His words were smooth, confident, and ced with amusement—like he already knew more about me than I wanted him to.

  I kept my expression calm, unfazed, but inside, my mind was racing. Who was this man? No ordinary traveler strolled into a den of monsters and pyed mind games with a succubus.

  "You must be fun at parties," I teased, stepping closer, testing his reaction. "Do you always talk in riddles, or do I have to work for a real answer?"

  His smirk didn’t fade. "You tell me. You’ve been following me, after all."

  Clever. Turning my own move against me.

  I ughed, slow and sultry. "Caught me. I was curious, that's all." I trailed my fingers lightly along my colrbone, my tone dropping to a purr. "A human, walking around the monster district without a care in the world? That’s rare. And rare things tend to be… valuable."

  His eyes flicked down—briefly—before meeting mine again. A lesser man would have cracked already, but not him. He was either disciplined or uninterested.

  …No. Not uninterested. There was something in the way he watched me, too aware, as if waiting for me to slip, to reveal something.

  "You know," he said after a pause, "if you were really curious, you could’ve just asked instead of tailing me like a pickpocket."

  I tilted my head, smiling. "Where’s the fun in that?"

  His chuckle was low. "And here I thought you were a dancer, not a hunter."

  Hook. Line. Sinker.

  I let my gaze darken slightly, licking my lips as I took another step forward—close enough to touch him now. "Can’t I be both?"

  For a moment, neither of us moved. The night air was thick with tension, charged and waiting.

  Then, instead of backing away or falling into my trap like most men would…

  He smirked.

  A slow, knowing smirk that sent a ripple of irritation through me.

  "You’re good," he murmured. "But not good enough."

  And with that, he turned and walked away.

  Just like that.

  I blinked, momentarily thrown off. No fight, no bite, no lingering gnce? What was his game?

  I watched him disappear into the shadows of the alley, my tail flicking in annoyance.

  He knew something. And now, I needed to know what.

  A slow smile curled my lips.

  "Well then," I whispered to myself. "Now I’m really curious."

  I turned back toward the club, my mind already pnning my next move.

  This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

  I took a slow breath, forcing my irritation to settle. Pushing too hard would only drive him further away. If he was truly important, he’d show up again.

  For now, I had other things to worry about. Like making money.

  With a flick of my tail, I turned away from the alley, heading back toward the club. The neon lights reflected off the damp streets, the muffled thrum of music spilling into the night. Inside, the night was still alive, filled with the sounds of clinking gsses, heavy beats, and the low murmurs of creatures indulging in their vices.

  The bouncer barely gnced at me as I walked past. I was one of them now.

  Upstairs, my new room awaited—a space that smelled of incense and lingering perfumes, the sheets silken against my fingertips. It wasn’t home, but it was mine.

  I ran a hand down my stomach, where life had once stirred. My child… my little monster.

  He was resting now, curled up in the small enchanted crib the owner had provided. Strange how quickly I’d adjusted to motherhood.

  Strange… how I still hesitated.

  I sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at my own hands. Would I really send him to war? To fight the pig who ruined my life?

  The thought made my stomach twist.

  Not now. Not yet.

  I sighed and stood, shaking off the creeping doubt. I had a job to do.

  Tomorrow, I’d dance again.

  Tomorrow, I’d earn my pce in this world.

  And if fate was kind… that human would find his way back to me.

  The club was alive with energy tonight—thick with smoke, sweat, and the intoxicating scent of desire. The music pulsed through the air, syncing with my heartbeat as I twirled around the pole, my outfit shifting seamlessly with each motion.

  My audience was captivated, their gazes locked on me, but I barely paid them any mind. They were just customers, after all.

  But then, I felt it.

  A gaze—different from the rest. Heavier. Stronger.

  From the upper balcony, a figure watched me with predatory interest.

  A monster unlike the others.

  When my dance ended, the usual appuse and cheers erupted, but my focus was already elsewhere. He was gone.

  "Strange."

  I turned to leave the stage, but a familiar voice stopped me.

  "The boss wants to see you."

  I gnced over my shoulder. The club’s bouncer, a towering minotaur, gestured toward the owner’s office.

  I sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow. "What now?"

  Inside, the owner leaned back in his chair, watching me with his usual unreadable expression. A gss of something dark swirled in his hand.

  "You’ve caught someone’s attention," he said smoothly.

  I arched a brow. "I tend to have that effect."

  He chuckled. "This one’s different. He’s powerful—someone I’d rather keep happy." He paused, swirling his drink. "He’s requested your company for the night."

  I leaned against the desk, crossing my arms. "And what if I say no?"

  "You can decline politely, no issue," he assured me. "But if you say yes…" His gaze flicked to me with interest. "You’ll be well compensated."

  I tapped my fingers against my arm, pretending to consider. As if money was my only concern.

  This wasn’t just a job. It was an opportunity.

  A powerful monster, interested in me? That meant connections. Resources. Influence.

  …But it also meant risk.

  So, the question was—did I take the gamble?

  The Succubus Temptation

  The VIP suite was vish—red velvet couches, mirrored ceiling, a bed I knew was cleaned more often than the floor. KaerethThe monster sat like a warlord on the couch, broad shoulders cloaked in obsidian-scaled armor, half undone. His golden eyes tracked me like prey.

  “Echidna,” he said, voice low and smooth. “You move like hunger made flesh.”

  I stepped in, hips loose, robe trailing behind me like smoke. “And you watch like you’ve never eaten.”

  He chuckled, baring sharp teeth. “I want a taste.”

  I let the robe slide off my shoulders, standing bare under the room’s red light. His gaze burned over every inch of me. I climbed into his p, straddling him without a word, my hands tracing the warm hardness of his scaled chest.

  When we kissed, it was heat and pressure. His mouth was rough, his breath tinged with something primal. He pulled me close, cws gentle but firm on my waist, his other hand sliding down, between my thighs. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t react.

  “You’re cold,” he murmured against my neck.

  I ground my hips against him. “Then warm me up.”

  He stood in one motion, carrying me to the bed like I weighed nothing. When he entered me, it was with practiced strength, slow and deep, forcing my body to yield. I moaned—part performance, part instinct. He filled me in ways humans never could. There was no pain, no shame. Just sensation. Just motion. Just heat.

  His rhythm grew brutal, and I matched it. My nails dug into his back. My breath hitched in time with his growls. I wasn’t pretending now. The way his scales scraped my skin, the size, the shape—this was real. Real enough to silence the ghosts in my head.

  But I didn’t close my eyes. I didn’t let go.

  Even when I came—hard, biting his shoulder, my tail wrapping tight around his leg—I stayed in control. I guided his release, locking my hips, milking him for everything. When it was over, I colpsed beside him, slick with sweat, my thighs sticky, my heartbeat steady.

  The monster y still, panting. “You could start wars with that body.”

  I turned to him, brushing silver hair out of my face. “I’m pnning on it.”

  He ughed. But I wasn’t joking.