[Ardiente Beast Mansion, Genos Realm]
A sharp knock shattered the silence.
She didn't move but the massive twin doors snapped open anyway.
Asha clenched her fist tightly, feeling angry, helpless and ridiculous for the lack of freedom in her life. She doesn't even have a say about her privacy in her own room!
How is she different from a pig held in a co-op waiting to be butchered after being fattened? Why is her life so painfully heavy?
"I said I'm not eating! Get out!" she snapped, flinging a pillow across the room like a blade.
However, the man at the door caught it with ease and there was clear amusement flickering in his tidal blue embers.
It was then that a flicker of astonishment passed her wide open emerald eyes. The other person was not the butler. Not the usual servant who delivers her food and necessities.
This one was tall. Lean. And her gut tells her the air surrounding the seemingly harmless guy like an ordinary human male, but there was no such thing as human in Genos.
This man was undoubtedly stifling and dangerous.
Golden hair spilled past his shoulders in an untamed cascade. Seeing her stomped, his gleaming sapphire eyes blazed with wicked delight. And that smirk—gods, that smirk was carved straight from the devil's playbook.
"You're prettier than I expected," he purred, causing the woman to snap back to reality.
Asha's eyes narrowed and shot back sharply, "You're not a servant. Who the hell are you?"
"Servant?" The man echoed with a slight surprised.
It was the first time someone had put him and a mere servant in one breath. Somehow he felt rather intrigued.
In return, the man responded with a grin and offered a theatrical bow as if jesting.
"Oh pardon me, the name's Creus. One of your future husbands."
Husbands.
The word hit her like acid. Her stomach clenched in revulsion. So this guy was one of those freaks who badly wanted to get on her pants and pry open her legs to sully her will.
"I'd rather die!"
Creus chuckled, the sound low and indulgent.
"Maybe you will. Or maybe…" He took a single step forward, gaze darkening as it raked down her body as though he was undressing her from the thin silky nightwear that didn't provide much cover by merely looking.
"You'll like it and even crave for it after having a taste."
The man said meaningfully and winked making Asha's skin crawl with goosebumps. Her fists curled at her sides and hugged herself cautiously.
"C-Come any closer, and I'll carve out your eyes! I swear!"
Creus raised his hands in mock surrender, utterly unfazed.
"My, so feisty! Careful, princess. That fire's gonna make me very excited." the man said and shamelessly licked his wet lips.
On the same note, her lip curled but in sheer disgust.
"Pervert!" Asha bellowed hatefully without hesitation.
"Stop flattering yourself. You're disgusting. Get out of my room now before I call the guards to drag you away from my sight!"
But the words barely left her mouth before her vision spun. In a blink, he was gone from her front—and appeared behind her.
Hot breath danced against her neck.
She whirled, hand swinging—but he caught it, easily.
Asha froze.
Not from fear—but from a sudden, searing rush of rage and the icy grip of recognition. Her breath hitched.
Golden fur shimmered at his ears, and behind him, six radiant fox tails unfurled like strokes of divine artistry—too beautiful, too dangerous. They swayed with an elegance that spoke of ancient power and cunning seduction.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she stared, spellbound. The mischief once dancing in his eyes had vanished, replaced by something razor-sharp and smoldering.
Filled with predatory heat.
His gaze locked onto hers like a flame devouring dry paper, pulling her into the gravity of his presence.
She nearly leaned forward.
"Ah!" The gasp tore from her lips as reality hit her like a slap. 'Asha Hale, have you lost your mind?!'
She recoiled, yanking her hand back—only now realizing it had been reaching for his face, bewitched by the magnetic pull of him. Flustered, she bit down hard on her lip, desperate to break the trance, to shake herself free of his illusion.
This wasn't just any man.
Creus was a six-tailed fox enigma.
A gumiho!
A creature of myth and seduction, known for stealing hearts... and souls.
And worst of all—she had almost let herself fall for his tricks.
"Let go," she hissed. "Don't touch me. We're not mates!"
But his hand moved anyway—light and deliberate—fingertips tracing down her cheek, brushing her collarbone, then stopping just above her well-endowed peaks.
"Oh, you mean that? Don't worry, princess. It surely won't take long before we become one. When that happens, this husband will let you enjoy the taste of heaven through my hot body," he widely grinned.
And then just as he was about wander his needy hands and have a better feel on their softness— the man flinched and let out a sharp hiss of pain. His hand recoiled like he'd touched fire. And his entire demeanor shifted as if threatened by something unseen yet viciously intimidating.
"Shit!" He muttered as though realizing something dark and ominous looming over him.
Feeling a dire stench of danger, Creus shuddered and took a step back.
Gone was the flirtation. In its place, were fury and caution instilled by his primal instinct as a beast like being alerted whenever stepping into an apex predator's territory. He could vaguely sense a trace of a powerful yet unfamiliar Enigma behind that incomplete beast mark.
At least far more powerful than him and the other Archon candidates put together that is. But how could it happen while involving the spirit beast maiden under a close watch—and his fucking female no less?!
'Just which crazy bastard is power tripping me? Fuck it! Could it be my brothers who are competing against me with resources and were jealous for having only a normal hybrids as brides?'
Creus clenched his sharp jaws and suddenly leaked out a thick bloodlust.
He'd rather kill than to gave out what's duly his. Especially so when it comes to the mate that Creus has set his eyes on.
No matter what, to him, whether she becomes cripple, half-dead or half-witted, she was his and there will be no take backs. Not now, not in the future!
"Asha Hale," he growled, low and lethal. "What the hell have you done?" He gripped her shoulder, pressure sharp and unyielding.
The man had seemed to forgo all of his past courtesy if he was even.
"Ow! Hey, it hurts! Let me go—what's your problem?!"
"What's my problem? There's a beast mark on your body! That's my fucking problem, woman!"