Just a couple of minutes ago, Asher followed Zephyrine into a private room while earlier, the entire time she was shaking her buttocks quite a bit too much while leading him.
In the dimly lit room, Zephyrine's coy demeanor was a stark contrast to the room's somber atmosphere. As the heavy door clicked shut behind Asher, a sense of confinement took over.
However, Asher's posture remained tall, every inch the dominant presence in the room.
He turned towards her, a light smirk on his face, "So, what is this surprise you've prepared for me?"
Zephyrine's lips curved into a teasing smile, her voice dripping with temptation as she removed her garments while standing naked before him, "Well, Your Highness, the surprise is... me. You can enjoy this gift as much as you desire."
"Is that so?" Asher's voice was low, a hint of cold amusement lurking.
Few minutes later,
Asher exited the room with a distinct air of satisfaction and a smirk hanging on his lips.
The door slowly began to close behind but revealed quite an unconventional picture.
Zephyrine was a picture of mess and vulnerability – her naked body, dangling from the ceiling by her wings tied to it, her head facing the floor with a flushed face, and her eyes rolled back.
A bunch of feathers lay strewn around the room, and saliva continued to trickle out of her mouth.
It was as if she wasn't even conscious enough to make sense of her surroundings, nor could she recollect what just happened.
Stepping into the balmy evening, the lure of a local tavern beckoned Asher. Its raucous sounds and the inviting amber glow of lanterns made it an enticing quick detour to collect some drinks for him and his women.
As Asher made his entrance, the conversations seemed to falter for a moment. The room was filled with patrons from various walks of life, but they all recognized the authority and aura of the man who had just walked in.
One of the tavern owners, a burly man with an apron stained from years of spills, hurried forward, "Your Highness! It's an honor to have you here! Drinks are on the house tonight," he exclaimed, waving a server over to fetch the finest bottle of wine.
Asher simply chuckled, enjoying the deference, "Much appreciated," he replied with a nod, taking a seat at a corner table with a clear view of the entrance while others didn't dare to crowd around him and gave him privacy while he waited for his drinks.
But just a few moments after sitting down, a statuesque woman with an unmistakably voluptuous silhouette sauntered over.
Her skin was green with red eyes, though this was the first time most of the ones sitting inside were seeing such an unusually tall woman who was at least a couple of inches taller than the Bloodburn Consort, who was quite tall himself.
However, it wasn't a surprise since she was coming from one of the giant races, though they couldn't help but wonder if she was dumb enough to approach the Bloodburn Consort.
Every step she took was measured, ensuring that every eye in the room was on her. With a twinkle in her eye and a sultry smile playing on her lips, she addressed Asher.
"Your Highness," she began in a voice that was smoky and seductive, "it's not every day I get to see the great and glorious Bloodburn Consort. Mind if I join you?"
Asher raised an eyebrow, as if he was intrigued by her presence. With a smirk, he replied, "And who might you be to seek the pleasure of my company?"
She leaned in slightly, her voice dripping with honeyed mischief, "Let's just say I'm someone who appreciates... finer things in life. And today, that happens to be you."
Asher's playful smirk didn't falter as he responded, "I'm flattered, truly. But as it happens, my day has plans of its own."
The woman pressed her lips together briefly. But then her lips relaxed, and her eyes held a glint of mischief and perhaps a touch of disappointment, "Is it too much to ask for just a moment of your time? A single drink to remember a unique encounter," As she spoke, her slender fingers danced over the small glass bottle she produced from the folds of her gown. The liquid inside shimmered mysteriously under the dim light of the tavern.
Asher's gaze followed the liquid with interest, "And what might that be?" he inquired, pointing towards the bottle.
She leaned in closer, the scent of her perfume intoxicating, "A rare concoction from the east. They say it's a drink shared by only those destined to meet. I saved at least one ever since the quest started."
With a theatrical flourish, she poured the sparkling liquid into two delicate cups that were on the table. Offering one to Asher, she held her own cup aloft, her eyes never leaving his.
Resigning himself to the unexpected detour the evening had taken, Asher sighed, "Alright, just this one," Lifting the cup to his lips, he downed the drink in one swift gulp, mirroring the woman's actions.
The woman's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth, "It tastes good…doesn't it?" she whispered, setting her cup down.
A peculiar lightheadedness began to creep over Asher, making the room around him blur slightly. He brought a hand up to his forehead, attempting to steady himself, "Why... why does the room feel like it's spinning?" he murmured, his voice taking on a drowsy quality.
The tall woman gave him a look of concern, her fingers deftly wrapping around his arm, "Oh dear, the drink from the east can sometimes be... overwhelming for the uninitiated. Perhaps you need a moment to rest. Why don't you allow me to take you somewhere comfortable?"
Without even waiting for his response, she led him out of the tavern, ignoring the whispers and gasps of the patrons.
To many of them, it looked like a giantess taking care of her dainty charge, "Did you see that? The Bloodburn Consort... with her?" They whispered to one another, a mix of astonishment and amusement.
Did he really have a thing for big women?
The woman, however, seemed unbothered by the gossip, her focus solely on Asher.
Not long after, she reached a nondescript building, discreetly located away from prying eyes. She opened the door, and carried a wrapped object on her shoulder.
Once inside, she dropped the wrapped figure onto the ground, allowing the cloth to unravel and reveal Asher's unconscious form.
With a smug grin, she stepped back, and her entire form began to shimmer and shift.
The tall and commanding presence morphed into a petite, sprightly figure with striking red eyes and vibrant ruby twin tails.
Her attire transformed into an elegant red gown that swirled around her pale, slender legs.
Silvia Valentine looked down at the unconscious Asher, a mix of contempt and triumph evident in her eyes.
She placed one delicate foot on his chest, pressing slightly. Her eyes sparkled with pique and smugness, "You should have been nice to Silvia from the beginning. But now you are going to be very helpful to this young lady."
She was feeling quite gleeful that she finally had him captive, though it was not like she could relax yet.
But the silence was soon broken when Asher's eyes suddenly snapped open. Without missing a beat, his fingers latched onto her foot, squeezing with a firm grip. The cold smirk on his face was a sharp contrast to the shock reflecting in her eyes.
"No," he said with chilling calmness, his gaze never wavering from hers, "It's going to be pretty much the other way around."
Silvia's heart raced. She tried to pull her foot away, her voice tinged with disbelief as she stammered, "H-How... You should be out for at least a few hours..."
But Asher wasn't one to be bested so easily. With a scoff, he gave a sudden jerk, causing Silvia to lose her balance.
"Kya!"
Her cry pierced the silent room as she tumbled onto the cold stone floor.
She felt herself being dragged by her foot, the rough floor scraping her skin. And as she looked up, Asher's towering figure cast an intimidating shadow over her petite form.
"You know," Asher began, leaning down and bringing his face closer to hers, every word dripping with restrained fury, "I've tried to be lenient, all for the sake of your mother's good nature. But you? You're pushing your luck."
He let go of her ankle and instead pinned her wrists to the floor, his piercing gaze searching hers for any sign of deceit, "So, tell me, Silvia... what little game were you planning to play with me?"
Feeling cornered, Silvia decided to take a desperate measure. A low hiss emanated from her throat as her fangs slowly emerged, glinting dangerously. Her bright red eyes glowed with a illusory glow, trying to sabotage his mind.
She tried to lunge, hoping to bite him while disorienting him, though she was shocked to realize how ridiculously strong his grip was while not succumbing to her illusory powers. But she did notice a faint glow of his skull behind his skin for a brief moment, wondering if it had anything to do with him being immune to her charms.
Still, not too long, he was weak enough to die from just a single kick from her. Did he really absorb that Deviar within the blink of an eye?
But Asher only seemed to get pissed. With a swift move, he pulled up both of her wrists, slamming them onto the floor with such force that a muffled cry escaped from Silvia's lips.
Her face contorted in pain, but when she met his eyes, they were filled with a mix of fear and pleading. Those round, bright red eyes of hers turned watery, resembling a helpless puppy.
"Don't," Asher's voice dripped with a mocking tone, "even bother playing the damsel. You won't be the first to try such tricks on me. And next time you try to do that, I might feel tempted to gouge your eyes out."
Silvia, realizing her innocent act wasn't going to work, puffed up her cheeks in frustration, letting out a small "hmph" and added," You can't do such an ugly thing to this cute lady."
"I am not playing here!" But the pressure on her wrists intensified suddenly, drawing another pained grimace from her.
"Ow! Silvia will answer you!" she protested, her voice filled with a mix of pain and desperation.
Asher's hold loosened slightly, but his piercing gaze was still locked onto Silvia, waiting for her to speak.
Taking a deep breath to gather her thoughts and nerves, Silvia began with evident trepidation, "T-This... young lady was planning to extract the Deviar from you and use it as a bargaining chip against Sabina before she tries to kill Silvia."
Asher's brow furrowed, his expression a mix of surprise and intrigue, "Sabina? Why in the seven hells would she want you dead?" As far as he knew, Sabina enjoyed having Silvia under her palm.
Silvia hesitated, her lips quivering. She finally murmured with a piqued expression, "She has been bullying this young lady for a long time, and Silvia couldn't find a better time to get back at her," Her expression fell as she continued with a sad and frustrated look, "But Silvia's plan backfired, and now Sabina is coming after her," The fear in her eyes was palpable, making it clear that Sabina's wrath was not something she could easily escape.
