Serenith paced like a caged beast.
Her arms were crossed tight, her wings twitching with every moan and grunt echoing through the twisted, smoky air of the Void-Mother's strange realm.
"Mortal mating rituals are one thing," she muttered, grinding the heel of her palm against her temple. "But this is... this is divine nonsense."
A particularly loud grunt from Lucien, followed by the Void-Mother's delighted howl, made her wings flare in irritation.
"That's it!" she snapped, stomping to the strange door. If it could even be called a door. It looked more like a slowly pulsing membrane of moonlight and shadow.
She kicked it open anyway.
Then her eyes widened.
"Wh-what in the realms…"
The space beyond the doorway defied comprehension.
It looked like a nightmare from a twisted mind. Stairs that curled into themselves, walls folding into floors, and floors slinking up into impossibly coiled ceilings. In the middle of it all, floating atop some kind of vibrating, ash-shadow tentacle throne, Lucien was straddled by the now-sultry and goddess-tier version of the Void-Mother. Her luminous skin glowed with chaotic energy, long black hair trailing like liquid smoke, and her hands were gripping Lucien's shoulders like a starving woman at a banquet.
Serenith's halo fizzled and flickered as if unsure whether to stay lit or abandon ship.
Lucien, hips rotating like an alchemist stirring up something extra forbidden, glanced back over his shoulder. "Hey, angel-cakes. Something wrong?"
The Void-Mother moaned, arched her back, and turned her head to smirk. "Mmm, join us? There's plenty of room~"
Serenith cleared her throat. Twice.
Then loudly announced, "It's been hours. Your entire empire's probably panicking."
The Void-Mother gasped lightly as Lucien twisted his hips in just the right way. "Oh, don't worry your… uuuuugh… pretty little halo. Time moves… differently…. here. Mere moments have passed in your… ooooh…. mortal realm. I'm very considerate."
"Considerate?" Serenith gestured wildly as the scene around them. "You've been riding him like a sacred stallion through a geometric nightmare!"
Lucien gave a cheeky wink, his hands still firmly on the goddess's thighs. "Call it cardio."
"I'm starving," Serenith huffed. "Do demi-goddesses not offer snacks in their mind-bending sex dimensions?"
"Oh! My apologies," the Void-Mother cooed between gasps. With a click of her fingers, a buffet table plonked into existence behind Serenith. Stacked high with steamy breads, roasted meats, fresh fruit, decadent desserts, and something suspiciously jiggly.
Serenith blinked.
Her stomach growled.
"…Thank you," she said, voice softening despite herself. She turned to the food, eyeing a glazed tart with unconcealed hunger. "But hurry it up. Some of us aren't turned on by eldritch acrobatics."
Lucien raised a hand to salute. "Promise. We'll wrap up soon."
Several hours later...
Serenith lay draped across a plush couch, a half-eaten fruit tart still balanced on her stomach. Her face slack with food coma, she mumbled something about "divine punishment" and "too much sugar." A small drool trail traced the corner of her lips.
The slam of a nearby door jolted her awake. She groaned and cracked open one glowing eye.
Lucien loomed over her, shirt halfway buttoned, hair tousled like he'd fought a wind elemental, and wearing the most self-satisfied smirk in existence.
"We're done," he announced grandly.
Serenith groaned again. "Finally. I was starting to think I'd died and gone to horny purgatory."
Behind Lucien, the Void-Mother was reclined on a chaise made of light and shadow, a long pipe in her hand and a dreamy, post-coital smile on her glowing lips.
"Lord Lucidius, dearest," she cooed, "thank you for the… stimulating company. I look forward to watching your little empire play out. Should you ever need inspiration, chaos, or someone to confuse the heavens, you know how to call me."
She clicked her fingers, and a shimmering portal opened like an eye blinking into existence.
Lucien bowed, ever the showman. "Thank you for your divine hospitality. Five stars. I will definitely visit again."
Serenith stood, brushing crumbs from her chest. "Let's go before I file a divine grievance."
The Void-Mother's amused gaze followed her. "Careful, angel. I see the way you look at him. I wonder... will you remember your place?"
Serenith's mouth fell open. "Excuse me!?"
Lucien gave the goddess a wink and strutted through the portal with regal flair.
Serenith sputtered, crossed her arms, and stomped after him. "I will absolutely be mentioning this in my report!"
Back in the real world, the hot Ashland sun greeted Lucien as he stepped out of his royal tent. His coat fluttered in the breeze, his grin wide enough to melt brick.
Ignara and the twins were waiting nearby.
Ignara arched a brow. "Well? What happened in there?"
Lucien gave a deep, satisfied stretch and then looked at them all with an infuriatingly smug smile. "Ladies… do you even know who I am?"
He turned and strutted away like a rockstar leaving the stage, hips swaying, chest puffed, radiant confidence oozing from every pore.
Serenith glided after him with a weary expression.
Ignara leaned in and whispered, "What… happened?"
Serenith pinched the bridge of her nose. "What always happens. He screwed her brains out and turned her into a loyal friend."
Ignara gasped. Then burst into laughter, slapping her thigh.
Vex and Vile gasped dramatically and clutched one another.
"Do you think he still has energy left for us?" Vex asked, bouncing on her heels.
"After handling a demi-goddess?" Vile added, eyes wide with awe.
Serenith sighed. "When it comes to sex, he has infinite energy. Believe me."
The twins squealed and dashed after him, giggling like schoolgirls chasing a forbidden dream.
"Hopeless. All of you," Serenith muttered, throwing up her hands.
Ignara let out a dreamy sigh. "You'd be hopeless too if I got a taste of the demon lord."
Serenith snorted. "I'd rather be banished to the Eternal Void."
Lucien, without turning around, called back, "I heard that! And it really hurt my feelings, feathers."
Serenith cupped her hands around her mouth. "You'll survive! You've got a harem of willing women to soothe your emotional wounds!"
The twins, catching up to Lucien, leapt into his arms with joyful squeals.
He caught them with a smug grin. "Oh, ladies… the angel was so mean to me. I'm emotionally devastated. I could really use some comforting."
Vex pressed herself against his chest, eyes sparkling. "You can cry on me all you want, my lord."
Vile wrapped her arms around his waist and purred. "As long as you come on us after."
Lucien's eyes twinkled.
Behind them, Serenith facepalmed so hard she nearly knocked her halo off.
"What did I do in a past life to deserve this?"
Ignara wiped a tear from her eye and chuckled.