers. Yet they were perky, elastic, and soft to the touch.

Jerome licked every part of her bust. He licked around it. The underside of both of them was quite sensitive too. He took his time pinching her nipples, eliciting more carnal sounds from her.

He continued downward. Taking care to love her slight six-pack stomach. Csala may not have used a gym a day in her life but her physique was near perfect — not athletic, just very feminine. He moved downward and Csala gasped. She sat up to lean on her elbows, opening her eyes and looking down from her position to see what he was going to do.

He grabbed hold of her thighs and kissed them each. The large member between his thighs caused him no small discomfort, wanting to be given attention. He restrained himself, wanting to pleasure the beauty before him so she could understand and feel how she drove him crazy.

He traced her left thigh with kisses up her leg to her beautiful, dainty foot and back. Jerome kissed her inner thighs as he listened to Csala gasp again and held her breath. He ignored the sweet spot between her legs and moved to the other leg.

Csala rolled her eyes in frustration and Jerome chuckled. “Patience,” he whispered to her. “Just enjoy my ministrations.”

He did the same with her right leg, kissing her up her thigh and leg, and then back. Jerome held both thighs open as he balanced his head between them. Her sweet spot was hairless. Juicy, swollen pink lips contracted and relaxed before his eyes. Csala was eager. Her body was on fire and her eyes were expectant of what was to come. Her breath hitched as Jerome blew on her sweet spot which was drenched with her juices.

Jerome flicked his tongue to take in the taste of her. She tasted like vanilla, dewdrops, and her own unique taste — a weird combination, even as he wondered how he tasted dewdrops. Normal humans had no taste. But Csala wasn’t human. He delved in and her moans resumed. She unconsciously began to rock her hips into his face as he lapped at her clit and nether lips. He took his time, monitoring her vitals with his x-ray vision to know what set her ablaze. Jerome wanted to insert his finger into her but was afraid of what that might mean.

If it was just penetration it took to enslave her mind, then he wasn’t ready to take such a risk. He continued his ministrations, listening to the cadence of her moans that were like music to his ears. Soon enough, Csala started to moan louder. Jerome intensified his tongue action. He licked and sucked on her clit to push her to the limits of her endurance.

Csala reached down to grab his head and lift her hips off the bedding as she climaxed. She screamed his name. Over and over again as one release led into another. Jerome assaulted her labia with more tongue action. He slammed her pelvis down with strong arms, pinning her and opening up her thighs for better access. Csala screamed his name again as his tongue continued searing her with pleasure.