Incubus Care Manual

I spent a small fortune online to buy an incubus.The product description said he was handsome, aloof, with an eight-pack and a slim, powerful waist.Most importantly, he was capable.That last trait got me. Without much hesitation, I paid immediately.But right after I placed the order, customer service reached out to me.Customer service: [Hi, you around?]Me: [Uh, yeah, what's up?]Customer service: [Well, the incubus you just ordered… He does look good, but he's a little cold-tempered. Also, he's reached maturity, so his stamina… can be a bit overwhelming. If you think that might be too much, I'd suggest you cancel and let us recommend a gentler model instead.]Me: [No need. The cold and capable type is exactly what I'm looking for.]After reading that, the customer service agent sent me a message that sounded oddly like a blessing.Customer service: [Alright then. He'll arrive at your home on schedule. Have lots of fun!]A few days later, a broad-shouldered, narrow-wais

Orion's breath caught. He called my name, his voice low and hoarse."Angela…"Just as he started to lift his arm to pull me in, I—completely unaware of what was going on—shifted back. Out of misplaced concern, I tugged the blanket up around him, tucking in both the arm he had just raised and that restless, twitching tail.Afraid he might catch a cold, I even put on my most serious tone."Be good. Don't move around. And no kicking the blanket."Orion closed his eyes like a man who had lost all hope of living.After turning off the light, I lay down with my back to him.Pulling out my phone, I opened the customer service chat box with a heavy heart.Me: [Hi. My incubus seems… off.]Customer service: [Hello, if you're having any basic care issues during the raising process, please consult the Incubus Care Manual. Ah… sorry, looks like I forgot to send you the manual last time.]Me: [It's fine. But I don't think the manual will help. I'm worried he's sick… seriously sick.]Custo

The consequence of indulging an incubus was that my lips ended up swollen, and there was even a small cut on my tongue. It hurt just to stay quiet.The culprit sat beside me, pressing a cold pack against my mouth, his expression calm and distant again—back to his usual, cool self now that he was fed and satisfied."Does it hurt?" he asked."No," I murmured, blushing, shaking my head while absentmindedly holding his tail. After all, I wasn't exactly innocent either—I'd enjoyed it too.He really lived up to the name incubus. No one could make a person lose their sense of reason quite like that—drawing you in, stirring something deep and irrational. It was the kind of pull that made you want to forget everything else and just... stay close to them.Thinking about what had just happened—how dizzying, how electric—it took a small cough for me to pull myself together again. I needed to calm down and think of something pure, something mundane. Otherwise, I'd probably end up crossing a li

Orion was too beautiful for me to drag him into a life of hardship.If fortune was out there somewhere, I hoped a little of it would find its way to me too. Or perhaps a windfall. A big one.Muttering silent prayers for sudden wealth, I reached home—only to find the apartment dark, not a single light on.What?Had my incubus gone out grocery shopping? But I'd told him not to wander around.I turned toward the market at the entrance of the complex, ready to go find him, when I caught sight of Orion coming up the stairs.When he saw me, something flickered across his face—something strange."You're back?"I nodded. "Where were you? Why wasn't the light on?""I went out to buy food.""Oh? Then where's the food?"I glanced at his empty hands, suspicion rising.After a brief silence, he lowered his gaze and said softly, "I'm sorry. I'll go buy it again."He turned to leave, but I caught his arm and said gently, "It's fine. We still have plenty at home.""…Alright. Then I'll go

A chill ran down my spine as the thought struck me.If Orion had recovered his memory—and now remembered scrubbing my socks, washing my underwear, and doing all my chores—would he see it as humiliation?And if he did... would he come after me?The answer was obvious.Yes. He probably would.He'd most likely chop me into pieces and feed me to his dogs just to blow off steam.I grabbed my phone and called my landlord."What for?"To move out and disappear, of course.What else—wait around to get bitten to death by an angry incubus?I packed in a rush, tripping over myself as I moved out of that shabby little apartment.Thankfully, back when Orion lived with me, I'd been too busy making him do chores—or, well, other things—to ever mention where I actually worked. So for now, he shouldn't be able to find me.…Time passed.No one came knocking. No one tried to kill me.Slowly, the knot in my chest began to loosen.Maybe I'd overreacted.Someone like Orion—an upper-class in