After Seraphina warned that the church might be targeting Amane, what was supposed to be temporary turned permanent—Amane officially began living with Eiji. At first, it felt like a weird dream come true for him. A beautiful girl under the same roof? Every teenage boy's fantasy. But reality didn't let it stay innocent for long.
Eiji fidgeted as he sat across the small kitchen table, pretending to scroll on his phone while Amane made miso soup.
At first, it felt like every teenage boy's fantasy: a beautiful girl cooking breakfast in his kitchen. But reality doesn't play fair—especially when you're part devil.
"Eiji-kun, you're spacing out again."
"Huh? Ah, no! I was—um... checking today's horoscope. It says to avoid... heat. Heh. Funny, right?"
Amane giggled, setting a bowl in front of him. "Then avoid the soup, too. It's hot."
He laughed awkwardly, but deep down, he wasn't okay. Every moment near her made his body tense. His new instincts clawed at him like whispers in his mind: Touch her, smell her, protect her, claim her.
He hated it.
Eiji started avoiding her gaze, pretending to be busy whenever she leaned too close. It wasn't her fault. It was this cursed, perverted devil blood in his veins. And yet, at the same time, part of him wanted to bask in the warmth of her presence.
That night, after forcing himself into a cold shower and collapsing into bed, sleep returned like a curse.
Eiji found himself floating in a vast void, silent and cold. Coiled in the dark lay a monstrous black dragon, chained by ethereal links glowing with abyssal runes.
It didn't move. It didn't roar.
It whispered.
"You are not ready... but I am waiting."
The falcon-shaped seal on his hand glowed faintly when he woke up, drenched in sweat.
He sat upright, heart pounding. Eyes wide with awe and fear.
What is that dragon? Is it me? Or something inside me?
As he was deep in thought, he felt something warm and soft. When he turned his head—
Seraphina was lying beside him. Naked.
He blinked once. Twice. Then, he covered his face with both hands.
"Nope. Nope. Not real. This is a dream. It's just a super realistic dream. Yeah. That's it."
He peeked through his fingers. Still there.
A grin started creeping up his face, pervy thoughts forming like a corrupted loading bar. "W-Well... if this is a dream, I might as well enjoy—"
Just as his trembling hand reached toward her chest, Seraphina stirred.
"Good morning, Eiji," she said, her voice sultry and sleepy.
"WAAAH!" He flinched so hard that he fell off the bed. "W-What are you doing in my bed?!"
She yawned, stretching lazily. "You were already asleep when I arrived. I didn't want to wake you."
"That doesn't explain WHY YOU'RE NAKED!!"
"I can't sleep with clothes on. You understand that, right?"
"No! No, I don't! I'm a guy; you're a girl! This is—this is not right!"
"Relax, puppy." She sat up, hair cascading over her shoulders like a silver waterfall. " You're the first man who's seen me like this."
Those words slammed into Eiji's brain like a sledgehammer. Does she like me? Wait—no, no way. She's messing with me. Right?
He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the door open.
"Good morning, Ei—WHAT THE HELL?!"
Amane stood frozen at the doorway. Her mouth opened, then closed. Her eyes trembled.
"President, why are you in Eiji's bed? NAKED?!"
Seraphina smirked like a devilish cat. "Oh? Did we wake you? Sorry. We were getting up after a hot night together."
"...I'm sorry for intruding," Amane said with a voice that could freeze hell over.
She slammed the door.
Eiji buried his face into a pillow. "Why does this keep happening to me?!"
The atmosphere in the dining room was the kind you could cut with a cursed blade. Amane stabbed her eggs like she was punishing them for betraying her.
"You're quiet today, Amane," Seraphina teased with a wink.
"I'm just enjoying my breakfast. Alone. Even though I wasn't the only woman in this house last night."
"Now, now," Seraphina cooed. "Don't be jealous. Eiji's got plenty of room in his heart... and bed."
"I'M NOT JEALOUS!" Amane snapped, cheeks red and voice trembling with embarrassment and fury.
Eiji, shaking like a leaf, finally raised both hands. "Can we NOT talk about beds while I'm eating?!"
Seraphina's teasing grin faded. She set down her cup with a soft clink. "On a serious note, Eiji... don't get cocky. Just because I allowed her to stay here doesn't mean you're special. Danger is watching you both. Especially her."
Eiji froze. "You mean the church?"
Seraphina nodded, her tone sharp. "They're not merciful. If they know she's with you, they'll come for her. I let her move in because your place is the safest right now. We don't know much about their plans, so we'll use you as bait."
He blinked. "Wait—bait?!"
"They think you're weak. They'll try to strike when they think you're vulnerable. When they do... We'll crush them."
Amane gasped softly. "So you're putting Eiji in danger?"
"He's already in danger," Seraphina said calmly. "Whether he likes it or not. But this way, we control the battlefield."
She looked at Eiji, her voice suddenly soft. "Until then... protect her. Don't let anyone hurt her. Do you understand?"
Eiji nodded solemnly. "Yeah... I do."
Seraphina smirked again. "And if you do that, maybe I'll let you finish what you were trying to do in bed."
Eiji flinched, face red. So she knew?! That's so damn embarrassing!!
Amane slammed her hands on the table. "What do you mean by that, President?!"
"It's a secret~," Seraphina sang, twirling a spoon.
Amane huffed and looked away, her face pink.
Later, while going to school, Eiji stared at the sky, his hands behind his head.
His mind was in chaos: guilt for what Amane saw, confusion about Seraphina's intentions, fear of the dragon, and the twisted instincts swirling within him.
I want to protect her... but what if I'm the one who hurts her?
The whisper returned.
You are not ready... but I am waiting.
He gritted his teeth. He couldn't tell Amane. Not yet.
Not when he didn't even know what he was becoming.
Because of the biggest threat to her safety...
It might not just be him.
End of Chapter 8