Sharp, invisible daggers seed to fly toward Aris from every direction.
"Rory, I’m sorry."
Vincent suddenly spoke, his tone heavy with self-reproach. "It’s my fault. As your first partner, I should have known these so-called rules. I should have guided the others better."
The Firebird Clan had never had such customs.
And he truly hadn’t known.
If he had, he would never have deliberately ignored them.
Yuel, Jasper, and even Xarion all lowered their heads in apparent guilt.
They hadn’t known either.
Nix looked from Vincent to Aren, then back again, sensing sothing off about the atmosphere—but unable to pinpoint exactly what. In the end, he simply followed Vincent’s lead and bowed his head too.
"Sorry, Rory," he murmured.
"Enough."
Rory pressed her fingers to her forehead. What a way to start the morning.
She turned to Vincent. "I’m not blaming you. And you definitely don’t need to feel guilty."
She looked at all of them.
"I’ll say this again—there are no such rules in this house. I want everyone here to live comfortably and happily. I want warmth in this ho. And I want you all to get along."
Then her gaze shifted to Aren.
"If you want to stay in this house, then you follow Vincent’s arrangents. Before you do anything, ask him first."
This Aren really did give off a strange, cunning vibe.
Aris hadn’t expected Rory to place such weight on Vincent’s position. No wonder, out of so many matched partners, only the Second Prince had officially bonded first.
Impressive tactics indeed.
He raised his head, eyes faintly reddened, expression obedient.
"I’m sorry, Female Master. I just arrived and didn’t understand. I promise that from now on, whatever I do, I’ll consult His Highness Vincent first. I won’t make things difficult for you again."
Then he looked at Vincent.
"I hope His Highness will guide in the future. I only ask that you don’t find troubleso."
Vincent t his gaze calmly, as if the earlier scheming had never happened.
"Since you’re now one of Rory’s matched partners, you can co to if you need anything. If there’s sothing I can help with, just say so."
As he finished speaking, Yuel lightly squeezed Rory’s hand.
"Rory, I’m a little hungry. Are you? Shall we have breakfast first?"
Jasper imdiately stepped forward. "Rory, I learned how to make those little dumplings you taught last ti. I’ll cook them for you."
Rory smiled and nodded. "Have Nix help you. Make extra so everyone can eat."
"I can make dumplings!" Nix perked up instantly. "Jasper and I will handle it."
As Nix followed Jasper downstairs cheerfully, Yuel cast a sidelong glance at Aren when Rory wasn’t looking.
So this was the eldest young master of the Succubus Clan?
What a disappointnt.
He had thought he’d finally et a worthy opponent.
And this was it?
...
After Nix and Jasper went to prepare breakfast, Rory walked over to Vincent.
"Didn’t you say yesterday you’d give that warship model? Let’s go to your study and get it."
Then she gave the others instructions with natural authority.
"Yuel, Lola Brandon gave those pink fish yesterday—could you help feed them?"
"Xarion, go lie down in your room."
"Aren, your injuries haven’t fully healed either. Go rest. We’ll call you when breakfast is ready."
With that, she pulled Vincent away.
Aris watched them disappear into the study, jaw tightening.
Then he turned to Yuel and Xarion. "I heard Commander Yuel and His Highness Vincent are the sa Rank. I didn’t expect you’d willingly stay beneath him."
"And you, Young Master of the Wolf Clan—also Rank Eleven—yet you follow his lead so obediently."
Xarion pushed himself off the wall slowly. He looked Aris up and down once, then delivered two flat words.
"You’re sick."
And then he ambled downstairs.
Aris watched him silently. The wolf was the one with a problem. A serious one.
Seeing Xarion ignore him entirely, Aris turned to Yuel instead.
"Commander, interested in making a deal?"
A man like Yuel—equal to Vincent on the battlefield—how could he truly be content standing second?
Yuel arched a brow, inwardly amused but outwardly calm. "That depends on whether I like your offer."
Aris stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"I can help you beco the Female Master’s bonded partner quickly. Vincent is already first. Fine, you lost that round. But what about Nix? Jasper? That half-dead wolf? Do you really want to rank after them?"
"And how would you accomplish that?" Yuel asked.
Aris retrieved a small green vial from his storage ring. "This is a special allure toxin unique to the Succubus Clan. If the Female Master inhales it briefly, she won’t be able to resist wanting to bond with you."
Yuel’s gaze turned sharp. "You’re suggesting I poison her?"
"You misunderstand. It’s called a toxin, but it won’t harm her body. It only stimulates desire."
Aris was confident. He would persuade Yuel to use it.
Then he would "rescue" Rory at the right mont—expose Yuel’s misconduct, and while she was overwheld and vulnerable, bond with her himself.
Afterward, if she was angry, she would punish the one who had "poisoned" her—Yuel.
And the vial wasn’t even true Succubus toxin. Even if Yuel accused him later, he could clear himself.
Yuel studied him for a mont, then took the vial with a faint smile. "Aren, you’re a clever male. So—what do you want?"
Aris knew he’d agree. "I just want you to help stay by the Female Master’s side. I ca last... and she doesn’t seem to like very much."
"Deal," Yuel said easily, slipping the green vial away. "Give a few days. Once I bond with her, I’ll help you."
"Thank you, Commander."
Aris dipped his head gratefully and withdrew.
The mont he was gone, Yuel went straight to Vincent’s study.
Inside, Vincent had just finished listening to Rory recount Aren’s earlier behavior and had finally found an opportunity to get close to her, when Yuel walked in.
"What is it?" Vincent asked, looking ready to stab him on the spot.
Yuel ignored the hostility, stepped forward, and placed the small green vial on the desk.
"Take a look at this."
"What is it?" Rory reached out instinctively.
Yuel caught her wrist gently.
"No, Rory, don’t touch it."
Vincent’s expression darkened instantly. "You’re saying this thing can harm her?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers