CREAAAKKK!
A faint sound reaches my ears, stirring my consciousness slowly. After a moment, I become aware of a faint pressure against my side. My eyes slowly flutter open, groggily, and I blink away the remnants of sleep. A shape against my side slowly comes into focus.
Moonlight spills into the bedroom from a nearby window, illuminating the pale skin of Ilina's nude form. She's cuddled against my side, one bare leg thrown over mine, her hand placed lightly on my chest. Her beautiful face is nestled onto my shoulder, framed by her gleaming silver hair spilling over the pillows. She's resting peacefully, her shallow breaths causing her bare chest to rise and fall in a mesmerizing display.
My lips twist into a satisfied grin, remembering the night we just had.
Not just the sex, though I have to admit that was pretty spectacular. The whole night, getting to spend time with her alone like this. That wild date, having her share her insecurities with me, seeing her slowly shed some of them. It was all so...fulfilling, and I feel like it made us a lot closer.
Honestly, I'm even looking forward to taking her on more of those incognito dates. Not because the dates themselves aren't dangerously stressful on my heart, but...because I love how they free Ilina. Last night at dinner was the most I've ever seen her smile, laugh...she looked so damn beautiful, having the time of her life. I'd like to see more of it...
My smug grin transitions into an affectionate smile. I run my free hand up her arm, across her cheek, pulling some stray hair from her face. I spend a few moments in silence, admiring how perfect she looks...how content.
"Is this elf your pet? You appear to enjoy her presence."
A casual, icy voice reaches my ears, and my blood runs cold. I slowly turn my head towards the sound, only to find a woman staring at me curiously from beside the bed. She's a little tall for a woman, about mid-20s, slender, wearing a simple, knee-length white dress. Skin as white as snow, hair a grey so pale it looks faintly blue, and eyes like glowing sapphires.
I quickly check her with magic sense, and my breath nearly catches in my throat. Magic power...almost a 9. That's easily thirty times what Nina has.
I finish scanning her in an instant. She has a dark class, and most importantly...she's an Elder Dragon. My eyes narrow at the woman, and I discreetly cast a latticed forcefield around her body. A really fucking strong one, anchored to her core, leaving only her head free. Essentially, a magic straightjacket.
"Want to tell me why you're in my room? We've never met before, and I definitely didn't invite you...Cerilia." (Mizuki)
Her eyes widen slightly, before a beautiful smile breaks out across her face.
"Mizuki, you know who I am? That pleases me." (Ciri)
I raise my eyebrows.
"That makes one of us. Now answer my question. And you can tell me how you know my name while we're at it." (Mizuki)
Her expression turns puzzled.
"You are displ-...hmm?" (Ciri)
She glances down at her body, a flicker of alarm crossing her face. She looks back to me, surprised and expectant.
"It appears that I cannot move...is this your doing?" (Ciri)
I purse my lips, weighing how I should handle this situation. But, a soft groan interrupts my thoughts. I glance over, seeing Ilina pushing herself up on the bed. She rubs her eyes groggily, giving me a lazy smile.
"Mmmm...did you have a good ti-..." (Ilina)
Ilina freezes mid-sentence, registering Cerilia's presence. The observation is apparently mutual. Cerilia tilts her head, studying Ilina.
"Are you his only pet?" (Cerilia)
Ohhh boy...
Ilina blinks, registering the words. Then, her expression darkens considerably, and she turns to face me.
"Mizuki, why is this annoying bitch in our room?" (Ilina)
I open my mouth, considering how to de-escalate. Then, the temperature in the room drops precipitously. I whip my head back towards Cerilia, to find her glaring at Ilina murderously. Her nonchalant demeanor has evaporated. As the air starts to fog around us, she speaks, her voice dripping with disdain and indignation.
"You insolent..." (Ciri)
My eyes snap open in alarm, sensing the danger to Ilina, and I immediately cast magic domain.
"ENOUGH!" (Mizuki)
I negate Cerilia's spell with my domain, the eerie fog clearing as I heat the room back to a normal temperature. Cerilia's eyes bulge, and she snaps her gaze to me, her voice laced with disbelief.
"My magic...it...how did you-" (Ciri)
In a smooth motion, I'm out of the bed, standing in front of Cerilia. I grab her by the neck, cutting her off. I narrow my eyes, my voice dropping to a threatening growl.
"Let's get a couple of things clear right now. That woman's name is Ilina, and she is my fiancé, not my pet. And if you so much as look at her aggressively again, I'm going to kill you. If you call her anything other than her name, I'm going to kill you. Is that clear?" (Mizuki)
Cerilia's face stiffens, her eyes turning red as I squeeze her throat. After a moment, she faintly nods, struggling. I cautiously release my grip on her neck, stepping back, but monitoring her closely with magic domain for any evidence of spell casting.
"Good." (Mizuki)
I glance back at Ilina, noting her rattled demeanor. My expression softens, my voice laced with concern.
"Ilina, are you okay?" (Mizuki)
She lets out a shaky breath, and gives me a hesitant smile. She nods.
"Yeah...thanks. Who the hell is she?" (Ilina)
I sigh in relief. Before I can answer her, though, Cerilia's voice interrupts. Suddenly, it's unnervingly polite.
"My name is Cerilia, Sister Ilina. Some call me the Ice Queen of Elder Dragons. However, you and Mizuki can call me Ciri. Please accept my sincerest apologies...I did not realize you were mated to him." (Ciri)
I raise my eyebrows. Ciri, huh? Guess she's got a nickname like Nina. Also, why is she calling Ilina 'Sister'?
Ilina blinks, her face paling slightly. Suddenly, her voice is a bit more polite as well. She doesn't seem to register the 'Sister' thing.
"Oh...uhm, an Elder Dragon, I see. That is...something. Ciri, can I ask why you're here?" (Ilina)
Ciri hums thoughtfully.
"Hmm...I wanted to fight Mizuki, and I now see that was just as futile as Nina claimed." (Ciri)
I stiffen, and I notice immense irritation flicker across Ilina's expression. Her voice becomes strained.
"Nina? She sent you here?" (Ilina)
Ciri tilts her head.
"Not exactly. She refused to tell me where to find Mizuki, but I figured it out. She just came to visit for a chat, and I learned about her new, powerful mate. She warned me that he'd be able to kill me easily, but I wanted to see for myself." (Ciri)
I see Ilina's irritation recede...but not entirely. Meanwhile, I study Ciri, considering her words.
So, Nina's 'trip' was visiting Ciri? On one hand, I'm actually kind of upset with Nina for not telling me. This is perhaps the one person on the planet that could kill her, and she waltzed off without a care in the world.
On the other hand, I guess it makes sense that she'd go to another Elder Dragon, who clearly uses her human form to some degree, for that personal problem she mentioned. Plus, Nina has said that Ciri's never been antagonistic towards her.
I suppose the debate of Nina's guilt is for later, though. For now, I focus on the other part of Ciri's statement. I raise my eyebrows at her.
"So you came to fight me? Why?" (Mizuki)
Ciri turns her head towards me. She smiles excitedly.
"To confirm what Nina claimed. Now that I have, I would like to form a Dragon Bond with you." (Ciri)
I groan internally. What is it with these dragons suggesting soul bonds all willy nilly after I beat the shit out of them? It's like they're masochists or something. I shake my head.
"Sorry, not possible. I've already made the Bond you're talking about with Nina. I remember her saying that means we can't make it with anyone else." (Mizuki)
Ciri purses her lips, tilting her head.
"Not necessarily. That is true for Nina and me, because we are Elder Dragons, but you are not. We do not know if...err, Nephilim, are limited to one Bond." (Ciri)
My eyes widen. I might be able to make another Bond? That's...interesting. Not appealing, mind you – there's no practical benefit for me. But as a scientific curiosity? Very interesting.
Ilina narrows her eyes, her voice becoming incredulous, and a touch hostile. Elder Dragon be damned, I guess.
"You're asking my fiancé for that dragon marriage ritual, in front of me!?" (Ilina)
Ahhh fuck...
Ciri, however, just shakes her head calmly.
"No, the Bond is not a mating ritual, or what you call 'marriage'. It's just a convenient connection that strengthens two people, which mated pairs commonly take advantage of. But mating is not required for the Bond...it can remain platonic." (Ciri)
Ilina's posture relaxes, her voice losing its edge, but she maintains a skeptical tone.
"I see. So, you just want to Bond with Mizuki to get stronger. You aren't asking him to be your mate." (Ilina)
Ciri makes a puzzled expression.
"Incorrect. I very much intend to have him as my mate, in addition to making the Bond. I am clearly an excellent choice...stronger than Nina, even after her Bond." (Ciri)
Ilina blinks. Suddenly, even though her expression doesn't change, there's an almost ethereal chill in the air. She turns to face me, her voice unsettlingly monotone.
"Okay, Mizuki, I've heard enough. I'd like her gone, please." (Ilina)
I raise my eyebrows.
"Uhm, I mean...don't you think that's a lit-" (Mizuki)
Her voice cuts me off, clipped. Final.
"No, I don't. The woman you claim to love is asking you to get rid of the disrespectful whore who tried to attack her, so...GONE. Somewhere far away and preferably unpleasant." (Ilina)
Ilina's grey eyes study me, expectant, but fragilely so. Like someone who desperately wants me to prove something to her, and is afraid of how she'll feel if I don't. I can only sigh to myself helplessly. Breaking in, waking us while we're savoring our first time together, trying to kill Ilina, and now giving off home wrecker vibes. Ciri really did overstep, and for once, Ilina's yandere reaction seems sane.
Ciri scoffs, her voice restrained but laced with anger.
"Sister Ilina, it is not your pl-" (Ciri)
"Okay, Ilina, you're right." (Mizuki)
Ilina balks, her expression one of shock...mixed with relief. Then, her lips twist into a radiant smile, overflowing with gratitude and unrestrained excitement.
Ciri goes slack with shock. I give her a deadpan stare and shrug.
"Don't ever break into my room again. And if I hear that you've harmed or threatened anyone connected to me, you're dead. Now, tell Veyron I said hi." (Mizuki)
Before she can even reply, I snap my fingers for effect, and she disappears from the room. I glance back at Ilina, eyebrows raised.
"Happy?" (Mizuki)
She immediately launches herself off the bed, her cool, soft skin slamming against my chest. She wraps her legs around me, nuzzling her face into my neck. She begins to giggle – quiet, erratic. She whispers to herself, her voice laced with something that sounds dangerously like sadistic glee.
"He...hehehe...hehehehehehe. For me...you really did it, for me." (Ilina)
I catch the cute elven projectile, smiling nervously.
"Uhm...yeah, you made a good point." (Mizuki)
I hear Ilina's giggling stop abruptly, then I feel hot breath on my neck, and a sharp bite on my earlobe. She whispers, her tone low, suggestive.
"Mmm...come back to bed..." (Ilina)
I stiffen, suddenly very aware of how we're pressed together. How my hands instinctively looped under her butt to catch her.
I swallow nervously.