The shrine was quiet now.

  Sunlight crept zily through the trees, casting soft gold over broken stone and moss-lined roots. A breeze stirred the air, warm and clean, carrying the scent of wildflowers and sweat and something sweeter — the lingering trace of her on my tongue.

  Lyriel y beside me, one leg tangled over mine, her breath soft against my colrbone. Her hair spilled across my chest like a silver veil, and her fingers moved idly, tracing slow, hypnotic patters over my skin.

  Neither of us spoke at first.

  There was nothing to say that wouldn’t sound small after what had just happened.

  But eventually, she exhaled — a sound that was almost a sigh, almost a ugh.

  “You taste like stormlight,” she murmured.

  I blinked. “Is that good?”

  “It’s addictive.”

  She tilted her head, her violet eyes half-lidded, watching me like she still wasn’t sure what kind of creature I was.

  “And dangerous.”

  I smirked. “You keep calling me that.”

  “Because it keeps being true.”

  She leaned in, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck — not lustful, not tender, just… lingering. Then she pulled back slightly and let her head rest against my shoulder again.

  Her voice dropped. “What kind of system speaks to you like that?”

  That caught me.

  I blinked. “Sorry?”

  “You talk to it,” she said. “You pause mid-thought, react to things I can’t see. And the magic around you bends in ways that don’t follow instinct. It’s structured. Guided.”

  I hesitated. “You’ve seen systems before?”

  “I’ve seen system-bonded warriors. Traders. Mages. None of them looked at the air and blushed.”

  I swallowed.

  “It’s, uh… called the S.E.X. System.”

  There was a beat of silence.

  Then: “You’re joking.”

  “I wish I was.”

  She lifted her head again, amused. “What does it stand for?”

  “Seduction. Execution. eXploitation.”

  A slow blink. “Of course it does.”

  “Hey, I didn’t choose it.”

  “No,” she said, her mouth curling, “but it clearly chose you.”

  She studied me for a long moment — not with judgment, but with something that looked suspiciously like curiosity.

  “Systems don’t talk like that,” she said finally. “Not unless they’ve… evolved. Or been twisted.”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean…” she exhaled, eyes narrowing slightly, “systems are tools. They’re not supposed to flirt.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that.

  She id her head back down, tracing the edge of my ribs with one fingertip.

  “Just promise me one thing,” she murmured.

  “Yeah?”

  “If it ever tells you to hurt me… you’ll listen to me first.”

  I turned toward her. “I’d never—”

  “I know. But promises are stronger when they’re said.”

  I nodded, and the silence returned — comfortable this time.

  Until the system buzzed, cheerfully interrupting the moment.

  [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]Mana Spike Logged: You went hard. Respect.Unfortunately, so did your signature.New Quest Unlocked: “Relocate or Get Ravaged”— Objective: Leave the shrine before sundown— Minimum Distance: 3 km— Reason: You’re glowing like a honeymoon beacon— Reward: +1 Awareness | Chance Encounter (???)— Penalty: Detection Event – You’re hunted. And not in the fun way.

  I groaned. “Seriously?”

  Lyriel raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. It wants us to move.”

  “Yeah. Something about glowing too much.”

  Her expression didn’t change. “Well. You do glow quite a lot when you come.”

  I choked. “Not helping.”

  She stood slowly, stretching — and gods, the way her body moved was pure temptation. Her breasts lifted with each breath, full and flushed, still marked by my mouth from earlier. She didn’t bother covering herself immediately.

  “You should be grateful it warned you,” she said, smirking. “Otherwise, I might’ve kept you here all day.”

  “Threat or promise?”

  She smiled — that unreadable, knowing smile — and finally walked barefoot across the stone to retrieve her clothes.

  Or what was left of them.

  The thin, tattered fabric clung to her hips as she wrapped it into something vaguely functional. It didn’t hide much. It didn’t need to. She moved with the confidence of a woman who knew beauty was a weapon — and she’d already stabbed me through the heart with it.

  She bent to gather the pieces, and the movement pulled her ass into full view — round, flushed, impossible to ignore.

  [SYSTEM ALERT]Warning: Boner Detected During Escape CountdownStatus: Understandable. Not advised.Tip: Think about swamps. Or taxes.

  She lifted the dress over her head — slowly, sensually — letting it slip down over her body like a second skin. The thin fabric hugged her breasts, barely masking the outline of her nipples. The lower half fluttered open at the sides, revealing one long leg to the hip.

  She caught me staring. Didn’t look away.

  “Later,” she said. “If we’re not dead.”

  Fair.

  I stood, shaking off the heat, and tried to focus. My boots were still half-damp. My shirt was missing a sleeve. My body ached in ways that felt earned.

  Lyriel gestured toward the north.

  “There’s a ley-point,” she said, “three kilometers from here. If it’s still active, I can use it to stabilize the resonance.”

  “Messy otherwise?”

  She didn’t answer. But her eyes said enough.

  [SYSTEM ADDENDUM]Warning: Bonded Resonance unstable during travel. Side effects may include:

  Sudden arousal

  Telepathic leakage

  Accidental public forepyNote: It’s like puberty, but hotter. And deadlier.

  “Perfect,” I muttered.

  She smiled and started walking.

  Of course I followed.

  We said nothing as we walked.

  The forest didn’t return to normal — not really. The shadows still clung a little too tight. The leaves whispered louder than before. Something had shifted, and the air knew it.

  Lyriel stayed a step ahead of me, her back tense, her magic simmering beneath her skin like smoke trying to become fire.

  Every so often, our hands brushed. Every time they did, it felt like sparks danced across my palm.

  Then the trees rustled once.

  And she stepped out of the shadows like she’d always been there.

  She moved with zy confidence, hips swaying beneath a half-open bck mantle, her body wrapped in strips of violet cloth that clung like temptation. Her thighs were bare. Her feet dusted with silver ash. Her dark eyes gleamed with mischief.

  And when she smiled, it felt like being stalked by pleasure itself.

  “Well, well,” she purred. “I was wondering who rocked the leyline so hard it nearly moaned.”

  Lyriel tensed. I stepped in front of her.

  “Who are you?”

  The woman tilted her head. “Does it matter?”

  “Kind of, yeah.”

  “Not following,” she said sweetly. “I was called. Your little soul-quake lit up half the forest.” Her eyes flicked to Lyriel. “And I’ve always wanted to see a Broken Key in the wild.”

  Lyriel’s voice was ice. “You know what I am?”

  “I know what you were.”

  She stepped too close. Brushed Lyriel’s hair back, sniffed her.

  “Mmm,” she whispered. “You smell like him now. Good girl.”

  I moved. “Touch her again and I’ll—”

  She turned to me. Looked me up and down.

  Then smiled. Wider.

  “Oh, you’re the Vessel.”

  “You carry it well. The resonance. The hunger.”

  Her fingers hovered near my chest. “Your bond is unstable. Delicious.”

  “I wonder… what happens when you let a third join the circuit.”

  [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]Unknown System Signature DetectedDesignation: P.A.I.N. – Punishment. Agony. Infiltration. Need.Compatibility Level: 76%Sync Request: DeniedReason: Active Soulbond Detected – Slot Limit ReachedBond Capacity: [1/1]Status: Expansion Locked Until Resonance StabilizesTip: Stabilize your bond with Lyriel to unlock new resonance slots. Harem Progression: ENABLED.

  She cocked her head. “Ohh. You’re locked.”

  “Not for long,” I said.

  She ughed.

  “Confidence. I like that.”

  She turned away, brushing her hip — chain tattoo curling up her thigh like a promise.

  “Next time,” she said over her shoulder, “I’ll bring rope.”

  She vanished.

  The air pulsed once.

  Lyriel stared after her.

  “…What the fuck was that?”

  Her answer was quiet.

  “Trouble.”

  We said nothing more.

  Not until we reached the edge of a silver stream, and she crouched beside it.

  “She touched me like she owned something,” she said.

  “She was trying to provoke you.”

  “It worked.”

  She stood. Faced me.

  “Do you want her?”

  I didn’t lie. “I want you.”

  “But she’s coming back.”

  “I know.”

  [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]New Quest Avaible: “Stabilize the First Bond”— Objective: Strengthen emotional and physical sync with Lyriel— Reward: Unlock Bond Slot II— Optional: Dey temptation eventsNote: Love is the strongest lock. Lust is the easiest key. Choose wisely.

  “We’ll handle it,” I said.

  She turned. Kept walking.

  I followed.

  But the air still smelled of silk and violet and waiting.

  And somewhere ahead… temptation smiled.