CHAPTER 231: STOP BEING SO JUMPY, DEMON

Raegar noticed her eyes gleamed, her playful smirk turning sultry as she set the bottle aside, her gaze locked onto his. Without warning, she seized his hand, her grip firm yet teasing, and tugged him toward their tent.

’’Come on, hero,’’ she said, grinning.

He was caught off guard, but grinning, stumbled after her, the sake making his steps less steady, yet his heart was racing. Inside the tent, the dim glow of a single lantern cast soft shadows.

Selene pushed him down onto a pile of furs, her movements bold and unhesitant. She straddled him, her red skin glowing in the faint light, her yellow eyes burning with a mix of mischief and desire.

Before Raegar could quip, she leaned down, her lips crashing against his in a passionate, fiery kiss, her hands tangling in his hair as the world outside faded into a distant hum, leaving only the heat of their shared moment.

The Demoness’s lips moved against his, her kiss deepening as she pressed herself closer, her boobs squashed up against his chest. The air around them seemed to pulse thanks to their shared heat, her crimson skin warm against his.

Outside, the distant howls of night creatures echoed across the rugged landscape, a wild chorus that only heightened the passion of the moment. His hands found her waist, pulling her tighter as he returned her fervor, their breaths mingling in the quiet.

The howls grew louder, a haunting sound carried by the wind, but neither flinched, lost in the fire of their connection. Slowly, the kiss softened, its urgency giving way as Selene pulled back, her yellow eyes glinting with a playful warmth as she traced a finger along his jaw.

Moments later, Raegar slid beside him, nestling into the curve of his arm. He tucked her close, her head resting against his chest as they settled in. The howls faded into the distance, replaced by the steady rhythm of their breathing.

Wrapped in each other’s warmth, they cuddled close as the monster noises increased and lulled them to sleep. By the time he woke up the next morning, a breeze was in the air, gently rocking the tent.

Raegar stepped out of the tent only to see the sun beaming down on them. That’s when he noticed Zargoth sitting in front of the fire, eating some of the leftover meat he forgot to put in his ring.

The older man glanced up with narrowed eyes. ’’Having fun in there? Does my sister know you’re both sharing a bed?’’

’’Yes, and she told Samael once we left,’’ he answered.

Raegar sat down and pulled out some more monster meat from his ring and cooked it on the open flame, but it wasn’t enough. He cast Lightningfire Blast into the pile of wood, causing it to explode upward.

Zargoth, near enough screamed, making him laugh as he commented. ’’Stop being so jumpy, Demon.’’

The two of them started laughing before the older man stood up to pack away his tent after eating. Raegar sat there and scanned his surroundings, only to see blood staining the ground all around the campsite.

’Looks like we’ll be encountering them more often,’ he mused while flipping the steak of juicy steak.

Moments later, he noticed Selene had stepped out of the tent. She stretched, a yawn escaping, her crimson skin radiant in the early light. The tight shorts she wore hugged her curves, highlighting her bubble butt and making all the right places jiggle.

Her yellow eyes met his, a playful glint sparking as she noticed his gaze. Raegar smirked, stirring the fire where a steak sizzled, its aroma mingling with the crisp morning air, causing their stomachs to growl.

’’Morning, trouble,’’ he said, voice low and teasing, as Selene sauntered closer, her confident stride only amplifying the heat in his stare.

Following that, Raegar got back to cooking as he turned the skewer over the crackling fire, the steak’s surface charring to a perfect golden-brown as fat dripped, hissing into the flames.

The rich aroma mingled alongside the faint metallic scent of blood staining the ground around the campsite, a grim reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the firelight. Selene sat next to him while returning the greeting.

’’Morning, handsome,’’ she said, beaming. ’’Last night was comfortable.’’

Raegar smiled in response as he reached for a small loaf of bread from a cloth bundle, tearing it into rough chunks and setting them on a flat stone near the fire to warm. The bread’s crust crisped lightly, its scent blending with the roasting meat.

He grinned faintly, picking up a bottle of sake from his ring. He took a slow sip, the warm, smooth burn of the rice wine cutting through the chill of the night. ’’Nothing like a little sake to make the world feel less... bloody,’’ he quipped, offering the bottle to Selene.

The Demoness accepted it, taking a swig, passing it back. ’’You’re too calm about this,’’ she said, nodding toward the stained ground, though her tone carried a mix of admiration and unease.

Raegar shrugged, slicing a piece of the now-perfectly cooked steak and handing it to her alongside a piece of toasted bread. The howls in the distance grew faint, but the tension in the air remained, as if the night itself was watching.

The older man finished packing away his tent, glanced over, his weathered face unreadable, turning to stow his gear. ’’Eat up,’’ he said, handing Selene and Zargoth their portions. ’’We’ll need the strength for the journey back to Brightwater, the weather’s going to get worse thanks to an incoming Aether Storm.’’

Selene nodded, biting into the warm bread and juicy steak as the older man stared at the bottle of sake, questioning. ’’A bit young to be drinking so early?’’

’’I’m close to turning seventeen and have been drinking this stuff ever since being in the Vampire kingdom down south,’’ he explained.

Zargoth’s eyes widened as Raegar continued. ’’I spent a year in Bloodfang training before joining Drakenwood.’’

When Selene heard this, her eyes widened in fascination as she spoke. ’’Zahara told me about that. How did you survive in such a place?’’

He chuckled, pointing at a nearby tree and revealing. ’’I stayed in trees or bushes, especially when the Monster Swarms plowed through the forest, it was honestly a nightmare sometimes.’’

The Demoness looked concerned, but he changed the subject and asked her. ’’Would you like to attend my birthday party? You’ll be away from Brightwater all Summer Break, though?’’

Selene’s face brightened as she gave an eager nod. ’’If that’s alright with you, handsome, will we be staying at your place or your grandparents’?’’

’’Both,’’ he replied, grinning.

She quickly agreed, nodding. ’’Yes, I’ll come. What about the other girls?’’

’’Drusilla is already coming thanks to being my bond,’’ he responded while chewing on the juicy meat. ’’Zahara and Dominique have already agreed to come.’’

When Selene heard this, she smiled, asking one last thing. ’’What about Alice?’’

Raegar blinked, clearly caught off guard, and a single brow lifted in confusion. ’’Why would I invite her? I’ve only just met the girl. I don’t even know her last name.’’

The Demoness leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips. ’’She’s your brother’s wife’s little sister,’’ she said, as if that alone should explain everything. ’’Which technically makes her family, whether you like it or not.’’

He scoffed, shaking his head. ’’Family by proximity, not by choice. That doesn’t mean I’m suddenly obligated to roll out the red carpet.’’

’’Mmhmm,’’ she drawled, clearly amused. ’’Be that as it may, she’s already looking at you like you hang the stars. Seems she’s joined the Blackwood fan club, front row, lifetime membership, no questions asked.’’

Raegar let out a low groan, dragging a hand down his face. ’’Fantastic. Just what I need.’’

The conversation between the two carried on effortlessly over breakfast, their banter weaving between playful jabs and curiosity. Zargoth sat across from them, his sharp eyes flicking between the pair.

A knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he sipped his tea. Time slipped by unnoticed, and before long, an hour had passed. Once their bellies were full and spirits steady, the trio gathered their things and set off once more.

The road was long but familiar, winding through golden fields and sparse woodland. For the first hour, the journey was peaceful, apart from the occasional burst of laughter and the rhythmic crunch of boots on gravel.

But as the sun climbed higher, so did the grumbling. Zargoth let out a dramatic sigh and grimaced. ’’Is it just me, or has this road gotten longer since last time? My bones weren’t made for this kind of punishment.’’

’’You said that three towns ago,’’ Selene quipped, glancing back.

’’I’m older now,’’ he replied, adjusting the pack on his back. ’’At this rate, I’ll need a walking stick by the time we reach Brightwater. Maybe two.’’

’’You’d complain if we were flying,’’ the Demoness said dryly, not bothering to look at him.

’’Yes,’’ Zargoth admitted. ’’But at least then I’d be sitting down.’’