The morning sun was warm against my face, but that wasn't what woke me.
What woke me was the heat of Yelena's body pressed firmly against mine.
I opened my eyes to find her sprawled across me, her silver hair tickling my chest, her golden eyes glowing with an almost mischievous fire.
"Good morning, Master," she purred.
Before I could answer, her lips descended on mine.
It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was consuming, dominating, filled with hunger. Her mouth pressed hard against mine, her tongue slipping past my lips, her arms wrapping around my head to lock me in place.
I gasped, struggling, but she only pressed closer.
Her hips shifted, her plump backside grinding deliberately against my crotch. I stiffened beneath her, heat rushing through me as she wiggled and pressed, her tail flicking happily.
I tried to push her away, but she only moaned into the kiss, biting my lip lightly before pulling back, panting, her smile radiant and dangerous.
"I'm not satisfied with just being your servant," she whispered. "I want to be your mate."
The word sent a shiver down my spine.
"Yelena, that's—"
She cut me off with another kiss, even fiercer than before. My words melted in my throat as her lips crushed mine, her claws sliding down my arms, guiding my hand upward until it pressed against the swell of her chest.
Her breast filled my palm, warm and soft, her nipple stiff against my fingers. She moaned, her body trembling as she pressed my hand harder against her.
"No isn't an answer," she breathed against my lips. "Not when I can make you feel like this."
I stared up at her, stunned. She was wild, relentless, overwhelming.
And yet… my heart was hammering in my chest. My body betrayed me again, my hand squeezing her breast, my hips twitching against her backside.
"Well," I muttered weakly, "at least you're cute… and sexy."
Her tail wagged like mad, her grin triumphant. She leaned down, nipping at my ear. "Then you'll learn to accept it. I'll make you."
Later, as we walked into the guild, I finally put my foot down.
"Yelena," I said firmly. "What you're doing is too much. You can't just overwhelm me like that and expect me to roll over. I'm your master. You have to respect me."
Her ears twitched, her tail slowing. For a moment, I worried I'd actually hurt her feelings. But then she smiled softly, tilting her head.
"If respect is what makes you happy, then I'll respect you," she said. "All I want… is to make you happy."
I sighed. "You really are something else."
She leaned into my side, golden eyes gleaming. "And I always will be."
At the guild, Marian handed me a sealed scroll. "There's a new request, Max. A purification mission. The forest east of here is being corrupted. Dark knights have been spotted—mercenaries under a cursed banner. Someone needs to drive them out."
I accepted it without hesitation. Yelena purred beside me, clearly eager for a fight.
The forest was a place of beauty once, its trees lush and glowing faintly with natural mana. But as we entered, I could feel the corruption gnawing at its heart. Leaves withered, flowers drooped, the air heavy with decay.
And then we found her.
At the base of a dying tree, a figure slumped weakly, her body frail, her skin pale green with cracks spreading like veins across her arms and cheeks. Her hair was a cascade of withering vines, her dress woven from petals now shriveled and brittle.
A Dryad.
Her eyes lifted weakly when she saw me, wide and trembling with fear.
"P-please… help me," she whispered, her voice fragile as wind through dead leaves. "The dark knights… they're killing my forest. I don't want to die…"
She tried to rise, but collapsed, her hands clutching the earth as though trying to keep herself rooted.
I rushed forward, kneeling at her side. "Easy. Don't strain yourself. I'll help you."
Her small hand clutched mine desperately, her skin cool, almost brittle to the touch. "You… you will?"
Her eyes were wide, brimming with a desperate hope.
Behind me, I heard a low growl.
Yelena stood rigid, her ears pinned back, her tail lashing slowly from side to side. Her golden eyes glared daggers at the Dryad, sharp and possessive, as if the mere sight of another girl clutching me was an unforgivable sin.
I tightened my grip on the Dryad's hand anyway. "Yes. I promise. I'll protect you."
The Dryad gasped softly, relief washing over her face like sunlight breaking through clouds.
And behind me, I felt Yelena's fury rising, silent and dangerous, her claws flexing as she whispered under her breath—
"Mine…"