Chapter 908 – For Yourself

Meanwhile, near the pillar, Ariel stood.

She had already come out of the restroom a while ago.

Long enough that she probably should’ve walked back already.

Long enough that someone else normally would’ve dragged her into the chaos by now.

But she stayed there.

Frozen.

Watching.

The mansion lights painted the lounge in warm gold and crimson shadows while music drifted softly through the room. The girls laughed. Pillows flew occasionally. Mira was currently half sprawled across Lux while trying to seduce him and failing because somehow Lux kept turning every interaction back around on them.

And Lux looked good.

Too good.

Ariel hated that part.

The confidence.

The laugh.

The way he lounged there shirtless and ruined while still somehow looking like he could negotiate a kingdom collapse between kisses.

The way women naturally gathered around him.

The way he looked at them.

Not just lust.

Attention.

Care.

Interest.

Lux noticed people.

That was what made him dangerous.

Ariel hugged her own arms slowly.

Her chest felt tight.

Because she wanted to go there.

Wanted to join them.

Wanted to climb into his lap and kiss him and feel him touch her the way he touched the others.

Wanted to hear him say her name like she mattered too.

But every time she almost stepped forward...

Something inside her stopped.

Fear.

Not of him.

Of herself.

Because Ariel knew what she looked like from the outside lately.

Smiling more.

Laughing again.

Healing.

But inside?

Inside still felt messy.

Broken glass taped together pretending to be whole.

And Lux...

Lux deserved better than someone constantly trying not to drown.

Her gaze drifted toward him again.

Mira was currently whispering something filthy into his ear while Lux laughed low under his breath, one hand lazily resting on her thigh.

Even his hands looked attractive.

That should not be possible.

A voice suddenly came beside her.

"Why are you still here?"

Ariel startled slightly and turned.

A tall woman stood nearby holding a wine glass casually.

Elegant.

Dangerous.

Beautiful in the calm terrifying way ancient predators tended to be.

Silver-white hair.

Sharp eyes.

Aura heavy enough that the air itself seemed to move around her differently.

"You’re a mermaid, right?"

Ariel blinked. "Yes."

Yue hummed softly.

"I thought mermaids were hornier than usual creatures."

Ariel nearly choked immediately.

"W-what?!"

The dragon looked genuinely thoughtful.

"They had breeding periods before, didn’t they?" Yue sipped her wine casually. "Ancient records mention it."

Ariel’s face exploded with heat.

"Th-that exists?!"

"I guess... Not anymore." Yue waved one hand lazily. "At least not strongly. Ancient bloodlines diluted over time."

Then she tilted her head slightly.

"Back then mermaids occasionally kidnapped men from other races too."

Ariel stared at her in horror.

"They what?!"

"Siren songs." Yue looked amused now. "Sirens were mostly servants of mermaids at the time. They lured men into the oceans."

Ariel’s entire soul left her body.

"What kind of insane history lesson is this—"

Yue actually laughed quietly.

"Relax. Ancient races were all unhinged."

"That’s not comforting!"

"It should be."

Ariel covered her burning face briefly.

Why did every conversation in this mansion feel like an attack?

Yue looked back toward Lux again.

"But," the dragon said calmly, "you still want him, right?"

Silence.

Ariel’s hands slowly lowered.

And unfortunately, her eyes drifted back toward Lux automatically.

Toward the couch.

Toward the incubus currently smirking while Mira tried and failed to maintain control over the situation.

Even from here Ariel could feel him.

That infernal aura.

That warmth.

That magnetic pull.

And yes.

Yes she wanted him.

Very badly.

Ariel swallowed slowly.

"...Yes," she admitted quietly. "I want him."

The confession hurt more than expected.

Because saying it out loud made it real.

Yue watched her carefully.

"But?"

Ariel laughed weakly under her breath.

"But I know I’m too broken inside."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

And immediately the room felt quieter around her.

Yue didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t offer fake reassurance.

Just listened.

Ariel looked down at her own hands.

"I’m still healing," she admitted softly.

Images flashed through her head automatically.

Fear.

Pressure.

Loneliness.

The endless expectations crushing her from every direction for so long.

And Lux had helped.

But healing wasn’t magic.

You didn’t wake up fixed one morning.

Some days still hurt.

Some days still felt heavy.

Yue nodded slowly.

"I see."

Then Ariel looked toward Lux again.

And her chest tightened painfully.

Because he looked happy.

Relaxed.

Desired.

Wanted.

While she still felt like someone rebuilding herself piece by piece.

"But now..." Ariel whispered.

Yue waited quietly.

Ariel’s fingers tightened around her own arms slightly.

"...Now I wonder if maybe it’s because he doesn’t like me."

The words came out smaller than intended.

That sounded pathetic.

"And maybe..." Ariel laughed weakly. "Maybe I’m just a fling."

The dragon immediately shook her head.

"No."

Ariel blinked.

Yue looked completely certain.

"You are not."

The confidence in her voice made Ariel stare.

Yue sipped her wine calmly.

"Lux’s life is complicated."

That was putting it lightly.

"He carries too much responsibility," Yue continued softly. "Too many plans. Too many enemies. Too many people depending on him."

Then she smiled faintly.

"And it’s becoming more complicated because of me."

Ariel blinked again.

Wait.

That sounded weirdly self-aware.

Yue looked toward Fiera now.

The fox girl currently sat flushed beside Lux while the Greed sigil glowed faintly against her shoulder.

"Fiera," Yue murmured thoughtfully.

Ariel followed her gaze.

"What about her?"

Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"I can smell the same bloodline."

Ariel frowned slightly.

"Bloodline?"

"The ancient fox demi-humans." Yue swirled her wine slowly. "Her aura resembles theirs."

Something about the dragon’s voice shifted slightly.

Respectful.

Interested.

"Old blood," Yue murmured. "Very old."

Then Yue suddenly looked at Ariel directly.

"And you."

Ariel froze slightly.

"What about me?"

The dragon stared quietly for a few seconds.

Long enough to make Ariel nervous.

"You also have it."

Ariel blinked.

"What?"

Yue tilted her head slightly.

"Ancient blood."

Ariel stared blankly.

"That doesn’t make sense."

"It does."

The dragon’s gaze sharpened slightly now.

"But your aura is chaotic."

Ariel’s stomach tightened.

Yue stepped slightly closer.

"Too much pressure," she said calmly, "and you will destroy yourself."

The words hit hard.

Because some ugly hidden part of Ariel immediately realized...

She believed her.

Yue looked back toward Lux again.

"You aren’t ready."

Ariel’s chest ached.

"For him?"

Yue was quiet for a second.

Then answered honestly.

"No."

Her eyes flicked toward Ariel again.

"For yourself."