Chapter 21

Yukari sticks around for the rest of the day, begrudgingly looking after the two of us, all the while muttering incoherent complaints under her breath. Before she leaves us for the night, she makes me swear to keep her in the loop this time, especially with imp attacks and Aku’s powers. He doesn’t protest too much; I think even he knows not to mess with a so-called witch when she’s angry.

Now the two of us are standing just outside the door of the apartment complex, with Aku lingering off to the side. He’s careful not to eavesdrop on us—although, I have to wonder how sensitive his demon ears can be.

But then I smile when I see him kneel down to the edge of the sidewalk, where a pair of stray cats lingers. Looks like he’s distracted enough to give us some privacy.

“I’ll keep looking into severing demon contracts on the side,” Yukari says, fiddling with her bracelets, “and I’ll let you know if anything shows up. I’ll also keep an eye out for anyone who might’ve sent those demons after you. You should be safe from rogue demons now that the incubus is officially yours, but keep your guard up.”

I nod—but then my eye catches a faint red mark on the inside of her wrist, just beneath the mess of bracelets and charms on her left arm. Maybe it’s just a trick of the light, but I swear it has the same faint glow as my own.

“Uh, Yukari—”

She shushes me with a finger to her lips. Her amber eyes dance with mischief. “Don’t say anything, Ichika. We all have our secrets, remember?”

My face burns at the implications. Of course she has her own bonded demon, I shouldn’t be surprised. Still, my own curiosity eats away at me, begging for answers to questions I can’t even put into words.

“…Will you let me see him someday?”

That gets a smirk out of her. “Maybe. He’s not really a fan of people; actually, he’s a bit like your incubus. Well, mine actually likes being physical.”

“Okay, okay, I get it!” Aku can still hear us! No need to hear what goes on in Yukari’s nighttime explorations.

She shakes her head with a smile. “I don’t know what it is, Ichika, but…that demon of yours really seems to like you. Keep him close and don’t screw it up, you understand?”

A harsh way to put it, but I nod anyway. “I promise to keep him safe.”

My words fall flat on human ears, but I can feel them boiling in my blood, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. If Aku is willing to protect me with his life, I have to be ready to do the same.

She snickers, then turns on her heel with a wave of her hand. “Try asking him to share his magic with you, just so your body gets used to it. If he says no, I’ll help you out with a few basic defensive spells. It’s better to know a handful of spells than none at all, anyway.”

I open my mouth to call her name, but she’s gone before I can even get the word out, disappearing down the street. Aku is at my side at once, staring after her.

I bite my lip, then reach down to touch his gloved hand. To my surprise, he doesn’t pull away—instead he holds me gently, the leather cool against my heated skin.

🔥

The mage bites back a smile the whole walk home. Even when she gets inside her apartment she can’t get the girl’s determined voice out of her head.

So eager to die for a demon.

The apartment is simple but elegant—nothing like a penthouse floor, but much more extravagant than a regular studio. High-end furniture and comfortable blankets, pricey outfits tucked away in her closets, and a nice row of jewelry laid out on her nightstand beside her bed. She blames her family’s generous wealth for her spending habits, but she’s not about to stop herself from putting them to good use.

Why not live the way she likes, if she can afford it? Besides, her roommate seems to enjoy it more often than he likes to admit.

Speaking of said roommate…

She closes the door, and immediately she can feel a shift in the air. Unusually thick, like smoke hanging low. Any other human would be choking, but to her it just feels like home.

“Home before me this time, are you?”

Her voice lifts in a teasing tone as a figure materializes from the shadows before her. A man with white hair and silver eyes wraps his arms around her waist, already nuzzling her bare neck. It’s too dark to see what kind of outfit he chose for today, but knowing him it’s the usual color scheme of black and gray.

He seems rather desperate as he holds her, practically shoving his face into the crook of her neck. Yukari can’t help but tease him as she buries her fingers into his hair.

“Heh, someone’s eager tonight… Miss me that much?”

Her answer is a low growl as he drags his nose along her throat. But then he pauses, fingers pressing against her hips as he drinks in her scent. An unfamiliar smell wrapped up around her body.

“…An incubus?”

“Tamed now,” she says almost cheerfully, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Shouldn’t be a problem. I think you’d like him.”

He quirks an eyebrow, his white hair falling over his eyes. From this angle, a few black highlights mixed in can be seen. Yukari smiles and leans in to kiss his cheek.

“Quite an interesting pair. The girl already has him wrapped around her finger. Although, I wonder if she already managed to do that without a blood spell…”

The man merely huffs before he kisses her throat. She’s far too lost in her own thoughts for his liking.

“O-oh…”

Her voice softens into a moan when his tongue brushes along her throat, hot and wet against her skin. She tilts her head back, eyes fluttering shut as he finally sinks his fangs into her. She smiles up at the ceiling as she feels the trickle of blood cascade down her neck.

The silver-eyed man hums, then licks at her wound. Slowly he inches down, pulling the collar of her shirt down and sinking his fangs into her chest. All the while Yukari squirms in bliss, holding him close to her. The mark on her wrist burns into her skin, her nails scratching at his scalp beneath his hair.

Ichika… I wonder what your first kiss from a demon will feel like?