CHAPTER 828: CHAPTER 828 - ZAHRA’S MORBID CURIOSITY***

Zahra’s steps faltered. She had no reason to stop. Nothing in the contract she’d signed compelled her to obey that voice right now. A part of her did wonder if listening would improve her chances of eventually earning that sigil core... but she had to wonder if that was worth it.

Still, she stopped. She could feel an itch of morbid curiosity worm its way into her brain.

Behind her was Emma, an elegant, beautiful, extremely impressive woman—a woman who could bring entire armies back from the brink of death. There was no doubt in Zahra’s mind that Emma could find the highest status, power, and influence in any corner of the current world.

And yet... the sight of what was happening behind her still burned on her retina. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in her ears, as did the soft slurping of a wet hole refusing to let go, and the light whimpering from behind Emma’s gag. The knowledge this woman had devoted herself so entirely to this man, despite what she was.

All this caused her to be fascinated with the enigma that was Emma. From the moment she laid eyes on this angelic woman and learned more about the nature of Emma’s relationship with Erik, she found her thoughts occasionally drifting to Erik’s second wife.

But... for every part of her fascination, there was also fear. The relationship between Erik and Emma dredged up parts of her memories she preferred to keep buried forever. It hurt to think about.

Thus, despite her fascination, she felt the urge to flee this room immediately.

Yet, it was Erik’s tone that broke through her doubts. Laced with the authority and confidence of a fledgling emperor who’d gone through eight years of training by Elora, he was admittedly hard to resist and easy to obey.

There was still room for improvement there, but it was plenty enough to fuel the doubt and fascination she already felt.

Robotically, she halted in her tracks, but didn’t turn around.

Of course, that wasn’t good enough.

"Turn around," Erik commanded. His eyes never turned away from Emma’s gyrating body, and even as pleasure assaulted his senses, his voice never wavered.

Though she didn’t turn around, Zahra’s body trembled a little. "I— You can’t just—"

"Force you to stay?" Erik finished her sentence, his voice surprisingly lazy, despite the deeply commanding tone. "Of course not. You can leave if you like. I won’t blame you, and it won’t affect your chances at a sigil core."

Silence fell for a moment. Erik let his words sink in, thus taking away any excuse Zahra might have made for herself. "Now, turn around. Don’t make me say it a third time," he then ordered again, seemingly in contrast to his promise just now.

Another tremble passed through Zahra’s body. Then, finally and very slowly, she turned around.

Erik, his eyes still focused on Emma, revealed a small, satisfied smirk. He was still casually leaning against his fist. "Good girl," he chuckled, making Zahra groan, clearly blaming herself.

"Now," he continued, "tell me why you’re here. Or, if you like, ask me questions about what you’re seeing." Despite voicing it like a suggestion, his tone remained deeply authoritarian and commanding... and that did affect Zahra, even if she wasn’t ready to confront that fact right now. Yet, to Erik, it was as clear as day.

Zahra’s breath trembled. Now that she’d turned around, she found it impossible to look away from what was happening in front of her. Her uncertain eyes travelled all over Erik and Emma’s bodies, particularly lingering on Emma’s bondage gear, their physical connection, and the bulge in Emma’s otherwise flat stomach.

"I— Are you... Alright?" she muttered, her question clearly directed towards Emma, her fingers fidgeting nervously. She didn’t really think Erik had forced her into this situation, but she still felt the need to ask.

Unfortunately, Emma didn’t answer, and Erik chuckled. "She can’t hear you." Finally glancing at Zahra, he tapped on his own ear. "Look closely at her ears."

Zahra’s eyes flew to Emma’s ears. Now she noticed black earplugs of some kind. "They’re special," Erik explained, smiling mysteriously. "They only allow my voice through, and even then, only when I allow it."

Naturally, that didn’t assuage her worries at all. Yet, Erik smirked indifferently. "She’s not here against her will, though you’ll have to ask her later to confirm if you want. I’m not interrupting our time together to satisfy your worries."

Zahra could only nod, clearly still uncomfortable, but still not willing or able to bring herself to leave. "Is she... being punished for something...?" Zahra asked, her voice breathy, still unable to rip her gaze away. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been exposed to such a sexually charged scene, making her inability to leave even stranger.

With his eyes focused back on Emma, Erik shrugged with a low chuckle. "Only a little. Most of this is actually a reward for getting to the third rank."

Zahra’s eyes widened, but Erik wasn’t done as he glanced at Zahra once more, his lips curled into a grin. "Not only that, but it’s a reward she designed herself."

He cocked an eyebrow. "I’ve seen you look at my beloved glimmer with admiration and fascination, you know? She deserves those feelings from you, of course, but I wonder if they’re affected by this side of her?"

Zahra’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound came out. Her fingers continued fidgeting, her eyes continued to stare.

"Hehe, that’s alright," he chuckled, focusing back on Emma again. Gently, he raised his other hand and caressed her body up to her young, firm breasts that perfectly fit into one of his hands. Her soft skin trembled under his touch, and when he played with her nipple, more soft whimpers escaped from behind the gag.

"You don’t need to answer now," he continued. "Think about it for a while."

Zahra nodded slowly. Somehow, she felt herself becoming a little more comfortable with being there with every moment that passed. Slowly, her gaze became more morbidly curious and fascinated than uncertain. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that...

"Does she... know I’m here?" she then asked suddenly, gulping a little, uncertain what she’d prefer.

"Subconsciously, perhaps," Erik answered calmly. Conversing with Zahra like this allowed him to push the pleasure Emma provided him to the back of his mind. "Her eyes can’t see, but her omnisense is only partially suppressed. She can see about a few steps in her surrounding, so you’re out of range, but she could notice me talking to someone, of course."

He cocked his head a little, smirking lustfully. "Although... she’s really not in the right state of mind to notice anything right now..."