Alexander took the pouch, weighing it in his hand. It was a generous sum, more than he had expected. "Thank you," he said, slipping the pouch into his satchel. "I appreciate it."
As he turned to leave the small office, he heard Edmund's voice behind him. "Wait a moment, sir," the butler called out.
Alexander turned around, puzzled. "Is there something else?"
Before he could react, a sharp pain exploded at the back of his head. The world spun violently, and his vision blurred. His knees buckled, and he felt himself falling, the ground rushing up to meet him. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Edmund's cold, expressionless face.
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When Alexander finally came to, his head throbbed painfully, and his mouth felt like it was full of cotton. He groaned, trying to move, but his body refused to respond. Panic surged through him as he realized his limbs were bound tightly to a bed. He blinked against the dim light, his vision slowly clearing.
The room was dark, lit only by the flickering glow of candles placed around the perimeter. The air was thick with the smell of incense, sweet and cloying, making his head spin. He strained against the ropes binding his wrists and ankles, but they were tied too tightly, cutting into his skin.
Alexander's heart pounded in his chest as he took in his surroundings. The walls were made of rough stone, damp with moisture, and there were no windows. He realized with a jolt that he was completely naked, his skin prickling in the cool air. His entire body felt weak and sore, his muscles sluggish and unresponsive.
"Ah, you're awake," a familiar voice purred from the shadows.
Alexander's heart skipped a beat as Liliana Nox stepped into the light, a satisfied smile on her lips. She was wearing a long, dark robe that clung to her curves, accentuating her hourglass figure. Her silver hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her amber eyes glowed with a predatory gleam.
She moved gracefully around the room, arranging candles and drawing symbols on the floor with a piece of chalk. In the center of the room, Alexander noticed a large, ornate magic circle drawn on the stone floor, its intricate design glowing faintly with an eerie light. At the heart of the circle lay a book—ancient and weathered, its cover bound in dark leather and adorned with strange, arcane symbols, the same size as the package Alexander had delivered earlier..
Liliana's eyes met his, and she smiled—a slow, predatory smile that made his blood run cold. "I'm sorry about the rough treatment," she said, her voice silky and smooth. "But you see, I had to make sure you wouldn't try to run away. You're far too important for that."
"What… what is this?" "Why are you doing this?" Alexander croaked, his throat dry and scratchy.
Liliana chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're in no position to ask questions, Alexander. But since I'm feeling generous, I'll explain."
"Everything was planed," she continued. "The Nox family has always been steeped in secrets and dark magic. Our ancestors had the blood of succubi flowing through their veins, although it has become quite rare over the generations. I am the first in many years to exhibit signs of atavism, the return of our ancient bloodline."
Alexander's breath caught in his throat. He had heard tales of succubi before—demons that fed on the life force of men, using their beauty and charm to seduce and drain their victims.
"After my father was defeated and killed in a political struggle, the dormant succubus blood in me was awakened," Liliana continued, began to walk around the magic circle, her movements graceful and deliberate. "It happened one night with my husband. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I couldn't control myself, and I ended up absorbing all of his essence during our… intimacy. It was only then that I regained consciousness and realized what I had done."
She paused, her eyes darkening with regret. "After that, I knew I had to find a way to control it, to master the power within me. I couldn't let it consume me, not again."
"Through our family records, I would need two things to fully awaken and control my succubus bloodline."
Alexander's eyes widened in realization. "The package?"
Liliana nodded, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Yeah. We obtained it through various means, taking it from a werewolf who had stolen it from another sorcerer."
Her eyes flicked to Alexander, and he felt a chill run down his spine. "As for you, Alexander… you are the man with the magic physique. Your essence holds the key to my complete transformation." she said softly.
After said that, Liliana turned her attention back to the magic circle, her expression becoming focused and intense. Alexander's heart pounded in his chest, fear and anger surging through him. "You're insane," he spat, struggling against the ropes that bound him. "You can't do this! The magic Academy won't allow that"
Liliana shook her head, her expression calm and composed. "Oh, but I can," she said simply. "And I will." She reached up and untied the sash of her robe, letting her dark robe slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor. Alexander's breath caught in his throat as he saw her naked form revealed in the flickering candlelight.
Her body was flawless, a masterpiece of sensual beauty, her skin smooth and unblemished, glowing in the dim candlelight. Her waist was narrow, her full hips curving gracefully into long, toned legs.
Alexander couldn't help but feel a stir of desire, though it was mixed with fear and anger. He felt his pulse quicken, his body responding to her presence despite himself.
Liliana stepped into the center of the magic circle, her body glistening with a faint sheen of sweat, her bare feet touching the glowing lines with a soft hiss. She knelt before the magic book, her hands hovering over its pages as she began to chant in a low, melodic voice. The words were unfamiliar to Alexander, a language he had never heard before, filled with dark, guttural tones that sent chills down his spine.
The book in the center of the circle began to tremble, its pages fluttering as if caught in a strong wind, and the air around her seemed to shimmer and pulse with energy, the symbols on the floor glowing brighter. A dark, swirling mist rose from the book, twisting and coiling around Liliana's body like a living thing.
She closed her eyes, her head tilting back as she let out a soft, breathy moan. As the ritual reached its climax, her skin shimmered with a strange, otherworldly light, and two small, black wings sprouted from her back, unfurling like a pair of dark, leathery sails. A long, sinuous tail emerged from the base of her spine, curling and flicking behind her like a serpent.
After a few minutes, the magic book disappeared completely, its essence absorbed into Liliana's transformed body. When the ritual finally ended, Liliana stood in the center of the circle, her chest rising and falling with deep, heavy breaths. Her breasts seemed to grow fuller, more pronounced, as if emphasizing her sexual allure.
A satisfied smile spread across her face as she admired her new form, flexing her new wings experimentally. Her body radiated a powerful, almost intoxicating energy, filling the room with a heady, seductive aura. Alexander could feel his own body responding to her, his pulse quickening and his skin tingling with a strange, electric sensation.
As she stepped out of the magic circle, Liliana turned to face Alexander, her lips curling into a predatory smile. "The transformation is complete," she purred, her voice filled with a dark, sensual energy. " and you, Alexander, are going to help me perfect my new power."
She moved toward him slowly, her hips swaying in a way that was almost mesmerizing, a thin, black tail curled behind her, twitching slightly as she moved.
Her every movement was fluid and sensuous, her body exuding an overpowering aura of sexual energy. She climbed onto the bed, straddling Alexander's waist, her tail flicking playfully behind her, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity.
She leaned forward, her long silver hair brushing against his chest, her full breasts pressing against his bare skin. Her scent—sweet and intoxicating—filled his nostrils, clouding his thoughts even further.
"People outside say that it's worth dying just to spend a night with me. Consider yourself lucky," Liliana murmured, her lips brushing against his ear, her voice a low, seductive purr that seemed to vibrate through his very bones. "it's a bargain for you."
Alexander's body tensed as she lowered herself onto him, her hips grinding against his in a slow, deliberate motion. He could feel her warmth, her skin hot and smooth against his, and despite himself, he felt a surge of desire flare in his core.