Serena's voice was soft, inquisitive. "Yarrow, did you find the book? What's wrong?"
Yarrow approached, his expression blank, eyes dark with something unspoken. "Serena, check if I have a stye."
She blinked, caught off guard as he leaned in, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. "Wha—what? Why suddenly this?" She tilted her head away, but her body remained locked in place, unable to ignore the proximity.
"I saw something... unclean. My eyes..." He groaned theatrically, covering his face as though in agony. "I think I'm going blind."
Serena narrowed her eyes, suspicion blooming. "You didn't go rummaging through those nameless books, did you?" She sighed, her exasperation laced with amusement. "Some say the black magic cults slip forbidden books into the library, blending them among the texts, hoping the devout will stumble upon their perverse temptations."
"Are black magic cults so twisted these days? Writing fanfiction about demons and priests..." Yarrow shook his head as if to rid himself of the images. "There were illustrations, Serena. Just one look, and I felt my brain was being—violated."
She smirked, reaching out to brush a finger along his jawline, tilting his face up toward her. "Poor thing. Shall I purify you?" Her tone was teasing, but there was something deeper in her gaze, something that made heat coil low in Yarrow's stomach.
He swallowed hard. "Just take the damn book." He thrust the magic textbook at her, hoping to regain some control over himself.
Serena chuckled, taking it, her fingers grazing his in a deliberate linger. "You're adorable when you're flustered."
He turned away abruptly, his mind a riot of unwanted thoughts as they descended to the main hall.
There, Zen was already the center of attention. Her silver hair shimmered under the chandelier's glow, her long lashes casting shadows over her sharp cheekbones as she lounged on the sofa, engrossed in a book. Her presence was magnetic—predatory.
"Zen, let's go," Yarrow called.
No response. Her delicate fingers turned another page.
"Zen?"
At last, she looked up, her golden eyes locking onto him with lazy intensity. She closed the book slowly, deliberately, before standing. In one smooth motion, she handed it to him.
"This king wants this."
He took it, glancing at the title. The Rise of the Divine Dragon Hero. A novel.
Yarrow raised an eyebrow. "A novel? Didn't take you for a fan of human fantasies."
Her lips curled in a smirk, arms crossing under her full chest, emphasizing the generous curve of her figure. "This king is merely curious. Is there a problem?"
"Not at all." His voice was smoother than he intended, the heat from earlier lingering.
After purchasing their books, they made their way toward the market. Zen, engrossed in her novel, walked beside them, her presence demanding attention without effort. Yarrow found himself stealing glances at her—the way her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, the way her lips parted ever so slightly as she read.
Then, she suddenly stopped.
He nearly bumped into her before noticing the way she was staring at a roadside stall. Her nostrils flared slightly, her pupils dilating.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
She reached out, fingers curling around the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. The movement was sudden, rough, filled with unspoken authority. Yarrow inhaled sharply, feeling her breath against his ear.
"This king wants that." She pointed to a small stall selling freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
He exhaled, forcing himself to focus. "Didn't we agree on cake?"
"I want both," she said simply, her voice sultry, lips forming the words with slow precision. "Is there a problem, human?"
Yarrow ran a hand through his hair, chuckling under his breath. "No, no problem at all."
The line was long, stretching down the street. Before he could warn her, Zen took a step forward, intending to bypass the queue entirely.
He caught her wrist, fingers tightening around her pulse. "We have to queue, Zen. Human rules."
She pouted, eyes darkening. "Hmph. This king does not abide by human rules."
"You promised to be discreet, remember?" He leaned in, his voice low, intimate. "Unless you want everyone to know exactly what you are."
Her golden eyes flickered, searching his face. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she fell back into line, arms crossed beneath her chest. She tapped her foot impatiently, lips pursed. The image of defiance itself.
"You could read your novel while waiting," Yarrow suggested, amused.
"This king does not do two things at once," she sniffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
He huffed a laugh. Gods, she's impossible.
The young man in front of them turned, paling as his gaze landed on Zen's icy glare. He visibly shivered, stumbling over his words. "Uh, you—you can go ahead."
Before Yarrow could protest, Zen smoothly stepped forward. "Good."
Yarrow sighed, sending an apologetic glance to the terrified stranger before following her. As they reached the stall, the rich scent of melted chocolate and fresh dough filled the air. The vendor barely had time to greet them before Zen leaned in, voice velvet-soft.
"I want the warmest ones," she murmured, her fingers brushing against the counter.
The vendor gulped, nodding quickly. "O-of course."
Yarrow smirked. The dragon queen always gets what she wants.
The vendor grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Ten daka will fill a whole paper bag with any selection you like."
Zen wasted no time. "This one, this one, and this one." Her slender finger pointed with sharp precision.
The vendor chuckled, enchanted by her enthusiasm. "Come, Dragonborn miss, I'm delighted you enjoy my cookies. Here, I'll give you an extra half a bag, on the house."
Without hesitation, he filled another half-bag and handed both to her.
Zen accepted it with a regal nod. "You are very sensible, human. Since that's the case, this king will kindly accept your tribute."
Yarrow groaned. "Hey, this is when you say thank you!"
But Zen was already nibbling on a cookie, her expression one of utter satisfaction, completely ignoring him. Yarrow sighed. Forget it, getting her to be polite is still too difficult.
He turned to Serena, an idea forming. "Do you want to try one?"
"Me?" Serena blinked, her gaze dropping to the exquisitely baked cookies. She hesitated, then relented, picking one up gingerly. The warmth of it seeped into her fingertips as she took a delicate bite.
Her cheeks flushed as her lips parted in delight. "Sweet and crispy—so delicious."
Yarrow's eyes gleamed. "Really? Can I have a piece?"
Serena hesitated for only a second before nodding and offering him the bag.
But Yarrow tilted his head, smirking. "My hands are full," he said, lifting the books and clothes he carried. "Can you feed me?"
Serena froze. "Eh?"
Yarrow leaned in slightly, mouth open, waiting. "Just one bite. Trouble yourself to help me, Serena."
Her fingers trembled as she picked up a cookie with dried fruit on top and slowly brought it to his lips. The moment he took it, his lips brushed against her fingertips, the warmth of his mouth sending a jolt through her.
"Ah!" Serena gasped, pulling her hand back as if burned.
Yarrow chewed, swallowing with a satisfied hum. "Oops. Sorry, I accidentally bit you."
Serena looked away, her voice soft. "Really... be careful next time."
[Heartbeat Challenge Completed! Feeding Play with Serena! Heartbeat Token Reward X20!]
Yarrow grinned as he walked ahead, oblivious to the way Serena stared at her fingers, feeling the lingering warmth of his lips. Slowly, as if entranced, she picked up another cookie, brought it to her mouth, and let her own fingers slip past her lips.
Her brows lowered, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks. What is this feeling...
... hello readers get your hands on more chapters on my patreon, Seasay.go check it out.