Asmodeus’s bare feet quietly tapped against the polished floor as he walked beside Syndra, occasionally looking from side to side.
He vaguely recognized the place despite having never stepped in it with his own feet, despite having never gazed at it with his own eyes.
It was slightly disorienting, like he had seen it in dream.
"Why didn’t Nyl come for me?" Asmodeus asked.
He couldn’t figure out the answer on his own, even though he felt he knew Nyl extremely well, without having spoken to her once.
"Nyl must be worried sick. One of her abilities allows her to select an area and point out the different sources of mana within it," Syndra explained. "She must be trying to find you. Probably so focused she couldn’t hear the commotion outside, or even Saphyra breaking the window and coming at us."
"It’s a pretty bad ability if she couldn’t sense me," Asmodeus muttered.
His tone was perfectly balanced. He wasn’t trying to insult or belittle.
"She must have swept the area all around the castle long ago. Now, she has probably moved on to an area several kilometers away from the castle. She’s so focused that she can’t even feel anything close to her."
"I see." Asmodeus pulled on his leash-whip.
The Incubus was falling behind.
Every now and then, the sound of his knees scraping against the stone floor was followed by a quiet groan.
Neither Asmodeus nor Syndra paid him any mind.
’As long as he explains everything in detail, I will be fine.’ Syndra nodded to herself. ’He forced me to take him outside. My life was on the line. He kept me from teleporting back. I had no choice, and I didn’t do anything wrong.’ Her eyes moved towards Asmodeus. ’I did absolutely nothing wrong.’
Eventually, the two made their way up the castle, and the long, unending staircase gave way to a hallway which, upon crossing it, opened into a much larger chamber.
At its opposite end stood two enormous doors.
"Nyl," Asmodeus whispered as he laid eyes on those doors.
He could tell she was on the other side.
"Some nerve you have, showing up here..."
Standing between them and the throne room doors was one final obstacle.
"Syndra."
The Succubus stopped and let out a sigh.
Directly in front of the throne room doors stood a tall, silver-haired, older, and more powerful Succubus.
Her arms were crossed, and her anger was evident in her narrow eyes.
"Where have you been?" She asked. "Scratch that, what did you do? Nyl is beside herself."
"I can explain."
"Can you?"
"Yes."
"Before that..." She cracked her knuckles. "You’ll get a good beating, alright? We can’t just..."
Her words trailed off as she noticed a particularly short Succubus standing right in front of her.
’Wait, is that a Succubus? Something feels different.’
Her hands went to her hips, and she extended her chin forward, looming over the child.
"What’s this?"
Before Syndra could say a word,
"Get out of the way," Asmodeus said with a calm voice and an expressionless face. "Tariana."
"Who might this shortie be?" Tariana would have taken pleasure in making fun of the child, but now wasn’t the time. "Get out of here before-"
"Do you not recognize him?" Syndra asked as she joined Asmodeus’s side. "It’s him. Nyl’s child."
Tariana raised an eyebrow.
"Is this some kind of joke?" There was no way that the newborn baby had grown so much in a couple of hours, was there?
"Nyl will recognize me." Asmodeus asserted. "Get out of the way."
"Nyl is busy." Tariana took a step closer. "Except if you can prove that you are who you say you are, I suggest you fuck off before I really get angry."
Asmodeus’s eyes narrowed while Syndra rubbed her forehead, looking for a way to prove it.
His lips parted, and Syndra knew that meant trouble.
"Look at him!" Syndra shouted, placing her right hand above his head and her left hand below his chin. "Perfect face!" She grabbed his long, luscious mane to show it off. "Perfect hair!" Syndra grabbed his hands and extended his arms. "Perfect bodily proportions!" And finally, she pointed at his eyes. "Perfect eyes! Just like Nyl’s!"
It was ridiculous. At least Asmodeus thought so.
"Hm..." Tariana stared for a moment with a tilted head.
The next second, she spun around and the enormous throne room doors flew open.
"Nyl!" Tariana shouted. "I found your child!"
Syndra pursed her lips. ’What a bitch.’
Tariana stepped triumphantly through the doors.
Asmodeus lowered his gaze to the Incubus.
"Sit."
The Incubus gulped.
"Stay," Asmodeus added before setting down the whip. "If you move, you know what happens."
The Incubus did not nod, but its head remained down, gaze stuck to the floor. The Pet was obedient enough.
"Can you hear me, Nyl?" Tariana shouted as she walked through the throne room.
The Queen finally opened her eyes, breaking her focus.
Her eyes fell on Tariana first, then on Syndra.
The latter felt cold sweat form all over her back. The Queen’s eyes were not sympathetic to her at the moment.
"I’ll need you to take a moment, though," Tariana explained. "You might be surprised. Taken aback."
Asmodeus stepped into the throne room, but his body was perfectly hidden by Tariana’s.
"What for?" The Succubus asked. "Where is my...?" Her words trailed off, eyes growing wide at once.
Before Tariana could even step aside to make him visible, she had noticed him.
Tariana got out of the way and, before Syndra could even register her movement, the Queen was less than five steps away.
Her knees were on the ground, and her arms were tightly wrapped around him.
"My child..." She whispered, hugging him tightly. "Where have you been?"
Having been standing behind Asmodeus, Syndra was the only one capable of seeing the Queen’s current facial expression.
It left her in complete awe. She had never seen Nyl so emotional, so relieved, so expressive, or so beautiful.
Asmodeus remained standing with his arms by his sides. Eventually, he raised a hand to tap the Queen’s back.
"Are you okay?" The Succubus Queen asked as she pulled back. "Are you hurt?" Her hands gently but firmly held onto his shoulders.
"I’m okay." He answered.
Tariana scratched her head as she watched the scene unfold. ’She recognized him right away... Motherhood suits you, Nyl.’
"Where were you?" The Queen asked as she caressed his cheek with a trembling hand.
"I..." He pointed. "Was out with Syndra."
Syndra immediately felt her heart sink. This was not explaining things in detail.
’That’s not what happened.’ The Succubus had suddenly grown pale. ’Explain the rest! Explain everything!’
"With... Syndra?" The Queen repeated. "Why?" Her gaze went to Syndra, and the latter felt like she was about to pass out.
’Gulp...’ Her legs had lost all strength, wobbling like noodles, and her throat was so dry she found herself unable to say a word. ’Oh, no...’
"Syndra, what did-"
"Nyl," Asmodeus interrupted. "It’s alright. I had fun. I learned a lot."
The Queen’s gaze did not return to her child. Her hand caressed his cheek again, but her eyes remained stuck on Syndra.
"Nyl." He repeated.
"Yes?" Only then did the Queen look at him.
"I said it’s alright," Asmodeus repeated. "More importantly, I need something."
"Anything." The Queen’s face changed completely as it went from Syndra to him. "Whatever you desire, my love."
"I require nutrition." He answered bluntly.
"Nutrition?" Nyl tilted her head.
"What do you mean?" Tariana asked, still standing behind the Queen.
Syndra scratched her cheek.
"Um, I think he means that..." She pursed her lips. "He needs some milk."
The two exchanged a glance, stared at Syndra for a moment, then back at him.
"Yes." Asmodeus nodded. "Syndra understands me well." He nodded again. "Can I have it, then?"
"H-Have what?" Nyl gulped. She was blushing lightly.
"Milk." Asmodeus pointed at her breasts. "Your milk." He corrected himself a second later. "My milk."