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Chapter 42 - Mama~ Breaking Barriers

Her magic wrapped around mine like silk restraints, forcing my chaotic energy into stable patterns. The level of control was breathtaking—she was manipulating my power better than I could, even though it was coming from my own magical core.

Time to see how far I can push this.

I deliberately let my magic surge again, more aggressively this time, watching for her reaction. The green energy spiraled out of my control, crackling with raw power that should have been dangerous.

"Interesting," she murmured, her violet magic immediately containing my chaotic energy. But instead of the gentle guidance from before, her power wrapped around mine with unmistakable dominance. "You're testing me."

Shit. She noticed?

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, playing up the innocent confusion. "I didn't mean to—"

"Oh, but you did," she interrupted, stepping closer with predatory grace. Her magical control over my power tightened, and I felt my abilities respond to her will rather than mine. "You're trying very hard to impress mama, aren't you?"

The way she said 'mama'... that wasn't maternal. That was possessive.

"I just want to understand," I said, maintaining my naive tone while my heart started racing.

"Of course you do, sweetheart." She moved behind me again, but this time her hands settled on my shoulders with firm pressure that spoke of complete control. "But you're being naughty. Trying to use your little gifts to influence mama."

She felt that? My enhanced charm abilities working on her?

Her hands began to massage my shoulders, working out tension I didn't realize I had.

The touch was skilled, intimate, completely inappropriate for a magical lesson. "You have such interesting natural talents," she continued conversationally. "That enhanced appeal, that supernatural charm. Most people wouldn't even realize what you're doing."

She knows! She knows everything!

"But mama has been around for a very very very long time," she said, her fingers finding pressure points that made me involuntarily relax into her touch. "And mama notices everything."

Level 180 Ascendant. Of course she can read my abilities like an open book.

"I've been watching you, you know," she said, her voice taking on that indulgent tone mothers use with misbehaving children. "Ever since your awakening. Watching you discover your gifts. Watching you... experiment."

Watching me with Cassandra perhaps?

"You're a very quick learner," she continued, her touch becoming more purposeful, more possessive. "But you lack refinement. Technique. The kind of knowledge that only comes with proper guidance."

I tried to turn around, but her hands held me in place with effortless strength.

"Would you like mama to teach you?" she asked, as if reading my thoughts. "Show you how to properly use those lovely abilities of yours?"

She's offering to teach me. But I have the feeling I'm not going to like the curriculum.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"Good boy." Her hands moved from my shoulders to my arms, trailing down slowly in a way that made every nerve ending wake up. "But first, you need to understand something very important."

Here it comes.

She leaned close, her breath warm against my ear, her body pressing against my back. "In this room, mama is in charge. Completely. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I whispered, my voice coming out smaller than intended.

"Yes, what?" she prompted, her tone carrying the kind of authority that expected immediate obedience.

She wants me to say it.

"Yes, mama."

"Much better." I could hear the satisfaction in her voice. "Now, turn around and look at me."

I obeyed, and was struck by the complete transformation. Gone was the maternal warmth from breakfast. This was a predator who had been toying with her prey, and the hunt was over.

"You've been a very clever boy," she said, beginning to circle me slowly like she was examining a piece of art she was considering purchasing. "All those innocent questions, those vulnerable looks, that sweet confusion about your abilities. Quite the little actor, aren't you?"

She's been playing with me this entire time.

"But mama sees everything, darling," she continued, her violet eyes never leaving mine. "Including what happened in your sister's room last night."

My blood ran cold.

"Oh yes," she said, noting my reaction with obvious amusement. "The magical sex residues was quite... something. Hours of it, layered throughout the house. Very impressive for someone so inexperienced."

She knows about Cassandra. Everything.

"Tell me, "She said, stopping directly in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from her body, "did you enjoy your little lesson with your sister?"

I couldn't speak. Could barely breathe under the weight of her knowing gaze.

"Of course you did," she answered for me, reaching out to trace a finger along my jawline with deceptive gentleness. "But I'm afraid dear Cassandra is rather... limited in what she can teach you. Mama, on the other hand..."

Her touch sent electricity through my entire nervous system.

"Mama knows things that would make your little sister blush."

This is happening. This is really happening.

"But first," she said, stepping back just enough to let me breathe again, "mama needs to know that you understand your place here. That you're ready to be properly... educated."

She moved to her desk with fluid grace and perched on the edge, her legs crossed elegantly. The position made her dress ride up slightly, and I tried not to stare at the expanse of silk-clad thigh.

"Come here," she commanded softly.

I approached slowly, uncertain what she wanted but knowing I couldn't refuse.

"Closer," she instructed, her voice carrying that same tone she'd used when teaching me magic.

I stepped forward until I was standing directly in front of her, close enough to smell her perfume, close enough to see the flecks of silver in her violet eyes.

"Now," she said, her voice taking on that teaching tone even as her eyes held something far more dangerous, "show mama what you think you learned last night."

She wants a demonstration.

"I... what do you mean?" I asked, though I was beginning to understand exactly what she meant.

"Don't be shy, darling." Her smile was maternal and predatory all at once. "Show mama how you think you're supposed to touch a woman. Start with my hands."

This is a test. Everything about this is a test.

I reached out hesitantly and took her hands in mine, unsure what she wanted but knowing this was somehow crucial.

"Hmm," she mused, studying my grip with clinical assessment. "Tentative. Uncertain. You're afraid of your own desires, aren't you, sweetheart?"

She's analyzing everything I do like I'm a specimen.

"Try again," she instructed with the patience of someone who had all the time in the world. "This time, touch mama like you mean it."

I gripped her hands more firmly, and she smiled approvingly.

"Better. You see? Mama knows exactly what you need to learn." Her thumbs began tracing small circles on the backs of my hands. "You have such potential, darling. Such natural gifts. But raw talent without proper instruction is just... waste."

And this is just the beginning.

"Now," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper that somehow felt more dangerous than a shout, "let's see how well you follow instructions when mama really starts teaching you."

She stood up slowly, never breaking eye contact, and I realized with crystal clarity that every assumption I'd made about this situation had been completely wrong.

I thought I was the predator coming to seduce my mother.

But I was never the predator at all.

I was the prey who'd walked willingly into the trap.

And she was about to show me exactly what that meant.

__

A/N: I ask again guys, is she a start boss level or final boss level, or maybe should bet you don't know?

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