How to [Not] Outcharm a Succubus 9

I started chanting quietly, focusing on my words. The idea of outcharming a succubus might've seemed absurd, but it was the only plan I had.

The hex suppressing my power was a simple one, yet strong, requiring considerable effort to dispel. I had crafted it myself, after all. Yes, [Bewitching] can't be suppressed entirely, but in essence, all magic – be it demon powers, mages' elemental techniques, or witchcraft (which also differs from coven to coven, but still) – they all rely on your soul's aura ability to alter the fabric of reality around you. And the key to control this alteration lies in your emotions. Emotions are the core of any magic. Thus, to prevent my [Bewitching] from affecting Roman and Stas, I had to seal my emotions for them, locking all my feelings deep inside.

But now, as my chant progressed, those sealed emotions started to surface, months of suppression making them straight intoxicating. I realized that when it became too hard to focus on my chant.

Gods!… Have the boys always been so hot?… How should I concentrate with them in front of me?!

I faltered.

Closing my eyes I tried to restart my chanting, but couldn't resist sneaking glances at the boys through my eyelashes.

Roman and Stas kissed Adeĺ, while she purred contentedly under their caresses, returning the kisses with innocent glee. All three looked endearing – Stas's refined elegance and Roman's raw attraction complemented Adeĺ's ethereal beauty. Watching them, my cheeks heated. I had once rejected both boys, unable to choose one over the other, but…

… Who knew there was this option too… No! It's just her [Charm]… Darkness! What am I even thinking!

I covered my face, my head steaming, and took a deep breath. Well… I'd botched my chant 5 times by now, something I haven't done in years… But, I could still force-break this damned hex. It would feel jarring, but… suppressing emotions is hardly ever pleasant.

As I steeled myself, a short, sharp spell formed on my lips. Harsh, like ripping a band-aid right off my soul. I winced at the sensation but it wasn't all. A dam broke… no, rather disappeared completely, and my pent-up emotions, a towering wall of water, stood for a heartbeat, before crashing down, flooding me with an overwhelming rush of feelings, leaving me breathless and dazed.

I barely registered myself shoving Adeĺ aside, her startled "E-e?" eluding me as unimportant. Next moment… I was right before the boys.

«Lada?… You're…» Stas trailed off, the heart-shaped glimmers in his eyes slowly morphing into spade-like ones.

«… stunning!» Roman finished for him, eyes filled with the spade-like glimmers too.

«Hush, you two…» I put my fingers on their lips.

Their lips were warm under my touch, firm yet yielding, a sensation so inviting that I couldn't hold back any longer. I kissed them, immediately dragged into a whirl of their tender caresses. My lips, neck, shoulders, even my knees, all got exposed to their kisses, my whole body melting under their hands.

When I regained my senses, the storm within me calming down, I found myself nestled comfortably in the boys' embrace, the spade-like glimmers – the clear sign of my [Bewitching] – still in their eyes. I really did it!… Well, of course, I only traded one problem for another, but then… I'd make sure to be there when they need me. And right now… Gods, it felt so-o good to have them back!

Though, I felt a bit sorry for Adeĺ. Is she upset with what I did? Sulking, perhaps?…

I craned my neck to check, only to find her grinning goofily, those same spade-like glimmers in her black eyes as well.

What the…?! Did I… somehow bewitch her too? Was it even possible?

Stolen novel; please report.

«Lada,» Stas interrupted my bewildered thoughts, taking my hand with a serious expression. «Will you go out with me?»

What?!…

Then, before I could even wrap my head…

«Hey, slow down, man!» Roman grabbed Stas's arm, snatching my hand away from him. «If Lada's going out with anyone, it's gonna be me!»

Stas instantly clutched Roman's shoulder with his free hand, not planning to back down.

«O, really? Hasn't Romeo found his Juliet already?» he nodded at Adeĺ, who perked up, eyes darting between us as if she watched some exciting show.

«Adeĺ doesn't count!» Roman shot back, shaking off Stas's grip. «You couldn't resist her either. Come on, she's a succubus! No one would stand a chance!»

My jaw dropped. «Hold on a sec! You know she's a succubus?!»

«Yea, she told me,» Roman said casually. «She also told me you're a witch. And you know what?…» he took my hand again, his hold both firm and gentle. «I think that's super cool! So, you should go out with me, not Mr. Perfect over here!»

«In your dreams, Pretty Boy,» Stas countered, grabbing Roman's arm and resuming their grappling, each one still trying to convince me to choose him…

… It gave me déjà vu.

«Stop it, you two!» I raised my voice. «You promised not to fight, remember?!»

This was a strict condition I set last fall for our friendship. The boys stopped their scuffle but still exchanged glaring gazes, the air thick with tension.

«And… what's with this "going out" anyway?» I tried to lighten the mood, feeling my cheeks warm up, «If it's kissing you guys love so badly, I… I can kiss you both as much as you want!»

After all, it was the least I could do. Feeling responsible for their current state, I was prepared for much more! Being the cause of their obsession, it was my duty now to make them happy.

«You're my best friends…» I said, blushing even harder. «I… would do anything for you!…»

I managed to surprise them, I could tell. They even dropped their stare contest, turning my way with raised eyebrows, perhaps imagining the scale of "anything". An awkward silence hung… until Adeĺ's cheerful voice cut through it.

«So, friends forever?!» she chirped happily, «Let's all kiss now!» and leaped onto me, arms outstretched to hug, lips puckered for a kiss.

«Hey! Get off me!» I protested, pushing her face away.

«I can't!» she giggled, spade glimmers twinkling in her eyes. «Look what you've done! Now deal with it!»

«What?! It's not my fault you're like this! You're the one who put Roman and Stas in danger. I only cleaned up your mess, and if you got bewitched, it only serves you right!» my voice rose with frustration.

«They were never in danger,» Adeĺ retorted, pouting in feigned offense. «I've stoked their flames so we could play together and neither you nor I would harm them.»

I paused, processing her words.

«… Their flames?…» in demon terms, that meant their souls' auras… Hold on… «… Are you saying… you boosted their magic power?»

To use magic, your soul's aura strength – your magic power – must exceed level 1. Most humans, however, have their levels below 1, so snobby mages label them as "zeros", although no living being has actually zero level.

«Yep!» Adeĺ beamed in response.

Wait-wait-wait… I still needed a second to process it…. Yes, humans being endowed by a demon wasn't really new. And succubi sharing their power with someone they liked, was similar to witches using the power of someone liking them. Well, it's the opposite, of course, but nevertheless. Yet, both required a certain ritual I'd never overlook.

«But… when did you…?»

«When we just met! I kissed them!»

… She had indeed. At the time, I dismissed it as her getting overly excited, but now…

«… Darkness… How could I be so blind?!»

The realization made me want to disappear. The boys being safe all along meant all my worries, my mirroring Adeĺ, prancing around topless… and all these kisses!… Were for nothing?!… Gods, I even said I'd do anything!… And even imagined that!

I buried my face into my hands. «Just kill me, someone…»

Instead… I felt a comforting pat on my head… «It will be fine…» Adeĺ said.

… Well… There really was a bright side in it too… Stas and Roman were safe – that was what really mattered. Plus, they were mages now! Sure, they might not be the most powerful or even know how to use their magic yet, but it was still cool. Showing them off to other witches was gonna cause a stir!

Peeking through my fingers, I saw my 2 best friends and a cheeky demon, grinning at me as if they'd just pulled off the world's funniest prank.

«… O-o… Hush, you three!» was all I managed.

The night became a riot then. Like swimming naked in the dark and twirling in the moonlight with Adeĺ, thrilled by the boys' admiring cheers. As it grew chilly, we had them keep us warm in their arms. That's how we met the dawn.

To be continued…