We stayed like that for a while, her weight resting against me as the tension of the day ebbed away. I let out a slow breath, my arms loosening slightly around her.

A yawn snuck up on me, and I shifted, stretching to ease the stiffness in my shoulders. The motion lifted the hem of my shirt, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes followed the movement, lingering there with a flicker of curiosity.

A chuckle slipped out before I could stop it. I reached out and tapped her nose lightly. “Come on,” I said, my voice soft but firm. “Let’s go home.”

I stood, grabbing my datapad from the desk. Her footsteps followed immediately, steady and close. I turned to glance at her and caught the way she was watching me—quiet, intent, like she was waiting for something.

The door hissed open with the press of a button, and the lights blinked off as we stepped into the hall. Together, we made our way through the quiet corridors, the faint hum of the facility’s machinery our only companion.

In the underground garage, the air was cooler, the faint smell of oil and concrete lingering as we approached my car. She stayed close, her hand brushing my arm as if to reassure herself of my presence.

I opened the passenger door for her, gesturing for her to climb in. She hesitated briefly, her ears twitching as she glanced around the garage before sliding into the seat.

Once she was settled, I circled around to the driver’s side and got in, buckling her seatbelt for her before doing my own. She didn’t look away from me, her gaze soft and unwavering, as if she were taking in every detail of my face.

The car hummed to life as I pulled out of the garage, the wet streets reflecting the neon lights of the city above.

The ride was quiet. Her tail curled loosely around her legs, her body relaxed against the seat. It wasn’t the wary tension or outright panic I’d grown used to—it was something softer, almost serene.

I tightened my grip on the wheel, my thoughts circling back to everything that had happened. There was no need to wonder what had changed. I knew. It wasn’t just the feeding—it was everything that had followed. The trust she’d shown me, the way she clung to me like an anchor.

Her gaze lingered on me, her eyes bright against the dim glow of the dashboard lights. I could feel her attention pressing against me, not demanding but constant.

“Hungry?” I asked, glancing at her briefly.

Her ears twitched, and her head tilted slightly in a way that told me all I needed to know.

“That’s a yes,” I said with a faint smile.

I pulled into a small parking lot tucked between buildings, the rain shimmering under the neon signs overhead. Grabbing the umbrella from the back seat, I stepped out and opened the passenger door for her. She hesitated, her ears twitching as she glanced around the unfamiliar space.

“It’s okay,” I said softly, holding the umbrella over her. “Come on. Just food.”

Her eyes flicked to mine, then to the umbrella, and after a moment, she slid out of the car. She stayed close, her hand brushing mine occasionally as we made our way down the side street. I muttered an old seeking chant under my breath, the runes on my skin warming up as we walked through the rainy backroads.

The smell of charred meat and warm flatbreads filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of passing cars. The succubus walked carefully beside me, her gaze darting to the occasional shadow or pedestrian as though expecting something to lunge at her.

“It’s just a food stall,” I murmured, my tone gentle. “Nothing to worry about.”

She responded by getting closer, her arm hooked into mine now as we approached the familiar stall.

The vendor, was as unassuming as always, his grease-stained apron and friendly, too-wide grin a familiar sight. He looked up as we approached, his face lighting up with recognition.

“Well, if it isn’t young Raku!” he said, leaning forward on the counter. “What’ll it be tonight?”

“Evenin', Earl. A few skewers, flatbreads, you know what I like—enough for two,” I replied, pulling out a few coins, stamped with a devil mark.

Earl’s eyes turned to the succubus at my side, his grin widening. “Raku, you little rascal. Didn’t think I’d see you with someone this pretty on your arm.”

I shook his offered hand, my gaze catching the faint shimmer in his form. His arm shifted slightly, rippling under the orange street light.

“Earl,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Your wards are slipping. You're shifting again."

He sighed, grabbing a set of skewers from the grill. “I know, I know. Rian’s been gone for weeks, nobody knows why or where. The new guy’s wards aren’t worth a damn.”

I frowned. "Think he's okay? Not many good wardcrafters around these days."

The old devil shrugged. "Don't know. I was thinking of asking one of the regulars if they could give Rian's boyfriend a visit, see if the old fart's just holed up with his sweetheart for a bit."

Earl and I shared a doubtful look, but neither of us dared to say what we actually thought. Thankfully, my stomach rumbling filled the gap before we could change our minds. I glanced at the succubus, who was watching the food intently, her posture less tense than before.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Earl silently handed me the skewers, his toothy grin plastered back onto his face, and I unwrapped one, holding it out to her. “Here. Try this.”

She hesitated, her nose twitching faintly as she sniffed the charred meat. When she took it, her fingers brushed mine briefly, her claws carefully retracted.

The first bite was tentative, her eyes briefly looking up to me as though checking for approval. Then, her ears perked, and she took another bite—faster, more eager.

“Good?” I asked, smiling encouragingly.

She nodded, her focus entirely on the food now.

Earl chuckled as he handed me the rest of the order. “She’s got good taste. You better keep her well-fed, Raku.”

I snorted. “Don’t you start. Vivi’s already going to be unbearable about this.”

Earl laughed, wiping his hands on his apron. “Speaking of Vivarian, haven’t seen that troublemaker in a while. Still causing you headaches?”

“Always,” I replied with a smirk. “But they’re doing fine. Same old Viv.”

The succubus shifted closer to me, a faint shiver running through her as the drizzle picked up. I reached out instinctively, rubbing her arm gently to warm her.

“Hey, Earl,” I said, tucking the bag of food under my arm. “We’ll catch up later. She’s getting cold. Next time I come 'round let me know if you've heard anything about Rian. I'll keep an ear out myself. And don't let that new ward guy scam you, ya hear me?”

Earl nodded with a knowing grin. “Don’t be a stranger, Raku. You know how to find me. And make sure to keep that girl happy. Bring her around again some time, eh?"

He vanished back into the shadows, his stall disappearing as quickly as it had appeared before I could even think of responding.

We walked back to the car, her steps lighter now, the tension in her shoulders easing with each passing moment. By the time we reached the vehicle, she had finished the skewer, holding the empty stick like a hard-earned trophy.

“Plenty more where that came from,” I said, tossing the bag onto the passenger seat as she climbed in.

She settled beside me, her posture close but not intrusive. Her attention flicked briefly to the bag of food that was now sitting in her lap before returning to me, her eyes soft but unrelenting.

The drive back to the apartment was quiet, the faint hum of the engine filling the space between us. I caught glimpses of her in the dim light as she unwrapped another skewer from the bag. She chewed carefully, savoring each bite.

It was strange seeing her like this—relaxed, almost peaceful. Only a few days ago, she’d been a trembling, feral creature chained to a wall. Now that she'd fed from me she was beside me, eating grilled meat and following my every move like we’d been doing this for years.

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She followed me up the stairs happily, toddling after me with food in hand. The warmth of the apartment greeted us, the soft glow of the lights casting everything in familiar tones.

I set the bag of food on the coffee table and gestured for her to sit. She perched on the edge of the couch, her tail curling neatly beside her as she accepted another skewer.

“Go ahead,” I said, grabbing a flatbread for myself.

She waited until I took a bite before continuing with her own meal. Her appetite surprised me—she finished another skewer and half a flatbread, pausing only to glance at me between bites as if waiting for me to say something.

By the time we finished, the wrappers were scattered on the coffee table, and she leaned back slightly, her body relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen before.

“What?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as her gaze lingered on me.

She tilted her head but didn’t answer. Instead, she reached out, her hand brushing against my arm before sliding beneath my shirt.

Her touch was light, her fingers tracing the lines of a rune etched into my skin. There was no urgency to her movements—just quiet curiosity, as though she were following invisible threads only she could see.

“Excuse you, are you wiping your greasy hands on my tits now?,” I muttered, heat creeping into my face despite the teasing words.

She shifted closer, her touch wandering freely, her other hand resting lightly on my thigh. Her tail swayed faintly, brushing against my leg as she leaned into me.

I let out a slow breath, letting my hand settle on her back. The warmth of her touch, the trust in her every movement—it was grounding and overwhelming all at once. I decided to bite my tongue instead of trying to tease her further.

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around us. Her breathing slowed as she melted against me, her hand still wandering absently across my chest.

“You’ve really settled in,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her ears twitched faintly, and she tilted her head to look at me. There was no tension in her gaze, only a quiet calm that made my chest tighten.

The trust she showed me, the way she leaned into me without hesitation—it was undeniable. It wasn’t just the bond Vivi had mentioned; it was her, reaching for connection in a way that felt as natural as breathing.

But what did it mean for us? For me? The questions churned in the back of my mind, heavy and unanswered.

Her hand stilled against my chest, her breathing evening out completely as she slowly slumped forward onto me and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Her weight against me was warm and grounding, and for the first time in days, I felt a faint sense of ease.

“You’ve had a long day,” I whispered, brushing a hand over her hair.

Eventually, I shifted, easing her off my lap gently. “Come on,” I said softly, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

Her eyes blinked open, heavy-lidded and dreamy. She tilted her head, watching me for a moment before sitting up slowly.

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The warm spray of the shower filled the bathroom, steam rising around us as she stepped under the water. She moved with a calm ease that hadn’t been there before today, her tail swaying faintly as the water cascaded over her back.

I lathered the soap bar between my hands, watching her relax completely. Her posture was loose, trusting, as though this were routine.

“Turn around,” I murmured.

She complied without hesitation, her movements fluid and natural as I worked the soap across her shoulders. My fingers moved carefully over her scars, avoiding the places where her wings had been. She didn’t flinch or tense—if anything, she leaned into my touch, letting the warmth of the water and the soap lull her further into calm.

“You’re definitely getting used to this,” I said softly, my voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

She let out a faint hum, her tail swaying faintly behind her.

By the time we stepped out, the mirrors were fogged, and the air was thick with warmth. I handed her a towel, watching as she dried off with deliberate care.

Back in the bedroom, I grabbed a clean shirt from the dresser and handed it to her.

“Here,” I said. “This should work.”

She slipped it on, the long fabric almost comically big on her small frame. I grabbed a pair of loose pants for myself and tugged them on before sitting on the edge of the bed.

She followed without hesitation, curling up beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her hand wandered across my chest again, her touch light and exploratory as she leaned into me.

Her breathing slowed, her body completely at ease as she melted against me. For all the questions swirling in my mind, I couldn’t deny the warmth of her presence or the comfort of her trust.

“Today really changed things,” I murmured, brushing a hand over her hair.

The content hum she let out was answer enough. Her breathing evened out as she drifted into sleep, her hand still resting on my chest. I let out a slow breath, the weight of the day finally settling as I closed my eyes.

“Goodnight,” I whispered into the quiet, letting sleep take me too.