Coming back to the current moment,
Aether instantly rejected Raven’s offer, shaking his head.
“C-Come on… husband… drink… You will like it… it… it’s really tasty, you know~” Raven slurred, her voice dripping with drunken sweetness.
She swayed unsteadily, her legs wobbling as she tried to keep her balance while holding a glass of red alcohol. Her hazy, half-lidded eyes slowly drifted downward, settling on the crotch.
A mischievous, seductive smirk stretched across her flushed lips as she purred, “Mmm~ but of course, that’s the best one~” Her sultry giggle melted into a needy moan as she leaned into him, her free hand trailing down to his crotch, teasingly pressing against it while her body trembled with drunken heat.
“Raven… calm down,” Aether said firmly, catching her just in time before she lost her footing. He took the glass from her unsteady hand, frowning as he examined the drink—it was a red color, cheap and potent, something that could knock out a lightweight in a single sip.
“I am calm!” Raven protested, pouting like a spoiled brat before breaking into a dopey smile. She inhaled deeply, her hot breath brushing against his neck as she buried her nose against his collarbone,
“Mmm~ you smell so good~ sniff, sniff… Ohhh~” she moaned as if intoxicated by his scent, rubbing her thighs together as warmth spread through her lower belly. “So good… makes me all tingly~” Her fingers lazily traced his chest, slipping lower with each stroke.
Aether let out a weak chuckle, glancing at the others in the hall, who were too busy in conversation to notice Raven clinging to him like a desperate kitten in heat. He sighed and tried to call for help, “Come on, guys, help me—”
“Hey! I am talking to you!” Raven suddenly grabbed his chin, forcefully turning his face toward her.
She blinked slowly, her drunken gaze locked onto his, “I said… I said… hic I am talking to you! You! You got it?” she whined, pressing her body closer until her soft, heavy breasts squished against his chest.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, trapping him in her intoxicating embrace. “Mmm… My husband is sooo handsome and sooo cute~” She playfully pinched his cheek, giggling at the way his lips pursed slightly. “I love you sooo much~ you belong to me~” She shook his head from side to side, her voice turning breathy and needy.
Aether exhaled sharply, his face turning slightly red… The way she treated him… was really embarrassing!!
Her body was hot against him.
Raven smirked lazily, noticing his flustered reaction. “Oooh~? Is my shy husband blushing? How adorable~” she purred, her lips pressing against his forehead in a teasing kiss. “Such a cute face… I just wanna eat you up~” she murmured before playfully nipping at his nose. But then, as her drunken body pressed harder against him, she felt something firm twitch beneath her thighs.
Her half-lidded eyes widened before a wicked grin curled her lips.
“Oh my, what’s this?” she cooed, her fingers ghosting over his pants. “Not so innocent, are we? Hmm? This…” she squeezed him gently, “is not cute at all”
Her heated laughter was laced with mischief as she rolled her hips against him, her plump, ass grinding deliciously against his thigh, “Mmm~ so hard already… my husband is such a bad boy~ getting all worked up from just a little touch~” she purred, licking her lips.
Aether clenched his jaw, deciding to put an end to this before it got too out of control. Dragons didn’t care much for shame, but there were plenty of others here who would definitely find this embarrassing.
Without warning, he gave Raven’s soft, round ass a firm pinch.
“Ouch~! Bad boy~” she moaned, shivering under his touch. Her bottom lip jutted out in a cute little pout, but there was clear arousal swimming in her hazy eyes. It was almost comical—Raven, usually composed and mysterious, was now a squirming, drunken mess of lust.
Hearing her husband’s call, Aria finally stepped in. “Alright, alright… that’s enough. He is busy,” she said, prying Raven away from him.
“Hmph, he wasn’t drinking at all! Bad boy~ I’ll punish you! Let me go! I need to punish my husband!” Raven whined, wiggling in Aria’s grip, though there was no real strength behind her struggles.
Aria only sighed, amused. If Raven got this bad after a little alcohol, she dreaded to think how she herself would behave if she drank too much.
She better keep herself in check.
She could not lose herself before Aether!!!
Aether sighed, just about to focus on connecting with his clone to get details about Kai’s escape when—
“I cannot believe she got drunk just like that… anyway…” Thalia sauntered up, her hips swaying slightly as she held out a glass, “Here. Drink this.”
Aether blinked, eyeing the glass warily. “I said I am not drink—”
“This isn’t alcohol, you pussy ass. It’s just fruit juice.” Thalia rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue in disappointment, “Unbelievable… you really can’t even handle a little alcohol, can you?”
Aether’s lips twitched, “What did you just say now?”
“Nothing at all.” Thalia shrugged innocently, her expression completely unreadable as she extended the drink toward him once more.
Aether took the glass, his gaze flickering toward the liquid. It was dark—almost black…. she too holding the same one too.
He was just about to bring it to his lips when a sharp thought slashed through his mind.
‘She is not the one to do this kind of thing!’ Aether thought as if something alerted him, he knew Thalai, and there was no way she would do this kind of thing.
Sure, she would worry about him, but she would never show it directly like this… giving him a juice? Just like that?
That’s not her!
She would rather use others than show her true emotions!!
Aether frowned slightly, keeping his movements smooth as he subtly glanced at Thalia from the corner of his eye. She was watching him closely, her gaze too focused, her expression just a little too expectant.
‘Yeah. She’s up to no good.’
Letting out a quiet sigh, Aether lowered the glass slightly, pretending to hesitate.
Thalia’s face changed in an instant, her confident smirk slipping ever so slightly into something more concerned. “W-What? Don’t you like it?”
Aether let a small, knowing smile curl his lips. “Well… we haven’t had a toast yet.”
“Oh? Oh…” Thalia let out a relieved laugh before quickly nodding, eager to cover up the momentary slip. She raised her hand, ready to clink glasses when—
“Raven fell down.” Aether’s voice suddenly sharpened, laced with just the right amount of shock.
Thalia blinked as she instinctively turned her head to check—only to see Raven lying on the table, motionless.
‘She fell on the tab–‘
Step!
A chill ran down Thalia’s spine. She frowned slightly, feeling something was off. Immediately, she spun back around—
Aether was still holding his drink, unmoved. Nothing had changed. And yet… something felt different.
“She’s fine,” Aether said smoothly, his voice carrying an easy amusement. “Anyway, let’s drink.” He tilted his glass slightly toward her, his gaze sharp, his smirk teasing.
Clang…
Their glasses met, the crisp sound ringing through the air.
But neither of them took the first sip.
“What’s wrong?” Aether’s voice was light and curious, “You’re not drinking?”
Thalia swallowed, suddenly aware of how dry her throat felt. “W-Well, you see…” She trailed off, struggling for a believable excuse. Something had shifted in the air, and she couldn’t quite place what. But looking at the lazy smirk playing on Aether’s lips, she knew—he had done something.
“I see?” Aether murmured, tilting his head ever so slightly, his gaze narrowing in amusement.
Thalia clenched her jaw. She needed to turn this around.
Quickly!
“Well… I think I’ve had enough for tonight,” she said with a forced chuckle, lifting her hand as if to wave it off. “So, you go ahead—”
Aether chuckled, his voice deep and full of amusement, “If that’s the case…” He set his glass down with a soft clink, his smirk widening. “Then I guess I don’t feel like drinking either.”
Thalia’s heart skipped a beat.
“W-Wait… You cannot be serious,” she blurted out, her tone betraying a hint of panic.
“I’m dead serious.”
Thalia clenched her fists, her nails pressing against her palm. This wasn’t going the way she had planned.
Not at all.
Thalia’s eyes darted between the two glasses, her mind racing. She had been so sure of her setup, so certain that she had led him into the perfect trap. But now… now she wasn’t sure anymore.
Which one was real?
Her fingers twitched slightly as she tried to retrace her own steps. She had planned everything— She was supposed to be in control. And yet… something was wrong.
Had he switched them back?
Or had she miscalculated?
Her throat felt tight as she stared at Aether’s smirk, watching him swirl the liquid in his glass as if he already knew everything.
“Thalia?”
“Fine,” Thalia huffed, pretending to give in. “But let’s drink together, then.”
Aether raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised, “Alright,” he said with a slow smirk. “Ladies first.”
Thalia gritted her teeth. She hesitated for only a moment before lifting the glass to her lips and taking a small sip, letting the liquid roll over her tongue.
Nothing. No burn, no strange taste… Just as expected.
“Hmm… now you.” She said with a smirk.
Aether nodded but didn’t drink… just waited… waited… until,
Thalia’s vision blurred.
A strange warmth spread through her body as a flush crawled up her neck to her cheeks. Her fingers trembled slightly as her head spun. “Oh… s-shhitt~” she slurred, her voice suddenly dripping with intoxication.
Aether grinned. “Haha… you’re far too young to deceive me, naughty girl~” His tone was full of victorious amusement as he took a sip himself, savoring the taste before gulping down more.
“Hmm… not bad,” he mused, swirling the drink in his glass and gulping even more… He was just about to encourage her, “Come on drink yo–“
“Hicc—!” A sudden hiccup escaped him.
His cheeks flushed red, and a haze settled over his sharp gaze.
Thalia, who had been wobbling just moments ago, suddenly straightened.
A slow, devious grin spread across her lips.
“I forgot to mention…” she purred, her voice thick with satisfaction. “I have an extremely high tolerance for alcohol.”
Aether’s hazy eyes widened slightly.
Thalia giggled, watching the realization dawn on his face.
He had been too careful. Too suspicious. And because of that, he had walked right into the very trick he thought he was avoiding.
She had counted on his paranoia, played into it. He had spent so much time making sure she was the one being tested, making sure he had the upper hand, that he never even considered—
The real trap was meant for him all along.
After all, Thalai too was learning Aether!!
‘Pitiful man fell into my trap~’ Thalia thought smugly.
Her hands slid through her thick, luscious hair, untangling it from its bindings, letting it cascade over her shoulders in wild waves. She shook her head slightly, releasing her scent into the air—a soft, intoxicating mix of wildflowers and something unmistakably feminine.
It was the kind of scent that lingered, that made men lean in just a little closer, wanting more.
Thalia grinned as she stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate, savoring the moment. Her fingers reached up, grasping the tie of her dress, loosening it with an almost lazy ease…. her deep cleavage was revealed~
A slow, sultry smile curved her lips as she ran a teasing finger down her collarbone, her gaze locked onto his. “Aether~” she purred.
She bent slightly, revealing the gentle curve of her breasts. Her body radiated warmth, a soft flush covering her cheeks, making her look like a tempting, irresistible dream.
Her breath was warm as she leaned in close, her lips just inches from his ear, “A~e~t~h~e~r~”
but then—
“He… Hehehe~”
A chilling, uncanny laugh shattered the intoxicating moment.
Thalia froze. A shiver crawled down her spine, her entire body tensed as something in the atmosphere shifted.
The heat of seduction drained from her face, her sultry confidence vanishing in an instant.
Her breath hitched. Her once-smug, teasing smirk faltered, her lips parting slightly in shock.
She had just realized—
She had just unsealed a demon!!