Chapter 188: A Monster Beneath My Ass

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: A Monster Beneath My Ass

The sudden realisation that something was stirring at the base of my spine made the plate jerk in my hands.

A few glossy seeds rolled across the porcelain.

Sera’s eyebrows rose.

"Are you alright?"

"I am. Just... nervous."

She smiled as the answer pleased her.

I kept my face neutral and spoke through my teeth to the only thing that might actually listen.

’You shitty system, what the fuck are you doing?’

[It’s not the system’s fault, Host.]

[Your succubus tail has developed independent response patterns.]

’Then tell it to shut the fuck up and stay inside.’

[Order received.]

[Passing instruction to Host’s secondary limb.]

[...]

[The tail refused.]

A slow, deliberate pressure moved lower along my spine, exactly as if something were testing the limits of the formal trousers.

’Shit.’

I locked every muscle from the waist down and forced the sensation still by sheer will.

The Hunger found the entire situation entertaining.

I did not.

Sera watched me with polite interest, clearly deciding the flinch was nerves rather than an emerging body part with opinions.

"You have a weird... response?"

"Reaction."

She smiled.

"So, Revien," Sera said, voice light, "would you be interested in demonstrating your skills to me in private?"

I kept the lower half of my body rigidly still and met her eyes.

"A private demonstration might cost."

"Oh, I don’t mind paying."

Her gaze dropped briefly, then returned.

"You’re handsome enough that the expense feels justified."

She gestured toward a quieter side table near the windows.

I followed because standing in the middle of the serving line with a semi-sentient tail trying to stretch felt like a faster way to die than anything the Empress might do.

We sat.

Sera pulled her chair closer than necessary until her knee rested against mine.

I set the plate down and finally noticed the obvious.

No phone.

Draven had taken it when the collar came off and never given it back.

I had no way to reach Gianna, no way to tell Jenna where I was, no way to signal anyone in Sector 7 that the evening had moved from "political risk" to "active containment threat."

’I really am doomed.’

"You seem to think a lot," Sera observed.

"It happens when someone is brought somewhere against their will."

"Draven forced you?"

"Something like that."

I ate one of the dark seeds.

Bitter first, then strangely clean.

The taste gave my brain something to do besides catalogue how far the tail had crept.

Sera’s hand settled on my thigh as if it belonged there.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, trying to keep her actions conversational.

"Anything, as long as you give me something back."

She smiled and let her palm slide higher until it rested directly over my crotch, fingers tracing the shape of my cock through the fabric with clinical patience.

The Hunger leaned into the contact immediately.

I hated it for that.

"Have you heard about mutation?"

"Mutation..."

Her fingers continued their slow assessment, deciding whether to grip or simply keep teasing.

"A little. Why?"

"Just curious. Do humans mutate?"

"They do."

She shifted her chair another fraction closer.

The scent of her perfume cut through the food smells.

"Sometimes a support or a Vanguard is exposed to concentrated monster output for too long. Cores clash. Most of the time the monster side wins and starts rewriting the host’s structure."

"Why do they win even after being defeated?"

"We have a part of energy. Their body is full of it."

"Oh."

"We have records. Not many. Most of those people are either put down or kept in facilities where they can’t spread whatever they became."

"Why keep them at all?"

Her hand finally closed around the place, firm enough to make my breath catch.

"Because even a failed mutation can still be useful if you only need the body present, not the person active."

"Useful... how?"

Our faces were close enough that I could see the exact shade of blue in her eyes.

She leaned in, lips parting, and the tail chose that exact moment to push harder against the base of my spine like it wanted a vote in the conversation.

Someone’s hands closed on my shoulders from behind.

"It’s time."

Giselle’s voice was flat and cold.

She shot Sera a look that could have frozen the entire serving table.

"Mom’s calling you."

Sera’s hand left my crotch with graceful reluctance.

She sat back, completely unruffled, and picked up her wine as if the last two minutes had been a pleasant academic chat.

"Lady Giselle. Always so punctual."

"Always so hands-on with supports," Giselle replied.

"Only with those who catch my eye."

I stood carefully, using the motion to force the tail back by pure stubbornness.

It resisted, then finally retreated a few centimetres with what felt like sulking.

My pulse was too fast.

The fragment under my ribs pulsed in sharp agreement with Giselle’s presence.

Sera rose as well, smoothing her dress.

"Tuesday is filling up quickly," she said to me, still pleasant.

"Try to leave a slot open. I dislike sharing research windows."

"I didn’t agree to you."

"You will."

Giselle’s fingers dug into my shoulder once, a clear move.

I moved.

As she steered me away from the table, I caught Shen across the room, both arms still claimed by the women who had dragged him off.

He mouthed good luck and looked like he meant the opposite.

Giselle spoke without looking at me, voice low enough for only us.

"She had her hand on you."

"I noticed."

"You let her."

"Draven’s condition."

"So you planned on sleeping with her?"

"I was busy trying not to take that step."

Giselle’s steps didn’t falter, but I felt the spike of attention as she turned on me.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why were you shaking at the table?"

"Maybe later."

"Now."

"If I explain now, in the middle of this floor, with your mother watching, we are both going to have a much worse night. Later."

She was silent for three strides.

"You’re shaking again."