---
I wanted to sleep.
Not war.
Not temptation.
And definitely not five demon brides whispering sweet nothings that sounded a lot like future regret.
The bed was too soft. That was the first red flag.
The second?
Lilith, the Demon Queen herself, lounging near the window in what I can only describe as war lingerie. Red silk, thigh straps, and an expression that promised either a kiss… or my funeral.
I cleared my throat. "Shouldn't you be in your own chambers?"
She arched an eyebrow. "This entire palace is mine, husband."
Right. Husband.
Still getting used to that one.
I turned to lie down, only to find Vera already curled up in the center of the bed—snoring lightly, one leg sprawled like a conquering lioness marking her territory.
"Don't mind me," she mumbled without opening her eyes. "Just making sure you don't die in your sleep. Or get soft."
"Comforting."
Then came Syla.
She yawned as she floated in, wearing a sleep shirt barely worthy of the name. It hung off one shoulder and had the words 'Kiss Me or Feed Me—Either Works.'
I didn't ask which one she meant.
"Mm… you smell like mana," she purred, crawling up beside me like a lazy cat in heat. "Warm. Tingly. Can I lick you?"
"I'd rather you didn't."
She did anyway.
"Don't waste it," she whispered, licking her lips. "I'm starving."
Before I could answer, Neve appeared—silent as frost on glass. She simply stood at the door, watching. Her pale blue eyes locked onto mine. Unblinking. Judging.
I waved awkwardly. "Evening?"
She didn't reply. Instead, she walked forward, placed her cold hand gently on my chest... and instantly froze my entire left nipple.
"...Ow."
"Noisy," she muttered, pulling the covers up over both of us. "Be still. You're warm."
Great. I was now an emotional support human. A hot-water bottle with commitment issues.
Iria, the last to arrive, didn't walk. She glided. Gracefully. Holding a tray with tea and… something that smelled suspiciously like blood pudding.
"You haven't had your nightly vitamins," she whispered sweetly, eyes wide and smiling like I was a beautiful corpse she couldn't wait to dissect.
"I'm good," I muttered. "Really. Full of… iron."
She leaned in close. "Let me in your head… I'll clean the cobwebs. And the screams."
I wanted to run. But where would I go? I was surrounded. Outnumbered. Heavily outclassed in seduction and psychological warfare.
And still—still—I couldn't help but notice…
They weren't just trying to seduce me.
They were starving. Lonely. Cursed.
Each one touched me like they needed something only I could give.
Each one looked at me like I was salvation wrapped in man-flesh and stupid ideas.
I laid back down slowly.
Lilith turned away, pretending not to watch.
Vera muttered something about my "spine still needing work."
Syla was already asleep on my arm.
Neve… kept freezing my toes.
And Iria? She just sat at the edge of the bed, humming a lullaby that made my blood itch.
This wasn't a bed anymore.
It was a ticking time bomb with lip gloss.
And for the first time…
I wasn't sure if I wanted to defuse it.
---
I didn't sleep. Not really.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them. Heard their voices. Felt Vera's heat on my skin, Syla's laugh in my ears, Neve's cold judgment in my bones.
And beneath it all… that damned system pulsing like it was synced to my nerves.
Still there. Still watching.
> 📜 [SYSTEM UPDATE: Emotional Resistance stat has risen. Libido Defense... still critically low.]
"Gee, thanks," I muttered.
I rolled over—half-buried under velvet sheets and emotional trauma.
But despite the chaos, a weird part of me—the crazy, reckless part—was curious.
What did they want from me?
Why had I been brought here?
And why the hell did the bed feel lonelier after they left?
I reached toward the bedside table. No lamp. Just a glowing, floating crystal humming with soft light. Like the world refused to give me darkness.
I pulled the pillow over my face and groaned.
This place wasn't heaven.
It was temptation.
Wrapped in silk.
Wearing seductive smiles.
Calling me husband like it meant something.
And I hated that part of me—the darkest part—was starting to like it.
Even crave it.
Not just them.
But the power awakening inside me.