"Fine," Satou said, his voice tight with controlled anger. "But stay mobile. Don't let him touch you if you can help it. He adapts to everything—the more you hit him, the less effective your attacks become."
"Understood," Cassius replied, dropping into a combat stance as Satou carefully lowered Seraphine to the ground.
The demon lord's hands were surprisingly gentle as he set her down, checking her pulse, making sure she was still breathing. Seraphine's eyes fluttered open slightly, and she saw Satou above her—not the bored, casual figure she'd tried to seduce, but something else. Something protective and furious and absolutely unwilling to let her die.
"You... came..." she whispered, blood bubbling from her lips.
"Of course I came," Satou replied, his voice softening for just a moment. "That's what allies do. Now rest. We'll handle this."
