Puzzle Pieces

These werebeasts share one thing in common — they make me wake up in an empty bed. And that's not a problem, merely an observation.

I sat up to look at my phone — 7:00AM, and no message from Jimin even from last night. She's probably thinking things through, considering she didn't want me to walk her home yesterday, which I do understand. We've been thrust into a rollercoaster, emotionally, physically, and probably even mystically. 

I rose and put some boxers on. I walked to my kitchen and was genuinely amused and surprised to see Ryujin in the act of sneaking out through the window. She froze like a deer in headlights when she saw me, one of her legs already stretching outside.

"You're seriously not thinking of going out that way?" I teased, leaning on the wall and crossing my arms.

"Uhhhh. Nobody saw me come in, wouldn't it be weird to see me leave through the front?" Ryujin replied.

I chuckled as I walked to my sink to make some coffee. "Of course no one would've seen you come in, it was raining cats and dogs last night if you recall. And what's weirder, you coming out the front or by the window in broad freakin' daylight?"

"Huh," Ryujin pondered, slowly pulling her leg back from the window.

I smiled in spite of myself, "Come on, want some coffee?"

"Thanks, but no thanks," Ryujin replied. "Got to run and meet Yeji for our morning brief," she then sees me pulling out some croissants from my fridge. "I would have some of that though, if you're offering."

I smirked and offered one. She took it and then stood still in front of me.

"What?" I asked, croissant in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

"I feel like I should do something," Ryujin answered.

"What something? Is your Wild Instinct telling you something?" I followed.

"No, just me," Ryujin said blankly. "Nah, it's probably nothing," she waved in dismissal after about half a minute. "See you later, Vale."

I chuckled as Shin Ryujin left my apartment. "Yeah. See you later." But what could she be thinking at the time, was she hesitating or did she really forget what she had to do? She was so chaotic it was hard to get a read on her yet she seemed to be a person who wears her heart on her sleeve. Someone who'd say what she wants to say, regardless of what the other person feels about it.

When the door clicked shut, I realized I was alone again. Well, nothing's new — I moved through the motions, the routine — breakfast, shower, brush, change clothes, and the light jog towards school, all the while thinking what kind of strangeness is going to happen to me today.

And the strangeness began almost immediately.

I sat in my seat, Jimin beside me and the huntresses below us. She was chatting with Chaeryoung and Ryujin, something about werebeast culture I was too lazy to pay attention to. Yeji on the other hand, was poring over something on her tablet. Every once in a while, she scruffs her orange hair, as if conscious about it. The hall was a testament of normalcy — students doing their own thing — some on their tablets, some socializing, some — like me — are spacing off.

That was when the hall's doors opened — and in enters Seol YoonAh, Shin Yuna's companion yesterday. She held the door and scanned the hall, and I wanted to disappear, to hope that she doesn't see me. She didn't — because it was the werebeasts — all three stiffened in attention — that she spotted.

Then she entered, bowing politely to our classmates who are her upperclassmen. She wore a simple white tshirt, exposing a little bit of midriff, denim jeans — and three inch heels. How she was able to pull that off convinced me she must not have been human — no human can look that simple and that elegant at the same time.

She walked towards us. Jimin reached under the desk and squeezed my thigh — a silent message of support. Seol YoonAh stopped and stood to my left — at Joohyun's seat who is still absent — which is now very unsettling, I hope everything is fine in the Verrathi Coven.

The girl bowed to us, "Uh. Good morning, I'm —"

"Seol YoonAh, or Sullyoon, right?" Jimin said. The huntresses remained silent, each of them studying Sulyoon with a mix of wariness, curiosity, and amusement.

"Ah. Yes. So I did introduce myself yesterday. I tend to space out and forget, you see. Yuna berates me about it every time," Sullyoon replied. Her airheadedness is adorable, if only Shin Yuna was a little bit tamer like her, I wouldn't be so nervous. 

"Evidently," Yeji commented, her eyes never leaving her tablet yet I knew her attention was towards us.

"And I'm getting close to berating you myself," Ryujin said sarcasticslly.

"Ryujin, don't be rude," Chaeryoung scolded, hitting Ryujin in the arm, much to her chagrin.

"So, uhm, ignore them," I said. "Why are you here anyway?" And I regretted those words the moment they came out of my mouth.

"Oh, right. Why was I here again? Ahhh, Yuna wants to meet with you. For that project we're doing," Sullyoon perks.

I closed my eyes, trying to find some way to avoid this.

"What is this project? If you don't mind me asking, Sullyoon. Yuna mentioned it had something to do with the fae," Jimin asked calmly.

"It's like a compilation of encounters with the fae. We're trying to see commom threads and motivations so that we may be able to predict what makes the fae interact with humans."

"What reason do they need but their own whims?" Ryujin snapped.

"What reason do we need to do anything?" I snapped back, throwing the question she asked me last night — and that shut her up with a contemplative look on her face.

Jimin stared at us curiously. I love the way that she's so insightful — usually even at my expense.

Sullyoon however, was oblivious to the tension and answered, "Well, it is to our benefit if we can understand them more. Which is why Yuna wants to interview you on that encounter with the Wild Hunt at the Archives."

"It wasn't exactly a good experience," Jimin said.

"Encounters with the fae are always not," Yeji quipped from below.

Sullyoon just shrugged. "Yuna still wants to try though. So she sent me to ask when you'll be free, Seren."

"Wait — just Seren?" Chaeryoung asked as she and the huntresses perked up even more.

"Yeah, she's not the only one who was in the Archives," Yeji added.

Sullyoon shrugged, "Yuna said to ask only Seren."

"Not even Jimin?" Yeji asked further, pushing and turning her seat to scrutinize Sulyoon's face. Jimin herself has her brows scrunched.

Sullyoon nodded, betraying no emotion but innocent blankness in her expression.

"Why?" Jimin asked. "I can understand not inviting the huntresses, but I am also human."

"I really can't say," Sulyoon replied, and the way she worded it made my spine tingle. "I'm just following Yuna's order. So, when are you free, Seren?"

Yeji stood and faced Jimin and I, "This smells fishy, I don't like it."

"Is this Wild Instinct speaking, Yeji?" Jimin whispered.

"No, just me. Though I think I can speak for all werebeasts if I'll say that this sounds sketchy, even without Wild Instinct," Yeji replied.

"Ryujin?" I turned to Ryujin who they claimed to have the strongest Wild Instinct among them. 

"I've felt something wrong since yesterday," Ryujin replied. "But right now, no alarm bells are ringing in my head."

"So should I accept or not?" I asked.

"What do you think, Seren?" Jimin followed.

Logically, my mind said no. But something in me, like a voice, a voice that I never heard off until today, seemed to whisper against my better judgment. It seem to say that I should — no, I must — agree to this. It does not just whisper, but it compels — even if I feel like refusing.

"I think... I think I should accept," I finally answered.

"You're not saying that because Yuna's hot, right?" Ryujin asked and Jimin rolled her eyes.

"Of course not," I denied vehemently. "What do you think of me?"

Ryujin tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

Yeji herself studied me with curiosity — she's clearly not saying something. Perhaps something she and Seulgi discussed.

"Are you sure?" Jimin asked and I nodded.

Jimin and Yeji nodded back and I turned to Sullyoon. The girl was spaced out, counting the holes drilled through the metal sheets covering the front of the desks behind and above us.

"Uhm. Sullyoon," I cleared my throat.

"Yes?" Sullyoon replied absently, her eyes still scanning the desks.

"I'm free tomorrow, it's the start of the weekend. And the day after tomorrow will be Jimin and mine's shift at the Archives. Where do we meet?"

Sullyoon nodded as she turned to face us. "Great. Yuna and I will be at your apartment," and Sullyoon turned and walked away without saying another word.

Stunned, it took me a while before I processed what Seol YoonAh just said. "Wait- what do you mean by my apartment?!" I stood from my chair, but it was too late. Seol YoonAh already left the lecture hall — and I'm going to have an "interview" with Shin Yuna tomorrow — at my freaking apartment. Great.

I turned to look at my companions only to notice Yeji studying me intently. "What?" I asked, suddenly conscious.

Before I could answer though, Professor Zhang enters the hall and signals the class to settle down.

Yeji sighed in frustration. "Later, Seren. We'll talk later, preferably in private." She turned and sat down, followed by her team. I turned to look at Jimin who wore a look that said "You need to tell me everything" even if I don't know what to say.

"I promise to tell you everything we'll talk about," I whispered.

"You better," Jimin whispered back. "Or I'll wring it out of the both of you myself," she said loud enough for Yeji to hear. I heard Yeji scoff before discreetly throwing both of us a thumbs up. Whatever this talk is going to be — I'm sure I'm not going to like it.

................

Yeji pulled Jimin and I aside during lunch. She led us towards a dim and empty hallway, the kind students go to to do something illicit or borderline illegal. Shadows stretched longer than they should as the sun's rays struggled to penetrate the dust covered windows. The noise of the campus was dulled as we stood in this hallway to hell — metaphorically of course.

Yeji leaned against the wall, one leg crossed in front of the other, her hands tucked inside her pockets. She looked cool, and was about to drop something that was not.

"Why did you —?" Jimin began in confusion.

"Bring you here as well?" Yeji finished for her. She sighed before continuing, "because I know Seren's gonna tell you everything I'm going to tell him. Likewise, this may also involve you even if you don't like it. And lastly, you're smarter than him and you know how to explain things to him in a way he understands — saves me some time."

"Hey!" I said, feeling slightly offended.

"It's true though," Jimin giggled — to which my only response is a jaw dropped in shock at this betrayal.

"Anyway, what do you want to say, Hwang Yeji?" Jimin turned to Yeji.

Yeji sighed as if to steel her resolve. She does not like what she's about to say — and that made me nervous.

"A few questions first," Yeji started. "How did you come up with the decision to agree to Yuna's interview?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused as I start to feel my head hurt — and we're only just starting.

Yeji shrugged, "How did you come up with it? What did you feel while you're making that decision?"

"I, uh," I felt Jimin's expectant eyes on me, and the pressure mounted as I tried to recall how I felt.

"I thought that it was a bad decision — I still do, to be honest," I began. "But something in me said that I should accept it. It compelled me, like, like —"

"Like a feeling that you'll gain something or that you'll be on some pivotal moment in your life?" Yeji offered.

"Exactly," I murmured. I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes towards Yeji. "How did you know?"

Yeji sighed like what I said was some kind of confirmation to a theory.

"What is it, Yeji? You're making us nervous." Jimin whispered as if the walls had ears and anyone could be spying on us.

"What Seren described — that is usually how we feel when our Wild Insticnt takes over us." Yeji said with hesitation in her voice.

"Wait — are you saying —?" I began.

"— that Seren's a werebeast?" Jimin finished.

"No. If he was, he should have already morphed when he was a child," Yeji answered. "I'm afraid the hypothesis is much worse, and extremely uncomfortable — especially for both of you." My body felt like a bucket of ice was dropped on me, and that still wasn't everything Yeji was about to say.

"Drop it." Jimin said flatly.

Yeji breathed heavily again, "You both know that Seulgi and I were scouring through Verrath for records about you right, Seren?"

Jimin and I nodded.

"But—" Yeji continued. "There was no record of your parents at all. Only your grandmother —"

"I'm pretty open with being an orphan. And I lived with my grandmother until she died —"

"Four years ago, right," Yeji took over again. "But the thing is, your grandmother was listed as a Night Lady, a seer to be exact."

My eyes widened, my grandmother was a normal human when I lived with her. Kind, caring, exactly what a grandmother's image was. Her voice was soft, yet somehow heavy, like what she said was always carefully measured and calculated — and she seemed to always say the right things. To find out she was a Night Lady — and a seer — I don't even know what that is.

"What's a seer? I know of Night Ladies but —" I asked.

Yeji scoffed and raised an eyebrow at Jimin. Her eyes saying "This is why I brought you with me".

Jimin rolled her eyes and turned to me, "Night Ladies are human women who developed mystical powers —" 

"I know that part," I said. I was feeling frustrated because they're treating me like I'm stupid. I may not know the intricacies of the Night like Jimin does, but I at least know the basics. "It's the seers that I don't know about."

Jimin sighed, "Sorry, Seren. Well, moving to seers. They're one of the three branches of Night Ladies, those being witches, sorceresses, and seers. Witches specialize in potions and hexes. Sorceresses specialize in magic just like male wizards. While seers," Jimin took a deep breath before continuing, "are ladies who peer into the future. The weakest of them can predict a few minutes ahead while the strongest are straight up prophetic."

"And my grandmother was one of those?" I asked.

Yeji nodded. "Allindra Vale. What's weirder was... there was no record of any offspring that she had."

"What?!" Jimin and I asked in sync.

"Appropriate reaction," Yeji said flatly.

"Are you saying that Seren is adopted by her grandmother?" Jimin asked, her eyes still wide with shock.

"Most likely," Yeji replied, "considering our next theory."

Great, just as I thought being adopted by my grandmother gets worse. Apparently it can, and I should start getting used to it.

"Do we even want to hear this?" Jimin asked, more to herself I thought.

"It's still a theory, a bad one, but it's all that we have for now. And the only one that makes sense," Yeji shrugged.

"I prefer those that don't make sense, please, if only they're better." I remarked.

"Ditto," Yeji sighed. "Damn this is going to be awkward."

"Let's just get it over with," Jimin said.

"Fine," Yeji finally began, hesitance and reluctance filled her voice. "Damn it — how do I start." Yeji said as she repeatedly banged the back of her head softly against the wall.

"From the top for a start," Jimin said calmly yet her breathing is gradually growing heavier.

"The fight at the Archives," Yeji resumed. "Seulgi said you did something... superhuman at the time."

I closed my eyes and remembered the moment I punched a Rider of the Hunt, I was filled with desire to save Jimin that I hoped that I have the strength of Seulgi in her bear form. I threw my fists and sent the Rider flying towards the other side of the Archives' Hall with an imprint of my fist in its cracked armor. 

"Yeah..." I nodded.

"And you broke your arm during that fight, but it was fully healed the next morning," Yeji said again.

"Right, I was wondering why you weren't nursing your arm when you were at my place." Jimin added.

"And — just now, you felt something akin to Wild Instinct."

"The decision to have the interview with Shin Yuna," I murmured.

"Where are you going with this, Yeji?" Jimin asked.

Yeji sighed again, clearly not liking what she was about to say. She swapped her feet, the rear one now crossing in front of the other, "I'm saying that Seulgi and I thinks that..." she hesitated again.

"Oh please just let it out!" My voice rose against my will with my growing frustration.

"Fine. Seulgi and I think that you're taking, or absorbing, some of the powers of the women you have sex with." Yeji dropped the bomb — and Jimin and I may have died and went back to life with the shock.

"What are you —?" Jimin began.

"You had sex with Seulgi the night when she saved you from those vampires a few nights before the Archives attack, then you had her strength. We had sex after the Archives attack when you broke your arm, and by the morning you were fully healed —"

"That's —" I began but Yeji was on a roll.

" — and I have the strongest healing factor amongst my team."

"And the Wild Instinct was taken from both of you as well?" Jimin asked, her face slowly darkening.

Yeji closed her eyes. "Tell me the truth, Seren, did you and Ryujin do it last night?"

My answer was shameful silence.

"Seriously?!" Jimin said in exasperation. "Oh my god! You're fucking —"

"Chill, Jimin," Yeji attempted to calm Jimin down.

"How can I? He kept sleeping around like —"

"It may be in his blood!" Yeji dropped another bomb that effectively silenced Jimin and overfried my brain.

"What do you mean in his blood?!" Jimin growled dangerously low. For the first time — I was afraid of Yu Jimin. Also, their voices were rising, anxiety crept in me as I thought of other students passing by and hearing this conversation.

"There is one race that can do this, one who can assimilate abilities through sexual intercourse. And even among them, it's extremely rare." Yeji replied.

"You can't be saying," Jimin said in disbelief.

"Saying what?" I said, my frustration now bordering to anger.

Jimin raised her voice. "She's saying you may be an incubus, I trust you know what those are."

"We're theorizing," Yeji corrected when I looked at her with wide eyes. "You match the ability, but not the other traits of incubi, you know, horn, tails, hypnotic eyes — you also particularly don't have the use of glamour and you don't possess any sensual charisma —"

"Gee, thanks," I grumbled.

Yeji rolled her eyes, "Point is, there are still a lot of blanks to be filled out, there's also the fact that you are resistant to vampiric charm and knowing you right now, it wouldn't surprise me if you have other resistances to the other Night Folk's abilities — but incubi don't have that resistance to vampires. They can easily get charmed if they don't get to apply their glamour first."

"So it's still a big question mark?" I asked.

"The answers results to more questions, Seren." Jimin remarked.

Yeji crossed her arms, "Well, for better or worse, we have a working theory. Seulgi is now considering what to do next."

"Care to enlighten us?" I asked.

"I would if she did," Yeji replied. "But she said she'll tell me once it's all concrete."

We were quiet for a few minutes as we tried to process what Yeji had said.

"So, he gets the abilities of all the persons he has sex with?" Jimin asked hesitantly.

"Only Night Folk women," Yeji replied.

"Right, cause I'm just a normal human." Jimin said sarcastically.

"Jimin, I—" I began only to be interrupted by her hand.

"This is too much to take in, Seren. You need some time to consider this and what this means, all of us. Can we talk about this later? Maybe on our shift at the Archives the day after tomorrow?"

I nodded, "Sure."

Yeji exhaled heavily. "Any more questions?"

Jimin and I shook our heads.

"Good. Now can we have lunch?" Yeji asked wearily before walking ahead of us.

An incubus? I thought. It's just a theory, but still — being able to assimilate abilities from Night Folk I have sex with. The shadows stretched longer as if trying to nip at my heels as I followed Jimin and Yeji absently while thinking to myself if this is a blessing or a freaking curse.

-------------

The night sky was cloudy, the wind whispering of another impending storm. My mind however — was already in one as I sip my nightly hot chocolate. It has been a routine now, the heat clears my mind and the sweetness calms me down.

Jimin texted that she was home and that she spotted a big black cat nuzzling on top of the rooftops beside her apartment building. Ryujin in her werebeast form — we both thought, on guard duty. Looks like their reliefs during the night were still unavailable, I wondered how they'll guard us tomorrow though, with no classes. 

Ryujin watching Jimin means I've got Chaeryoung for tonight. I never saw nor felt signs of her so far, no slender and striped big cat on the rooftops as well when I peeled my curtain for a quick peek.

Just as I finished washing my cup however, I heard three soft knocks on my door. I wiped my hands on my sweatpants as I walked to open it. And as I opened it, I was pleasantly greeted by Chaeryoung. She wore a sleeveless buttoned blue shirt, her black tube top visible through the thin fabric. The shirt was tucked in her denim shorts and she brought a small brown handbag.

"Hey! Hope I'm not intruding," Lee Chaeryoung greeted with a sweet smile.

"Oh, no," I replied. "Why are you here, though? I thought you'll keep your distance while on guard duty."

"Yeah. Well, those rules are not strictly enforced nor followed considering I slept on Jimin's couch last night and you and Ryujin...." she hesitated, but the insinuation remains, she knows what happened last night.

"So you know. Well, that's embarrassing," I murmured.

"Uh-huh. Seems like my teammates weren't able to help themselves. They've always been impulsive." Chaeryoung commented.

"So, uh. Are you coming in or just checkin on me?" I asked.

"Ryujin actually asked me for a favor," Chaeryoung replied. "She told me to bring some sewing equipment here tonight and told me to ask no questions. She did say you'd need it for Yuna's interview tomorrow."

"Oh," I closed my eyes, dipped my head, and placed a hand on my forehead. The couch — I thought. The couch with scratch marks from both Seulgi and Yeji — and Ryujin asked Chaeryoung to patch them up in order to not raise suspicions from Yuna for the interview tomorrow. How am I going to explain to her the two sets of scratch marks in my couch? Honestly I don't know whether to thank Ryujin or curse her for making Chaeryoung do this.

"Is everything okay? I'm not intruding, right?" Chaeryoung asked softly in concern.

"Oh. No," I raised my head to reply. "It's just... it's gonna get awkward so, I'll just invite you in so you'll see what Ryujin was talking about."

Chaeryoung looked puzzled as I gestured for her to enter before closing the door shut behind us. She left her sneakers by the threshold and carefully walked towards my living room where she stopped just in front of my couch — her face a mask of shock and confused amusement. She looked like she wanted to laugh, but also like she was reconsidering Ryujin's favor and stepping inside my apartment.

"Is that — Ryujin's?" Chaeryoung asked, pointing at the scratch marks on my couch.

"No, shorter ones are Yeji's while the longer and deeper ones are..." I hesitated.

Chaeryoung faced me, her eyes wide as she looked at me with an almost judgmental expression. "They can't be Ryujin's," she said softly.

I walked around my kitchen counter and leaned on it for support. "No. You see, they're... Seulgi's..." I replied, my voice dipping in volume, heavy with embarrassment and guilt as I saw Chaeryoung's eyes widen further.

"So you're telling me that in a span of less than one week," Chaeryoung started, "you had sex with my superior and my teammates?" Chaeryoung asked accusingly. I would have felt offended, but instead, I felt embarrassment because it was true.

Chaeryoung looked back at the scratch marks of my wounded couch, "Wow. Now everything Ryujin said makes sense," she then turned to me, "and she rarely makes sense."

"I apologize?" I said hesistantly.

Chaeryoung waved me off. "No need. You didn't exactly wronged me so there's nothing to apolgize to me for." She placed her hand bag on the couch and took out a few gray leather patches, a transparent plastic case filled with an assortment of needles, a pair of scissors, and a roll of brown thread. "Did you apologize to your couch, though?" Chaeryoung asked sarcastically.

I managed a guilty scoff.

"Thanks?" I responded.

"I am judging you though," Chaeryoung added.

I shrugged both in acknowledgement and embarrassment, "I guess I deserve it."

Chaeryoung then shot me a look as she knelt on the couch and began measuring a leather patch to cover Seulgi's scratch marks. "Don't you try do anything to me," she growled, although there was no heat in her voice because she knew if I did, she can just take me out immediately.

"I have no intention to," I replied, raising my hands. I really did have no intention to, don't get me wrong, Chaeryoung is pretty, and sexy — but she came here to help me. It is disrespectful and ungrateful of me to make a move on her.

"Good." Chaeryoung then took out a curved needle and began threading a string of thread in it. I watched her in silence as she slowly sew the leather patch on one set of Seulgi's scratch marks.

As she moved to next set, I finally broke the silence, "Hey. Can you tell me more about yourself?"

Chaeryoung smirked, "I'm not telling you anything personal."

"I'm not asking for anything personal. Just, anything you want, or can, talk about. Maybe about you or your teammates."

Chaeryoung sighed as she started sewing again, "What do you want to know?"

I pondered the question for a moment before answering, "How was your team formed for a start?"

Chaeryoung smiled faintly as if remembering a good memory, "We were friends from birth. Yeji was a year older than Ryujin and I. We started morphing at around the age of eight — which was normal for werebeasts."

"Wasn't it you who said you three were the youngest to be elevated as huntresses in like what? A generation?" I asked as I strode back to the kitchen to make another cup of hot chocolate.

"Mmhmm," Chaeryoung replied, her eyes not leaving her chore. "But that was not necessarily because of our individual skills though."

"What do you mean?"

She paused briefly, held her shirt and fanned herself as if she's feeling hot. "We work better as a team," Chaeryoung continued. "Yeji's leadership and strength, Ryujin's chaotic energy but strong instincts..."

"And you're the fastest, am I right?" I asked.

"Mmhmm," Chaeryoung hummed her reply as she returned to her work. "And the best tracker. Together we can probably overwhelm Seulgi even in her bear form, or give Joohyun a run for her money even if we don't win." 

"But one-on-one?"

Chaeryoung turned to look at me with a wicked and teasing grin, "We stomp you one-on-one, Seren Vale," she teased before returning to sewing. 

"I wasn't talking about me," I chuckled. "And besides, I wouldn't want to fight any of you, one-on-one or otherwise."

"Good decision." She seemed flustered, her face slowly growing redder.

I walked back to the kitchen counter with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. "Chocolate?" I offered Chaeryoung.

Chaeryoung briefly paused and closed her eyes as the scent of chocolate wafted around the room, "Hmmm, that smells good. But maybe later, after I'm done with this." She then went back to finishing the patch on Seulgi's claw marks.

"So," I started after taking a sip. "You seem the calmest out of the three of you."

Chaeryoung scoffed, "Knowing the other two, I was a necessity." She finished with Seulgi's claw marks and now moved to the opposite side to work on Yeji's shorter and shallower scratches.

"Yeji is... a good leader," she continued. "But she sometimes bares her teeth when words can still be said to avoid a fight. Ryujin's worse, the girl has no filter. Someone has to reel them in," she then turned towards me with an exasperated expression, "We once tracked a rogue warlock —"

"All warlocks are rogue," I interjected.

"Touchè," Chaeryoung shrugged. "Anyway, I advised caution as a warlock's lair is always filled with traps, what do you think they did?"

"Charge in with claws and fangs bared?" I shrugged.

"And triggered a summoning circle — siccing a score of demon imps at us. The two of them had the time of their lives fighting those imps while I tracked down the warlock in order to stop the summoning," Chaeryoung exclaimed.

"Sounds like fun," I replied sarcastically.

"That's because you haven't fought demon imps," Chaeryoung countered, returning to patching up my couch, her hands shook slightly and her breathing gradually becomes audible as it grows heavier.

"Nor have I seen or want to see one," I replied, sipping another mouthful of chocolate. "How did you come under Seulgi's command, though?"

"We didn't, we just fit the requirements of the mission," Chaeryoung replied nonchalantly through deep breaths.

"Enlighten me, please."

Chaeryoung sighed like I'm a nuisance to her work, she readjusted herself on the couch, shuffling her thighs slightly before giving me a reply, "Seulgi requested for security detail for you at the College of Verrath against a higher vampire. Most hunters would jump at the chance of taking on that job, but they don't fit the age. The appearance yes —" Chaeryoung said, sensing my impending interruption. "They may look like college students — heck, Seulgi herself can pass as one if she wanted to. But their minds are already decades old in maturity, while the three of us —"

"Are our age, so you can relate more," I finished.

"You're not so dumb after all," Chaeryoung teased, her ears now as red as her cheeks.

"Ouch."

"That was a compliment," Chaeryoung giggled.

"Fine. But did you know it was Joohyun, though?" I followed up.

"No," Chaeryoung admitted. "Seulgi's notice only mentioned a higher vampire, not the Pale Princess herself — which I think was a genius move on her part."

"Why?"

"Because if she did reveal that the higher vampire in question was the heiress of the Verrathi Coven, no one would have taken the job. First, it becomes a diplomatic issue, she's the heiress after all, not some rogue vampire. Second, she's two thousand years old, and vampires get stronger as they age. Not many can stand against her one-on-one."

"Joohyun's that powerful, huh," I murmured in disbelief.

"You did see how easily she took care of that Lead Rider at the Archives," Chaeryoung noted.

I do remember, she killed that Rider so easily and elegantly it was disarming, frightening, and awe inspiring all at the same time.

"Can Seulgi take her?" I asked, remembering their brief standoff when they rescued me from the rogue vampires.

"In a one-on-one fight? Probably not," Chaeryoung responded. "I think only the members of the Triarchy have the strength to fight Bae Joohyun one-on-one, and even that would be an uphill battle."

"What about Orion?" I asked. Orion — the Lord of the Wild Hunt — the one who sent Riders to the Archives to abduct me and if not for the intervention of Yeji and her team and then the timely arrival of Joohyun and her Death Dealers — I might already be dissected by the Wild Hunt somewhere in the fae woods. 

"Can the three of you take down Orion?" I wanted to know. I needed to have the confidence to know that my protectors are strong enough to actually protect Jimin and I.

Chaeryoung laid down her sewing equipment — only the last patch remains and she would be done. "To be honest, Seren," she started, her voice losing its usual calm confidence and replaced with wariness and perhaps a tinge of fear as she thought of the possibility of fighting the Lord of the Hunt. "Even with Seulgi, I doubt we can give Orion a fight. The Triarchy might stand a fighting chance, if they fought together. Joohyun's father can certainly dance with the bastard — Joohyun herself however — she might need her brother's assistance to even stand a chance."

"Orion's that powerful?"

Chaeryoung sighed before returning to her work, "He's... enhanced. The years — centuries — he spent gathering artifacts and relics made him more powerful for a fae of his age."

"All at the cost of thousands of lives," I muttered.

Chaeryoung nodded. "Thousands. Night Folk and human," she whispered grimly. She finished the first set of Yeji's scratches and finally moved on to the last one. Before doing so however, she fanned her beet red face with her hands.

I then asked in concern, "Are you okay, Chaeryoung? You look —?" 

"Hot," she replied. "Can you turn your AC colder?" She requested before wiping her brow with the back of her hand, adjusted herself, and started working on the final patch.

"Uh. Sure," I agreed. I was freezing though, the night was cold and the wind colder, the possibility of a rainstorm didn't help as well. Good thing I was drinking hot chocolate.

I took the remote and moved a bit closer to Chaeryoung to lower the temperature. Her breath suddenly hitched and I instinctively glanced at her. I then noticed that she was sweating. Her thin shirt was soaked and hugged her body tighter, revealing more of her curves. I forced my eyes away, trying to be respectful. I may have had sex with her colleagues, but that was all consensual, and Chaeryoung made it clear she's in no mood for the same shenanigans that Yeji and Ryujin were.

I went back to the kitchen counter to keep as much distance between the both of us as possible. "Better?" I asked.

"Mhmm," Chaeryoung muttered, though I didn't hear if it was a yes or a no.

Chaeryoung kept sewing in silence while I finished my chocolate. To my confusion though, her breathing kept getting heavier. She also kept sweating, frequently wiping her forehead and her temples every few minutes. She was just sewing, does someone really sweat that much by just sewing a leather patch on a couch?

"Chaeryoung?" I called softly.

"Hmm?" She tilted her head though she kept her eyes on her work.

"You sure you're okay? You're sweating a lot," I observed.

She nodded as she kept her focus on her work. "Just... feeling hot," she breathed heavily.

"The AC's at its coldest," I remarked. "Are you really sure you're —?"

"There!" Chaeryoung exclaimed. "Done, finally." She placed her stuff back in her handbag a little hastily then stood to face me.

"Well, thanks." I said as I studied the four leather patches on my couch.

"You're welcome," Chaeryoung replied, fanning herself with her shirt. "You can tell Yuna those were because of the wear and tear of your couch. It looks old enough so... she might believe you."

"Ouch. My couch has feelings, you know. Please apologize to it." I joked.

Chaeryoung's flushed face gave a faint smirk.

"Chocolate?" I asked.

Chaeryoung shook her head. "I'm already feeling hot as it is. Do you have something cold? Ice water or something?"

"Yeah. Just take some from the fridge," I replied.

"Thanks," Chaeryoung murmured. She passed by me and I felt the heat from her body — and a wave of deja vu washed in my mind. The heat was familiar, so eerily familiar that it sent shivers down my spine and my hairs stood on edge.

"Lee Chaeryoung," I called for her cautiously low.

She walked closer to me while downing an entire bottle of ice cold water — and I dearly wished that she hadn't come closer.

She laid the empty bottle on the counter and stood dangerously close to me. My own breathing was now matching the heaviness of hers. Her face was flushed red, sweat glistening down her face, her neck, and her body as her shirt hugged her tighter. She looked at ne expectantly, blissfully unaware of what's happening while her body betrays her.

"Are you... perhaps, in heat tonight?" I asked warily.

Chaeryoung's eyes narrowed, "I told you not to make a move on me," she growled, but it came more breathy and sensual than threathening.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, "I'm not. When I brought Seulgi here, she was in heat and I somehow... amplified that, resulting to that scratch mark."

Disbelief, then calculation, then reluctant acknowledgement flashed on Chaeryoung's face for three heartbeats. "Are you telling me, human," she let that last word hang to emphasize the ridiculousness of what's happening. "Are you telling me that you amplify a werebeasts sexual drive while in heat?"

"I don't exactly believe I am human anymore." I confessed, which I think was everything Chaeryoung needed to hear tonight.

"You're lying," Chaeryoung asked in defiant disbelief.

"I have no reason nor intention to lie to you," I replied, hoping she believes me.

Chaeryoung blinked once — then twice. "I should..." she stuttered, "I should go."

"You should, if you don't want this to happen," I responded.

But Chaeryoung doesn't move — or rather, she cannot move. She seemed to be rooted to her spot, one hand gripping the edge of the counter so tight her knuckles went white. She was breathing heavily, her flushness now extends to her neck and collar. I can see that her mind was fighting the urge that her body calls.

Her head turns to face me and for a moment – the thread snaps. With her other hand, Chaeryoung reaches for my nape and pulls me down for a kiss. My hands reflexively gripped her waist. Her shirt was soaked with sweat as I squeezed it gently while she gives a breathy moan while our mouths crashed on each other. 

She's hot, almost as hot as Seulgi was that night. The heat of her lips was almost making me parched when she abruptly pulled away. The sense in her eyes returned as her gaze fluttered across my room.

"No," she whispered as she removed her hand on my neck. "This shouldn't be happening." Chaeryoung rushed down my hallway to the door. I intended to just stand at the counter to let her leave, but moments passed and I didn't hear the door open.

I walked slowly towards the opposite edge of the hallway. Chaeryoung had her hands on the knob, the other held her shoes. Her grip was trembling, her body tells her — compels her to do this — yet her mind resists.

"You can go, Chaeryoung," I whispered sincerely. "I'm not stopping you."

"Do you..." she whispered loud enough for me to hear. "Do you want to do this too?"

"It'd be hypocritical of me to say I don't. You're pretty and..."

"Stop!" Chaeryoung's hands slowly relaxed. Her hands slipped off the knob while the other lets go of her shoes which landed on the threshold with a soft thud.

Her arms slowly rose towards her chest and slowly, she unbuttons her shirt. Her hands slowly go lower until she pulled the final button out. She rolls the shirt off her shoulder, exposing the soft flesh covered beneath and letting the garment rustle softly as it lands beside her shoes. She's now left in her tube top, a pair of transparent bra straps slinging over her shoulders, and her shorts.

"I..." Chaeryoung stuttered.

"I understand," I whispered. "You're not in control."

"Just tonight," Chaeryoung whispered softly to my genuine surprise. "Let this be your thank you to me for patching up your couch." Her hands slowly went to her shorts, she unbuttoned it and slowly pushed it down her lower body to reveal a pair of white cotton panties.

"Then we're even," I whispered back. That's one way to justify this — but it's one heck of an imbalanced trade off.

"Then we're even," Chaeryoung echoed. She then pulled her tube top off revealing a flesh tone bra underneath. She turns her toned body towards me and rushes forward. I caught her by the waist as she wraps her arms around my neck crashing her lips once again on mine.

Chaeryoung's kiss was hungry, she pulled me closer with a hand gripping the hair on my scalp. Mine wrapped around her thin and smooth waist, pressing our bodies as close as possible. I nipped at her lower lip softly, making her gasp as her hands scrambled to my chest. She balled her fist, crumpling my shirt before her hands glided down my torso. She took the hem of my shirt in her hands and pulled it upwards, breaking our kiss to remove it off of me.

I pulled Chaeryoung closer by her waist. She gasped as I peppered her neck with licks and kisses. I moved both of us a little harshly as we slammed into the wall. It would have been painful — if Chaeryoung was human. But because she was a werebeast, it only seemed to heighten the pleasure she felt. Her grip on my scalp tightens while her other hand reaches behind her to unclasp her bra.

"Fuck — why are you good?" She moans as she lets her bra slip off her body, freeing her perky tits. "Why the hell are you this good — hnnnnggggghh," Chaeryoung bit her lower lip after I took a playful nibble at one of her nipples.

My other hand kneads her other boob, the hardened nipple feeling good as it rolls on my palms. Chaeryoung whimpers and squirms in my touch. Her hand slowly pushing me lower down her body.

"Impatient, are we?" I chuckled.

"Just get it over with," Chaeryoung whimpered.

"We're already doing this, might as well enjoy it," I replied. I moved lower and traced the lines of her toned abs.

Chaeryoung squirms even harder at the sensation. "No, this shouldn't happen," Chaeryoung whined.

"It already is, just relax, Chaeryoung. Relax and just feel it." I felt her push my head lower. I reached her belly button ang flicked my tongue in it, making her hips buckle and shiver.

"Fuck — Seren," Chaeryoung gasped.

"Do you want me to stop?" I teased.

"No, don't stop," Chaeryoung moaned as I lowered my hands to the waistband of her panties.

"Do you want me to slow down?" I asked as I slowly pulled her panties down, revealing a swollen and glistening pussy.

"No — I mean, yes. Fuck — I don't know anymore." Chaeryoung whimpered as the cold air touched her bare wetness. 

"Does it feel good?" I asked while giving her clit a tentative lick.

"Yes," Chaeryoung breathed heavily, bucking her hips closer to my face as I pulled away. "Keep going, Seren."

I looked up and saw Chaeryoung's face lost in the throes of lust. Her eyes were closed, teeth biting her lower lip, and her cheeks and ears flushed red.

I chuckled before planting the flat of my tongue on her now dripping heat. Chaeryoung's eyes fluttered open as she gasped. Her hips started grinding on my face in rhythm with every soft but deep flick of my tonuge.

I then hooked my arms around her thighs and gently stood while lifting her by her hips. One of her hands grasped my scalp tighter while the other was able to reach towards the ceiling.

"Fuck — Keep going. Don't stop — ahhhh!" Her hips repeatedly hit the wall, producing soft thuds as she grinds herself on my face. My hands reach up to her hardened nubs and pinched and rolled them between my fingers.

"Ahhh! Seren!" Chaeryoung squealed. I can feel her thighs tighten around my face. "I'm close. I'm cumming. Don't stop! Don't fucking stop!"

I gave her nipples a tight pinch and her clit a series of quick flicks and Lee Chaeryoung unravels while pinned in the wall six feet off the floor. "SEREN! FUCK! I'M CUMMING! AHHHHHHH!" Her hips buckled and her body writhed violently and it took all my strength to keep Chaeryoung from falling as her slick juices drip down my mouth to my neck.

Chaeryoung rode her first orgasm on my shoulders and as she finally relaxed, I slowly let her down, kissing her lips when it was on the same level as mine. She reciprocated passionately but with a little bit of exhaustion. Once I pulled away, Chaeryoung collapsed to her knees, her head resting against my crotch. My now hard cock twitched from its confines, jerking Chaeryoung from her position.

Absently, her hands reached for the waistband of my sweatpants and slowly pulled them down. Her eyes grew wide as my cock was freed and nearly hit her forehead. Chaeryoung reached for it and I flinched as she began to stroke tentatively with eyes full of wonder.

"Seulgi, Yeji, and Ryujin took this?" She whispered in disbelief.

"You can take — fuck, Lee Chaeryoung!" I slammed a palm to the wall while my other hand flew to grip Chaeryoung's hair as she uncermoniously takes my tip into her mouth. She gave it tentative sucks kisses and when she gave the slit a quick and soft lick, my eyes rolled to the back of my head and my knees threatened to fall under the pleasure.

"Lee Chaeryoung —" I gasped as the werebeast huntress slowly took more of me into her warm and small mouth.

Chaeryoung replied with the slurping noises of her wet and sloppy blowjob. She looked at me with eyes teetering between wide eyed innocence to raw desire. Her left hand stroked the base of my cock and the parts where her mouth can't reach. Her right hand snakes between her thighs where she inserted her fingers inside herself while she sucked me off.

"Shit, Lee Chaeryoung. You're something else," I muttered mindlessly, my palm turning into a fist as I pressed it on the wall as her warm mouth surrounded my cock while her tongue swirled all over it. Chaeryoung only replied with increased vigour, both from her head bobbing increasingly faster on my cock and her fingers matching her rhythm inside her pussy.

I grasped her hair tighter but otherwise let her stay in control of her own pace — a pace she's slowly losing. Her rhythm became erratic, her eyes closed as she tried to take in more of me in her mouth while she thrust her fingers rapidly inside her wetness, producing squelching noises that echo on the walls of the apartment.

Suddenly — "Hnnnnngggggghhh!" Lee Chaeryoung tenses and shudders, her mouth tightens halfway down my shaft as her left hand gripped my thigh tightly. Then I felt a pool of slick trickle down my foot and that's when I realized — Chaeryoung came with her fingers while sucking me off.

She seemed to lose strength as her knees grew limp followed by her body. Her mouth slid slowly off my cock until only the tip remained inside her. Her head was hanging with only my cock in her mouth preventing her from collapsing.

I took her by her shoulder and slowly raised her up. Her eyes were half-lidded, almost lost. "You okay, Lee Chaeryoung?" Her reply was a weak nod.

"Turn around and bend over," I whispered. Chaeryoung seemed to be moving on auto pilot as she followed my command. She planted both hands on the wall as she presented her plump ass to me.

I couldn't resist to squeeze and knead her soft ass producing sweet moans from the huntress.

"Hmmmm. Stop teasing, Seren," Chaeryoung whispered breathily, her pussy dripping slick down her thighs. She then wiggled her hips, subtle enough to pass as a shiver in the cold winds but enough for both of us to know it was an invitation.

I prodded my tip outside her entrance and Chaeryoung moaned, slightly pushing herself to take more of me. "Please... put it in..." Chaeryoung whimpered.

I chuckled in spite of myself. "Are you saying that because you want this to be over quickly, or because you want it so much?" I teased, rubbing my tip in circles, making sure to glide across her clit and her entrance.

Chaeryoung shivered in pleasure and anticipation. "Hnnnnggghhhh. Please... Seren."

The room then reverberated as I give Chaeryoung's ass a hard slap. Chaeryoung jerked forward but immediately went back to press her heat on my cock.

"Answer my question, Lee Chaeryoung," I growled, enjoying the feeling of power over this pretty huntress who would otherwise take my head if I slapped her ass out of nowhere.

"Just put it in... please..." Chaeryoung kept whimpering then — "AHHH!" She squealed as another hand slapped her ass and then gave it a hard squeeze for good measure.

"I said, answer my question," I grinned as I tentatively inserted just the tip inside her pussy but I pushed back her ass with my hands as she tried to drive me deeper inside of her.

"Damn you, Seren! I want it! I need it! Put it insi — FUCK!" Chaeryoung's head whipped back as she screamed when I pushed all the way inside her, her wetness making it easy to slide in.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I felt Chaeryoung's walls grip me tight like it didn't want to let go. "Now was that so hard?" I teased after the initial surge of pleasure washed over me.

Chaeryoung turned her head over her shoulder, her face flushed red and riddled with sweat. Her eyes were half lidded and unfocused, her breathing heavy and expectant, and her expression was a silent plea — "Fuck me."

I slowly moved my hips outward, the slick covering my shaft glistening as it reflected the room's light. Chaeryoung closed her eyes and whimpered before dipping her head.

I pushed in again slowly and Chaeryoung's head whipped back again with a sharp gasp.

"Good?" I asked breathily.

Chaeryoung replied with frantic nods.

I started building up a rhythm, slowly but surely to ensure I won't orgasm prematurely due to Chaeryoung's tight and hot walls. I placed my hands on her waist for leverage while Chaeryoung herself slowly moved with me, pushing her ass to meet my every thrust and matching my rhythm.

"Harder," Chaeryoung murmured low enough to be almost imperciptble.

"What?" I asked, wanting her to speak louder.

"Harder," Chaeryoung moaned a little louder.

"You have to speak louder than that —"

"Harder, Seren! Faster — AAAHHH!" Chaeryoung yelled as I gave her what she wanted. I thrusted hard and fast, her legs and thighs buckling as skin slapped against skin and her slick juices splatter across the floor.

Slowly, Chaeryoung shuffles forward as she kept adjsuting with how hard I was pistoning inside her. It was only a matter of seconds before I've got Chaeryoung pinned to the wall while I fuck her from behind.

I leaned forward and pressed my cheek beside Chaeryoung's — she was burning hot. Her moans were restrained — which sounded so cute and sexy.

Chaeryoung's right hand went to my ass, scratching it and pulling it so I can penetrate her deeper. My right hand went to squeeze her perky breasts, while the other hand catches her left on the wall and interlaced it with mine.

"Cumming, Seren — I'm cumming —" Chaeryoung moaned breathily in my ear.

"Harder?" I teased between heavy breaths and Chaeryoung only replied with more breathy moans and weak nods.

I thrusted harder, ignoring the strain in my hips and thighs, the pleasure a welcome pay off as I felt Lee Chaeryoung's pussy slowly tighten until –

"FUCK! SEREN I'M — HNNNGGGGHHH! AAAAHHHH!" Lee Chaeryoung convulses in my hold as I gave her one deep thrust. Her hands gripped mine as tightly as her pussy gripped my shaft. 

We stopped as I allowed Chaeryoung to come down from her high. My hand on her breast went down to squeeze her ass and I felt her twitch softly. We recovered with shaky breaths, our cheeks pressed against each other.

Just then, Chaeryoung turns to face me, pulling me out of her. I would have been disappointed until she raised a leg and placed it over my shoulder. Her eyes were intense and lust filled, her cheeks flushed and her mouth half open in expectation. I leaned in and kissed her at the same time I drove my shaft back inside her, drowning both our moans in our kiss.

I broke away and nuzzled my head beside her ear. I started moving again and Chaeryoung's soft and arousing moans once again filled my ears.

"Have I told you that I think you're the sexiest out of the three of you?" I whispered, my hands squeezing both her asscheeks while I thrust in a steady rhythm.

"You're just — haaaah — saying that because — hnngh — you're fucking me," Chaeryoung replied in between moans.

I chuckled, "Yet you like hearing it, don't you?" I teased as I felt her pussy tighten with what I just said.

"Just — keep going," Chaeryoung whispered in my ear, her arms wrapping around my neck, while one hand combs through my hair.

With a soft chuckle I started picking up the pace.

"Yes —" Chaeryoung moaned again, her grip on my hair growing tighter. "Just like that—"

Her ass hits the wall as I fucked her steadily, she was so wet her juices trickled down my thighs to my legs to my toes and to the floor.

"Seren —" another breathy moan, and I feel myself nuzzle deeper into Chaeryoung's neck. She smelled of sweat and sex, which only amplified how turned on I was.

"Seren —" she whispers my name like she worships it. It was never supposed to be this intimate — I thought. Just a way to relieve Chaeryoung of the physiological need her werebeast body requires. This should be different than when I was with Yeji or Ryujin, heck, I thought this would be more like when Seulgi lost control — sex driven by pure instinct.

But with Chaeryoung seemed different, there was desire yes — but there was also — feeling. It feels like she's not fucking — but making love. I only felt this once, and it was when Jimin and I did it a couple of nights ago.

Before I could think much of it, a sharp gasp and a sharper pull of my hair drew me out from my thoughts. "I'm close, Seren. Keep going —" Chaeryoung whispered, her hips meeting my every thrust.

I sucked on her neck just below her ear, confident that any mark I leave would heal overnight. Chaeryoung whimpered and leaned her head, "I'm cumming — hnngh–" Chaeryoung whined as her body tensed and her pussy convulsed, trapping my shaft inside her once again with her grip as her cum trickled out of her.

Chaeryoung was panting as she rode her high. "You — you haven't cum yet?" She whispered and I shook my head in reply.

I then hooked my arms below her knees and carried her, my lips found hers as I walked towards my bed room.

"Wait —" Chaeryoung broke away. "Just cum already so I can leave."

"No," I whispered back. "You're staying the night."

"Seren, I —"

"— Want this," I interrupted her before sitting down at the edge of my bed. "Don't lie, Lee Chaeryoung. Your body doesn't."

Chaeryoung held my gaze as she straddled me, like she's deliberating what I just said. "I—" she started grinding slowly on top of me. "I—" she stammered as I held her ass to guide her.

"Don't speak, just feel." I whispered.

Chaeryoung nodded slowly while her hips did the opposite. She rolled her body in the sexiest way I've ever seen that it slowly pushed me towards the edge. Chaeryoung bit her lip, and the combination of her body rolling and the sensation it gave finally broke my control.

I held her waist and matched her rhythm. "Inside, Seren —" Chaeryoung whispered, sensing my impending release. "It won't subside unless —"

"I know. I know, Lee Chaeryoung — fuck!"

With a suppressed groan, I unloaded inside Chaeryoung's pussy. The huntress quivered on my lap as she felt my cum paint her walls white. Her hands cupped my cheek and pulled me in for a kiss that felt more intimate than it should be.

She pulled away and her eyes changed, the heat had definitely left her, but it left something else, something I can't quite place.

"I should go—"

"I told you to stay the night," I wrapped my arms around her, preventing her from standing up.

"But —" she hesitated, and I know why — or at least, I have a hunch. That sex wasn't just sex, or to relieve her, there was something else, something deeper.

"I know —" I pulled her in a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around my neck in reciprocation. "You can think about it for the whole night, but you're sleeping here."

After a few heartbeats, Chaeryoung nodded although I still felt a little bit of hesitation in her eyes. I slowly turned to lay down and Chaeryoung rolled to my side, her expression unreadable.

The rain started pouring heavily as Chaeryoung and I panted while we laid naked on my bed. "Do you," I began, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. "Do you werebeasts know when you're going to be in heat?"

"Why do you ask?" Chaeryoung replied, her voice hoarse and her eyes were focused on the ceiling. "So we can avoid you when we are?"

I nodded. "Being with me when you are sounds... inconvenient."

"Do you think we'll just lose control anywhere?" Chaeryoung asked.

"Seulgi did. And in a way, so did you."

"If your logic is right, I would've jumped on you at campus already." Chaeryoung replied then rolled over, propped herself on her elbow to face me. "I lost control because it was just the two of us. Something about you amplified my drive just right now, when we were alone. I know because I didn't feel it when we were on campus this morning."

I breathed heavily, does this have anything to do with Seulgi and Yeji's theory about me having incubus blood?

"But..." Chaeryoung whispered softly. "If it's any consolation," she rest her head on my shoulder and nuzzled comfortably on my side, "I'd do it again if I had the chance," she muttered breathily in my ear.

I scoffed and closed my eyes as I felt Chaeryoung pull the sheets to cover both of us. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder when I remembered another thing about Yeji's theory — the part where I assimilate abilities of women I slept with. If that is true, what would I get now that I had sex with Chaeryoung? Her speed perhaps? It excited me in some twisted way.

Thunder crashed outside as I thought of the possibilities, the abilities I'll have if I continued down this path. And before I knew it, my mind shut itself down and pulled me to a deep sleep.