Later, Stuart came looking for me several times. He knelt outside my door, just as I once had for him—sobbing, begging to see me, pleading with the same desperation I once wasted on him.I couldn't be bothered. Joe ignored him too, letting him kneel until exhaustion knocked him out cold. Then we simply dragged him away and dumped him wherever was farthest and coldest.After a few rounds of this, both Joe and I grew impatient. So we made a decision: to leave it all behind. We traveled the world, hand in hand, wandering freely, reveling in a life that belonged only to the two of us.By the time I next heard of Stuart, he had gone mad.He had torn apart his home searching for my old photographs, clutching them to his chest as if they were his lifeline. He drowned himself in liquor, staggering through the streets, muttering endlessly about how much he loved me. Strangers who passed by heard his ramblings as his drunken confessions spilled out into the night.He lived like that for s
"Louisa, I'm sorry for messing things up before. Don't worry, I made Naomi terminate the pregnancy. From now on, it'll just be the two of us."Stuart stood at the doorway, clutching a huge bouquet of red roses, eyes full of supplicant affection. I was silent for a moment, then let out a light laugh and blocked the door so he couldn't come in.He gripped the roses, flustered. "Louisa, I'll help you through your heat from now on. I'll take care of you properly."I shut the door and, cold as ice, said, "Sorry. No thanks."He shoved his hand into the crack to stop the door and didn't even cry out when it was squeezed. His face went pale. "You're a succubus. Without my help, you can't survive!" he blurted.How amusing. I paused, folded my arms, and gave him a mocking raised eyebrow—said nothing, only stared. Stuart's gaze flicked over my face. Then his eyes widened. He threw down the bouquet, grabbed my shoulders, and howled in fury, "You've gone to another man!"I swept his h
Perhaps that was why, from the very start, I had sought someone else.To me, Joe was special. As people said, succubi live by love. I was trapped by love; I couldn't drag him down with me.Joe sighed softly, pinched my chin, and kissed me deeply. Warm breath fanned my ear. "Fool," he murmured, "I never cared."The bed was soft; his body burned. My whitened, trembling skin was traced by his fingertips. Desire flared, but with it came a sudden shame—I turned my face away from his kiss. "Joe, you should go." His hot sweat dropped onto my brow; his breath warmed my ear. "Don't be afraid." His nose nuzzled my face, and his kisses crashed over me."Stop, the heat is passing." I pushed at him, wanting him to halt. He let out a low chuckle, pressing a warm fingertip to my lips. His voice was a husky, intimate tease. "Have you forgotten my lineage already?"I opened my sweat-dampened eyes, my head spinning. Joe was Black Serpent blood—that serpentine lust ran deep… just those
Joe and I grew up together.I, a pureblood succubus; he, of the Black Serpent bloodline—both misfits in a world that called us monstrous.When we were young, he loved to rile me, delighting in the sight of my face turning beet-red. But once, we had the fiercest argument of our lives. He spat that succubi were low, abhorrent creatures ruled by lust. I shot back that snakes were disgusting—creatures driven away by the sun's warmth. Neither of us would bow.During that cold war, the younger Stuart appeared in my life. He brought fireworks—brilliant, overwhelming—and walked into my world. After I chose to be with Stuart, Joe came to my house furious, demanding to know why I'd chosen him as my master. I looked at Joe, baffled. "Weren't you the one who said succubi were low? That you hated a life ruled by love and desire?" I asked. "Stuart is great. He doesn't care about what I am."Joe stood silent for a long time, then left with a pale face. The next day, he went abroad and left
Stuart kept shouting Naomi's demand. "Kneel down and apologize to Naomi!"Hearing the mockery in my voice, he paused for a beat, then exploded in fury."Louisa, I've been far too lenient with you. Believe me or not, I can do without you!"I was silent for a moment.He stared at me smugly and snorted."You succubi can only have one master for life. You'd better beg me to love you. Kneel and admit your fault now, and maybe I'll forgive you!"I shook my head and sighed, hating how blind I had been to fall for such a fool. A worthless, unfit master—he should have been discarded long ago. I had been foolishly clinging to old kindnesses, binding myself in place."Stuart, make no mistake. It is I who doesn't want you."He flung his head up in disbelief and bellowed, "What are you saying?"I didn't bother to repeat myself. I severed our contract right then. It was as if someone plucked a petal from my chest—an odd lightness spread through me.Stuart's face drained of color; he clutch
Stuart settled into his seat at the table before I could stop him. Naturally, he lifted the bowl of porridge I had just served and took a sip… then scowled in disgust.He assumed that my cooking had somehow regressed; the porridge wasn't to his liking.I said nothing. In my mind, I replayed Joe in the kitchen that morning, leaving the note about keeping the porridge warm. Could that same stubborn, sharp-faced man really smile like that? I lowered my head and thought of him.Stuart seemed to misunderstand my action. He chuckled with false approval. "Good. At least you know you were wrong. Only I don't mind you. Make the food properly next time."Naomi clutched at her dress, meekly sniffling with fear that she might be a bad cook and earn his scorn. Stuart soothed her tenderly, implying that cooking was the work of lowly, servile women. A noble, beautiful little fairy like her only needed to sit back and be waited on."Right, Louisa? Hurry up and bring the porridge to Naomi." Stua