Lilith's eyes fluttered open weakly, her gaze unfocused as she struggled to form words. "I… feed… need to… feed…" she mumbled faintly as her eyes began to close again.
Panic gripped Adrian as he realized what was happening.
Lilith was the goddess of lust, and her powers were deeply tied to her need for energy, which she usually drew from those around her, especially in intimate moments.
But the battle with the Chimera, combined with the day's events, had likely drained her reserves to dangerous levels.
"Hang on, Lilith," Adrian whispered urgently, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to do. He needed to get her somewhere safe, somewhere she could recover.
Without wasting another moment, Adrian scooped Lilith into his arms, holding her close as he carried her through the palace corridors. Her body was light in his arms, but the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on his heart.
He couldn't let anything happen to her—she was too important, both to their mission and to him personally.
As he moved quickly, his thoughts were a jumbled mess of worries. He had seen Lilith at her most powerful, her confidence and strength unmatched by anyone he had ever known.
But now, seeing her so vulnerable and weak, a surge of protectiveness washed over him.
He finally reached their quarters and carefully placed Lilith on the bed. Her skin was cold to the touch, and her normally fiery eyes were half-lidded, struggling to stay open.
"Lilith, stay with me," Adrian said firmly, though his voice was desperate. "I'm going to help you."
Lilith's hand weakly grasped his wrist, her grip barely there as she tried to speak. "Adrian… I need… energy," she whispered, her voice strained. "I need… you."
Adrian's heart ached as he watched her struggle, the usually vibrant goddess now a mere shadow of herself.
He knew what she needed—intimacy, a connection that would allow her to draw the energy she so desperately needed.
But this time, it wasn't about seduction or playful banter; this was about survival.
He leaned down, his face close to hers, and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I'm here, Lilith," he whispered, his voice tender as he met her gaze. "Take what you need."
Lilith's eyes glistened with a mixture of gratitude and longing, and with the last of her strength, she reached up and cupped his face with her hand.
The vulnerability in her eyes was unlike anything he had ever seen from her. The playful, seductive goddess was gone, replaced by someone who was clinging to life, reaching out to him for salvation.
Her hands on his face was cool to the touch, her lips pale and dry.
"Lilith," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He leaned in, their faces inches apart, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. He could feel her breath on his lips, weak but still warm, and the need in her gaze was impossible to ignore.
Driven by a force he couldn't resist, Adrian closed the distance between them, capturing her lips with his in a deep, urgent kiss. The moment their lips met, a spark ignited between them.
Lilith responded immediately, her arms weakly wrapping around his neck as she pulled him closer, her mouth moving hungrily against his.
Her desperation fueled his own desire, and he poured everything he had into the kiss, holding nothing back.
The kiss deepened, becoming a fierce, passionate exchange as Adrian's hands roamed over her body, feeling the softness of her boobs beneath his fingers.
Her skin was cold, but as he held her close, he could feel the warmth slowly returning, her body absorbing the energy he was giving her.
Lilith moaned into his mouth, the sound vibrating through him and sending a surge of lust coursing through his veins. She parted her lips, inviting him in, and he didn't hesitate, his tongue slipping past her lips to taste her, to claim her in a way that was both tender and possessive.
Her response was immediate, her tongue meeting his in a heated dance as she arched against him, her body pressing into his as if trying to merge them into one.
"Take me, Adrian," Lilith breathed against his lips, her voice a sultry whisper that sent a shiver down his spine. "I need you."
Adrian's heart pounded in his chest as he kissed her harder, his hands tangling in her hair as he held her close. The taste of her, the feel of her soft skin against his, was intoxicating, and he couldn't hold back the raw need that surged through him.
"Lilith," he groaned, his voice a low growl as he pressed her into the bed, his body covering hers as he poured all his energy into her, feeling her grow stronger beneath him.
She responded with equal fervor, her hands sliding down his back, her nails digging into his skin as she clung to him, desperate for the connection that only he could give her. Her hips rose to meet his, and he could feel her desire, her need, as if it were his own.
Lilith's breath quickened as she felt the strength returning to her, the energy flooding her veins, reviving her with each passing second. She clung to Adrian as if he were her only anchor, her lifeline, and in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Adrian could feel the shift in her, the way her body responded to him, and the way her strength returned as she fed off his energy. It was intoxicating, exhilarating, and he found himself lost in the sensation, lost in the feel of her, the taste of her.
"Don't stop," Lilith murmured against his lips, her voice a breathless plea. "Don't stop, Adrian."
Adrian's heart raced as he deepened the kiss, feeling Lilith's body respond to his with a fervor that sent waves of heat coursing through him.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as their lips moved together in rhythm. He could feel her need, her desire, and it matched his own, fueling the intensity of their connection.
His hands roamed over her body, tracing the curves of her waist before sliding up to cup her breasts.
Even through the fabric of her clothing, he could feel the softness of her skin, the firmness of her nipples pressing against his palms. Lilith moaned into his mouth, arching into his touch, and the sound drove him wild with need.
Adrian's hands moved with purpose, sliding down to the hem of her dress before slipping underneath, his fingers brushing against the smooth skin of her thighs.
Lilith gasped against his lips, her breath hitching as he pushed the fabric higher, exposing more of her to his touch.
He felt her hands tugging at his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. They broke the kiss for a moment, long enough for him to also pull Lilith's dress over her head, tossing it aside before reclaiming her lips in a heated kiss.
Lilith's hands were not idle, as her fingers trailed down his now exposed chest, down to his abs till they found the waistband of his pants. She quickly worked the button and zipper open, pushing them down his hips until they fell to the floor.
Adrian kicked them aside, his body now clad only in his underwear, the fabric straining against the growing hardness within.
They paused for a moment, their eyes meeting as they caught their breath.
As they stared at each other, Adrian tried to see if she was okay. Wanting to be sure, he asked, "You okay?"
Lilith nodded slowly before answering, "Yes, thanks to you, Adrian."
He hesitated for a moment, his hand trailing down the curve of her neck before he spoke. "What happened, Lilith?" he asked gently. "How did you lose energy so fast?"
Lilith's expression darkened slightly, a shadow of worry crossing her features as she looked away for a moment, as though gathering her thoughts.
When she finally met his gaze again, there was a vulnerability in her eyes that he had rarely seen before.
"I'm losing myself, Adrian," she began in a tone that surprised him. "It's been three days since you freed me… and you haven't signed the contract."
"But I did…"
"Temporarily," she interrupted him. "You have to sign with your seed, to bind me to you, or…" She trailed off, her eyes searching his face to see if he understood her.
Adrian's heart skipped a beat as he grappled with what she meant.
"Or what?" he asked in a whisper as a knot of dread tightened in his chest.
Lilith's gaze dropped to the space between them, her hand coming up to rest against his chest as she whispered, "Or we both die."