The succubus moved before I could blink.

One second, she was slumped against the wall, her breath coming shallow and ragged. The next, her muscles tensed, and she surged forward—only to stop short. The chains around her wrists flared with crimson light, jerking her back violently.

Her snarl tore through the chamber, low and guttural, a sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Her claws scraped against the stone wall behind her as she strained against the bindings, her pink eyes locked onto me with an intensity that was equal parts hunger and fury.

The runes etched into the metal glowed brighter as she struggled, their jagged edges biting into her flesh. Each movement sent faint wisps of smoke curling into the air where the restraints burned against her skin.

“You’re stuck,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “There’s no point in fighting me.”

Her answer came as another guttural growl, her body twisting violently as she tried—and failed—to lunge. The magic anchoring her chains pulsed again, holding her limbs in place no matter how much she thrashed.

I took a cautious step closer, lowering my shotgun just enough to avoid escalating the situation. “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to get you out of here.”

Her pink eyes narrowed, burning like molten glass. Her lips curled back, revealing sharp teeth, and she jerked again against the restraints. The chains rattled loudly, and for a moment, I thought she might snap them through sheer force of will.

But the magic held.

Her breathing grew harsher, each exhale trembling with barely contained desperation. The hunger in her gaze cut through the space between us, raw and overwhelming.

She was starving.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. This wasn’t just rage or instinct—this was survival.

“Okay,” I said softly, keeping my movements slow. “You need something. I get it.”

Her growl deepened, but the thrashing stopped. She was watching me now, her eyes flicking over my face, my weapon, my throat. The heat of her gaze was almost tangible, and I knew what she wanted.

My essence.

It wasn’t the first time I’d let someone feed on me, but the idea of offering it here, now, to a half-starved succubus chained to a wall, made my pulse race.

“Listen,” I said, crouching just out of her reach. “If I let you feed, you need to calm down. No fighting, no clawing, no biting. Just take what you need to stop the hunger. Can you do that?”

She didn’t answer, but her breathing slowed slightly. The tension in her shoulders remained, her claws still twitching faintly, but there was a flicker of understanding in her gaze.

I tilted my head, exposing the side of my neck where the runes etched into my skin glowed faintly. “Here. It’s easier this way, isn’t it?”

Her body went still, every muscle taut as if bracing for a trap. For a moment, I thought she might refuse—or worse, lash out again.

Then she leaned forward, as far as the chains would allow.

Her lips brushed against my neck, hesitant and trembling. The pull started faint, barely more than a whisper of energy leaving my body. My runes flared in response, their edges warming as the connection deepened.

The pull grew stronger.

My breath hitched, and I clenched my fists against the urge to jerk away. It wasn’t painful—more like someone tugging on invisible threads inside me, unraveling something I didn’t fully understand.

“Not too much,” I murmured, my voice strained. “Just enough.”

Her claws twitched against the chains, but she didn’t push further. The pull eased, the raw desperation in her movements softening as she fed. The glow in her pink eyes dimmed slightly, and for the first time since I’d found her, she looked... calmer.

When she finally pulled back, her breathing was steadier, though her gaze remained sharp and wary. Her claws flexed against the restraints, testing them again, but the fight seemed to have drained from her.

“Better?” I asked, leaning back slightly to put some distance between us.

She didn’t answer, but the faintest flicker of acknowledgment passed through her gaze.

I let out a slow breath, the weight of the moment settling over me like a lead blanket. The world tilted slightly as I stood, the effects of the feeding leaving me lightheaded.

“Good,” I muttered, steadying myself against the wall. “Now we can focus on getting you out of here.”

The basement was silent except for the soft clink of chains and the slow rasp of her breathing. The succubus watched me carefully, her pink eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The fight had drained out of her, but the hunger lingered in her gaze, even as her body slumped against the wall.

I glanced toward the collapsed stairwell I’d tumbled through earlier. The air was still heavy with the residue of whatever ritual had summoned her, its sharp tang clinging to my senses. Comms weren’t going to work down here—the wards etched into the walls saw to that.

I needed to get back to the stairwell.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said softly, glancing back at the succubus. Her chains rattled faintly as she shifted her weight, testing the bindings again.

She didn’t snarl this time, but her claws twitched against the stone, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“I’ll be back,” I said, my tone firm. “Just... stay put.”

Her lips curled faintly, not quite a snarl but enough to remind me she wasn’t exactly thrilled with the situation.

With one last glance at her, I turned and headed toward the collapsed stairwell. The floorboards groaned under my boots as I picked my way through the debris, every step sending small clouds of dust into the stale air.

When I reached the base of the stairs, I tilted my head back and cupped my hands around my mouth.

“Viper!” I shouted, my voice echoing up the narrow shaft.

Silence.

I tried again, louder this time. “1-4, get your ass down here! I need you!”

For a moment, there was nothing but the faint creak of the structure around me. Then, distantly, I heard the sharp crack of footsteps on wood.

“Raku?” Viper’s voice called back, faint but unmistakable. “That you screaming like a banshee?”

“Who else?” I snapped, relief flooding through me despite my irritation. “I need help! The basement’s warded—comms are dead!”

A muffled curse echoed down the stairwell. “Hold tight, I’m coming!”

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Viper appeared a few minutes later, dropping through the broken opening with the kind of careless grace that only they could pull off. Their twin daggers gleamed faintly in the low light, the violet energy along the blades casting flickering shadows against the walls.

“Nice place,” Viper said dryly, brushing dust off their pants. “Really cozy. You redecorating or something?”

“Glad you think this is funny,” I muttered, jerking my thumb toward the back of the room. “Got someone over there. Bound tight with runes I can’t break. Not our target, unfortunately.”

Viper’s dark eyes flicked past me, narrowing as they spotted the succubus. She hadn’t moved much, her skeletal frame still slumped against the wall. But as Viper approached, her pink eyes snapped to them, her claws flexing faintly against the restraints.

“Feisty little thing, isn’t she?” Viper muttered, stopping a few feet away. They tilted their head, studying her bindings. “Runic suppression. Old school. Nasty stuff.”

“Can you cut it?” I asked, stepping up beside them.

Viper smirked faintly, drawing their daggers. “I didn’t bring these for show, Tats.”

They crouched low, their blades crackling as they brought them close to the first chain. The runes on the metal flared angrily, but Viper didn’t flinch. With deliberate precision, they slid one blade along the edge of the binding, the energy sparking brightly as it met resistance.

“Hold still, sweetheart,” Viper muttered, glancing at the succubus. “This might sting a little.”

She growled softly, her tail twitching against the floor, but she didn’t thrash.

The first chain snapped with a sharp crack, the runes fading into nothing as the metal fell away. The succubus jerked slightly, her breath hitching as the restraint released.

“One down,” Viper said, flashing me a grin. “See? Easy.”

“Just keep going,” I said, keeping a wary eye on the succubus.

Viper worked quickly, their movements smooth and precise. Each chain fell with a sharp crack, the oppressive weight of the magic in the room lifting slightly with every release.

By the time the last restraint fell, the succubus was sagging against the wall, her limbs trembling as if the loss of the bindings had sapped the last of her strength.

“She’s free,” Viper said, standing and sheathing their daggers. “But she’s not walking out of here on her own.”

“I’ve got her,” I said, stepping forward.

The succubus flinched as I crouched beside her, her pink eyes narrowing in warning. I held up my hands, keeping my movements slow.

“It’s okay,” I said softly. “We’re getting you out of here. No more chains, no more bindings. Just trust me.”

She hesitated, her claws twitching faintly. Then, she lunged at me, collapsing halfway through the attempt. I flinched backwards, falling on my ass. My eyes fell to Viper. "Not. A. Word.", I said through clenched teeth. They just give me their telltale smirk, instead saying "Poor girl is out cold. Guess that makes extraction easier, at least."

My eyes returned to the unconscious succubus on the ground before me, one of her hands barely touching my leg. I frown and gently lift her.

Her body was alarmingly light, her skeletal frame barely registering as a weight in my arms as I turned towards the stairwell.

“Let’s move,” I said, nodding to Viper.

They grinned faintly, gesturing toward the exit. “After you, hero.”

The extraction point was chaos.

The transport helicopter roared overhead, its rotors cutting through the air in deafening waves. Dust and debris whipped around us as we sprinted across the clearing. Viper stayed close behind me, their daggers back in their sheaths but their stance wary.

The succubus stirred faintly in my arms, her skeletal frame trembling as the noise and motion registered. She wasn’t awake—not fully—but the growl rumbling from her throat made it clear she wasn’t entirely out either.

“Stay with me,” I muttered, more to myself than to her. The ground beneath my boots felt uneven, and the ache in my arms was starting to creep in. She was light, but exhaustion was clawing at the edges of my focus.

“Pick it up, Tats!” Viper shouted over the din, motioning toward the open ramp of the helicopter. The rest of the squad was already aboard, their weapons trained on the tree line.

“Watch the perimeter!” Reaper’s voice boomed from inside the cabin. His hulking frame stood near the edge of the ramp, one hand gripping the overhead railing as he barked orders.

I pushed harder, my legs burning as I closed the gap. Viper vaulted ahead, reaching the ramp first and turning back to cover me.

“You good?” they asked, their voice sharp but laced with concern.

“Just keep them off me,” I snapped, my breath coming in short gasps.

The ramp groaned beneath my boots as I stepped onto the helicopter, the vibrations from the rotors rattling through my body. Breaker lay on a stretcher near the back, his chest rising and falling steadily but his face pale. Watcher was perched beside him, its mismatched eyes glowing faintly as it monitored his vitals.

“Get her secured,” Reaper ordered, motioning toward an open seat. “We’re lifting in thirty seconds!”

I nodded, setting the succubus down against the wall. She slumped heavily, her head lolling to one side. Her breathing was shallow, her pink eyes flickering faintly as if caught between waking and unconsciousness.

“Is she out?” Viper asked, leaning over my shoulder.

“For now,” I said, wiping sweat from my brow. “But I don’t think it’s going to last.”

The helicopter jerked as it lifted off, the ground falling away beneath us. The sudden motion sent the succubus lurching forward slightly, her claws twitching as her eyes snapped open.

And then the panic set in.

The helicopter banked slightly, sending a fresh jolt through the cabin. The succubus whimpered faintly, curling against the wall. Her claws scraped against the metal floor, trembling as if she didn’t know whether to lash out or flee.

“Hey, hey,” I said, raising my hands in what I hoped was a calming gesture. “You’re okay. No one’s going to hurt you.”

Her pink eyes locked onto me, sharp and distrustful. The hunger in them was muted, but it was still there, simmering just beneath the surface.

“Tats,” Reaper said sharply, his hand resting on his rifle. “If she loses it, she’s going down.”

“She’s not losing it,” I snapped without looking back. “Just give me a minute.”

Viper crouched beside me, their dark eyes flicking between the succubus and me. “She needs to eat,” they said, their voice softer than usual. “That’s the only thing that’s going to calm her down right now.”

“I know,” I muttered, swallowing hard. “I just don’t want to push her over the edge.”

“You’ve got this,” Viper said, their tone almost encouraging. “Just don’t pass out on me, hero.”

I gave them a sharp look but turned back to the succubus. Her breathing was erratic, her claws twitching as her gaze darted from me to the open ramp and back. She was teetering on the edge, caught between panic and survival.

“Okay,” I said softly, tilting my head to expose my forearm this time, the runes etched there glowing faintly in the dim light. “Here. It’s safer this way, isn’t it?”

Her eyes narrowed, her claws scraping faintly against the floor. Slowly, cautiously, she leaned closer, her breath warm against my skin.

The first touch was tentative—more a brush of her lips than anything else, afraid I might deny her still. The pull started faint, almost like static electricity, before deepening into a steady tug. It wasn’t as intense as before, but it wasn’t gentle either.

My runes flared in response, the energy flowing into her like water finding a crack in stone. My arm felt heavy, as though her feeding drew not just from my essence but from my very limbs.

I gritted my teeth, steadying myself with my free hand against the floor. “Not too much,” I murmured, my voice strained.

She didn’t growl this time, didn’t thrash or pull harder. Her breathing evened out, and the trembling in her claws began to ease.

“Keep her steady,” Viper said, their voice low.

I nodded faintly, my focus locked on the succubus.

Viper reached out, their hands gentle but deliberate as they grasped the remains of the cuffs still dangling from the succubus’ wrists. The broken chains jingled softly as Viper inspected them, their sharp eyes narrowing.

“These are useless now,” they muttered. “Let’s get rid of them.”

The succubus flinched slightly at the contact, her claws twitching, but she didn’t pull away. Her focus remained on my arm, the glow in her eyes softening as she fed.

Viper worked quickly, snapping the rusted metal with precise, magic empowered movements. The jagged edges fell away one by one, clattering to the floor as they freed her wrists and ankles.

“There,” they said, sitting back on their heels. “No more chains.”

I glanced at Viper, nodding in silent thanks before turning my attention back to the succubus. The pull began to ebb, her grip on my arm loosening as she drew back slightly.

Her pink eyes met mine, and for the first time, there was no hostility in them. Just exhaustion—and something that might have been gratitude.

“That’s enough,” I said softly, pulling my arm back.

She didn’t fight me. Instead, she slumped against the wall, her claws resting limply in her lap.

“See?” Viper said, leaning back with a faint grin. “Told you you’d survive.”

I shot them a tired glare. “Barely.”

Reaper cleared his throat, his sharp gaze flicking between the three of us. “She under control?”

“She’s fine,” I said, glancing at the succubus again. “Aren’t you?”

She didn’t respond, but the tension in her body had melted away. Her breathing was steady now, her head tilted slightly as she watched me with half-lidded eyes.

“She’s fine,” I repeated, more for Reaper’s benefit than anyone else.

“Good,” he muttered, turning toward the ramp as the helicopter began its descent. Viper smirked faintly, crossing their arms as they leaned against the wall.

“You’ve got a way with strays, Tats,” they said.

“Shut up,” I muttered, too drained to argue.

The helicopter touched down moments later, its skids kicking up another cloud of dust as the engines began to wind down.

“Move out!” Reaper barked, motioning for the rest of the squad to disembark.

The others filed out quickly, their weapons still at the ready. I stayed behind, crouching beside the succubus as she curled against the wall.

“You go ahead,” I said, waving them off. “I’ll catch up.”

Reaper hesitated, his gaze flicking between me and her. “You’ve got five minutes. Then we’re sending someone in.”

“Understood,” I said, watching as the squad disappeared into the facility.

The succubus shifted slightly, her pink eyes flicking toward the open ramp. Her claws twitched, but she didn’t growl.

“We’re here,” I said softly. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she let out a soft sigh, her body relaxing slightly.

For now, at least, the fight was over. With a little luck, the following medical checkup wouldn't be too stressful for her.