Chapter 15: Does She Like Her?

The world had ground her down for too long. She had grown used to injustice and, without thinking, tried to keep the peace. Vaniel hadn’t done anything wrong.

Vaniel had already braced herself for a scolding. She’d even thought of what she would say in her defense.

But Lin Zhihan thanked her so sincerely that Vaniel suddenly had no idea how to respond.

She turned her face away and murmured, “I didn’t do it for you.”

“Mm.” Lin Zhihan didn’t seem to mind. She took Vaniel by the hand and led her onward. “Still, thank you.”

She was still holding the fork Vaniel had twisted into a pretzel. She lifted it and gave it a little shake. “I’m keeping this, too.”

Vaniel’s cheeks flushed faintly.

The other high-ranking devils had always scolded her for being reckless. She’d revealed herself to a crowd on impulse, and she’d refused outright to complete the Coming-of-Age Rite—the most important rite in a devil’s life—because she didn’t want to hurt humans.

If she hadn’t been so willful, she wouldn’t have suffered a backlash and become a succubus. She wouldn’t have been so weak that humans could capture her.

It was as if everything proved that her kindness and convictions were wrong.

Yet now, this human was thanking her.

It was late by the time they got back to the apartment.

Vaniel sat on the edge of the bed, still thinking about their outing that day. Before long, she noticed Lin Zhihan watching her.

The gaze was quiet, but intent.

Vaniel felt a little uncomfortable under that gaze, and the tip of her tail nearly peeked out again.

At last, she frowned and asked, “Why do you keep looking at me?”

Lin Zhihan’s voice was calm, as if she were stating the obvious.

“I’m waiting for you to kiss me.”

Vaniel froze.

Then she remembered what she’d said earlier: she was supposed to do the opposite and stop letting Lin Zhihan make the first move.

She went rigid, as if she’d finally realized she’d dug herself a hole.

Lin Zhihan could tell the succubus didn’t want to. She also remembered the way Vaniel had kicked that boy to his knees earlier in the day.

Without the collar, would Vaniel have wanted to slap her, too?

Lin Zhihan sighed. Apparently she still had to play the villain. She gently took the succubus by the throat, her thumb brushing Vaniel’s earlobe as she stroked it.

“Come on.”

Her lips hovered near Vaniel’s ear as she whispered, barely audible, “Kiss me.”

The succubus kept her head bowed and said nothing. When Lin Zhihan held her by the throat, she trembled a little. Was she angry? Frightened? Her earlobe had turned red.

“Vaniel.”

Lin Zhihan was beginning to wonder if she’d gone too far when Vaniel bit her lip and spoke.

“This won’t work… You’re just food to me.”

Lin Zhihan blinked.

What was wrong with her?

But as soon as Vaniel finished speaking, she lunged forward and kissed her.

The succubus was incredibly strong. Vaniel pounced, pinning Lin Zhihan down as her silver-white hair spilled around them and her black wings spread wide, as if to enclose Lin Zhihan completely.

Lin Zhihan jumped at the sudden force.

For one moment, she thought the succubus wasn’t going to kiss her so much as sink her teeth into her throat.

In reality, Vaniel was only pressing their lips together with fierce determination.

As their breaths mingled, Lin Zhihan heard the succubus murmur, “You smell so good…”

“What?”

“It’s so strange…”

Vaniel stopped. Frowning, she pressed a hand to her stomach, confusion plain on her face.

“It feels so hot in here.”

Lin Zhihan paused.

She reached out and rested her palm against Vaniel’s slender, flat stomach. The skin beneath her hand was warm and soft. When she felt more carefully, she could just make out a tiny, heated bump, as though a small source of warmth lay hidden deep inside.

Lin Zhihan’s hand stilled.

She realized that this was probably where the Golden Egg would form.

But Vaniel looked bewildered. She didn’t understand why she’d felt hollow with hunger all day, or why the sensation had come surging back the instant Lin Zhihan leaned close.

It had almost returned her to her weakest days, when all she could think about was Lin Zhihan’s sweet scent and soft lips.

Her body was in good shape. She shouldn’t have been short on energy.

Lin Zhihan’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

So Vaniel had no idea she would lay an egg?

Of course she didn’t. She hadn’t been a succubus to begin with and knew nothing about them. She’d been forced into this body, dumped into the human world, and somehow saddled with a collar. She didn’t even know what was happening to her.

A pang of guilt stirred in Lin Zhihan.

She had no idea how Vaniel would react when she finally found out.

The guilt made Lin Zhihan gentler still. She said nothing, only reaching out, trying to give the succubus more before kissing her.

Vaniel, meanwhile, thought the human was doing something strange again. Why was she so kind to her?

Thinking it over, Lin Zhihan had been deliberately touching her from the start, offering her that delicious scent. And ever since they’d first been intimate, Lin Zhihan had wanted to do it with her every day. She’d protected Vaniel that day—and even thanked her.

And she was always asking for kisses.

Could this human… actually like her?

The unexpected thought startled Vaniel. She opened her eyes and stole a look at Lin Zhihan.

She saw Lin Zhihan’s lovely features and lowered lashes; Lin Zhihan’s gaze was intent as she kissed Vaniel. The sweet breath Lin Zhihan exhaled seemed to wrap around Vaniel.

Vaniel’s heart began to race.

She can’t like me. I’m an unfeeling devil. I’ll be leaving soon.

She had to make that clear to the human. Falling in love with her would only break Lin Zhihan’s heart.

Vaniel kept telling herself that, even as she soon melted under Lin Zhihan’s hands. The sensation came over her too quickly for her to get a word in.

She was still wearing the dress she’d had on all day, now rucked up around her waist. Her long legs trembled.

Afterward, the succubus was dazed. But the warmth in her belly remained, and her hunger returned at once. Somehow, it still wasn’t enough.

Lin Zhihan showed no sign of stopping. She leaned close to Vaniel’s ear.

“We’ll have to make up for it again tonight…”

Ah—wait…

Vaniel opened her mouth, but no words came out—only short, involuntary syllables. She tipped her chin up as if she couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes had turned a beautiful pale pink.

…

Vaniel woke early the next morning.

The instant she opened her eyes, she sat up, pretending she hadn’t been curled in Lin Zhihan’s arms.

Once she’d put some safe distance between them, she looked down and felt her stomach.

Last night’s strange sensation seemed like it might have been a dream. Her belly felt normal now, as if nothing had happened.

She flexed her hands and feet. Her body still brimmed with that familiar strength, light and full of energy. It was a wonderful feeling.

Had it really just been her imagination? Or was it a succubus thing? Vaniel decided not to dwell on it.

Whatever the answer, she just wanted to stop being a succubus as soon as possible.

Lin Zhihan opened her eyes, too.

She was still half asleep. After fumbling for her phone and checking the time, she finally dragged herself out of bed.

Vaniel looked at her and remembered the night before. Her ears turned red.

I need to be colder to this human. She has to understand that what we have is only temporary… just a feeding arrangement.

But Lin Zhihan was busy getting up and washing, in a hurry to go to work. She barely spoke to Vaniel or even looked at her.

The succubus never got a chance to “make her position clear.”

Instead, Vaniel found herself watching Lin Zhihan and following her around like a shadow, frowning when the human ignored her.

At last, Lin Zhihan finished getting ready and stood by the door. The tall, slender girl lifted her lovely face and held out a hand.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

She’d promised Vaniel that she would take her out whenever she went to work.

Vaniel’s frown finally eased. She glanced at Lin Zhihan’s long, pale fingers and looked away.

This human wants to hold hands again.