"Wh-wh-whaaa!!" I screamed, my entire body jolting as if struck by lightning. Heat surged to my face, my ears burning so hot they might as well have been on fire. I stumbled backward, nearly tripping over my own feet, my hands flying up to my lips in pure shock. The dim candlelight flickered wildly in the ornate chandelier above, casting long, wavering shadows across the lavishly furnished room. Velvet curtains billowed slightly from an unseen draft, and the scent of lavender and aged parchment filled the air, mixing with the lingering warmth on my lips. My tail bristled, fluffing up in sheer panic as I stammered, “Th-that was my first kiss…”

  My fingers trembled as they brushed against my lips, the lingering warmth of Viola’s touch sending a shiver down my spine. My mind was a mess, my thoughts scrambling for any logical explanation, any possible way to process what had just happened. But all I could hear was my own heartbeat, pounding wildly in my chest like a drum of war.

  "You… You…!" I stammered, my voice caught somewhere between outrage and disbelief. My tail fluffed up in sheer panic, standing on end like an alarmed cat. "W-why did you?! H-how could you?!"

  Viola, on the other hand, looked entirely too pleased with herself. She licked her lips, her violet eyes gleaming with wicked amusement as she tilted her head. "Oh my~? Was that really your first?" She placed a hand on her cheek, feigning innocence, though the smug smirk on her lips betrayed her true intentions. "What an honor~"

  I felt my entire body seize up. "D-don’t ‘what an honor’ me!!" My voice cracked as I pointed a shaking finger at her, my face burning hotter than the sun. "You can’t just go around stealing people's first kisses like that!! Th-there are rules! Boundaries! Consent!!!"

  I took a shaky step back, my tail fluffed up in sheer panic as my ears twitched wildly. "A-and besides! You can’t just go around messing with people’s hearts like this! Do you have any idea how flustered I am right now?! My brain is practically melting!!"

  Viola’s smirk only deepened, her violet eyes shimmering with amusement. "Oh my, Mashiro, are you saying my kiss left such an impression on you? How adorable~"

  "That’s not the point!!" I practically wailed, burying my face in my hands. "This isn’t some game to just, ugh! You’re impossible!"

  Viola only chuckled, crossing her arms as she leaned slightly closer, making my heart jump in my throat. "Oh, but Mashiro~" she cooed, her voice dripping with mischief. "You looked so adorable, all flustered like that. How could I possibly resist?"

  "You—!!" I couldn't even form words anymore. My brain had officially stopped functioning.

  “So… what will it be?” Viola purred, her voice smooth like silk as she reached out and gave my head a gentle pat. Her fingers slid through my hair with an infuriatingly familiar ease, as if she had already decided I belonged to her.

  I stiffened at the touch, my ears twitching as I swatted her hand away. “I don’t get it,” I muttered, still reeling from everything. My heart was still pounding, my lips still tingling, and my brain was desperately trying to process the fact that this woman had just stolen my first kiss like it was some casual greeting. “Why are you asking me? What did you do to other fox-kin?”

  Viola tilted her head, her violet eyes gleaming like polished gems. “Oh? Curious, are we?” She smirked before gracefully sinking into the nearby chair, crossing her legs as if we were merely discussing the weather. "Well, you see, I need their consent before I can take their power." She said it so casually, like she was discussing borrowing a book rather than something that sounded incredibly sinister.

  I squinted at her. “You need consent for this but not for my first kiss?!” I shot back, my lips forming an indignant pout as I crossed my arms.

  Viola burst into laughter, a rich, delighted sound that made my face burn even hotter. “Oh, Mashiro~” she practically sang, leaning forward with a teasing smile. “That’s what makes it so fun~ Your reactions are absolutely priceless.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  I groaned, feeling my tail fluff up in frustration, the soft fur bristling like an angry cat’s. The room felt warmer now, or maybe it was just the heat of my rising emotions. The flickering candlelight cast restless shadows along the walls, their movements almost mirroring my own agitation. “This isn’t a joke!!” I huffed, crossing my arms as my ears twitched erratically, betraying my flustered state. My tail swayed sharply behind me, an undeniable tell of my frustration, but Viola only watched me with that infuriatingly amused smirk, as if she were savoring every second of my reaction.

  She merely chuckled, resting her chin on her palm as she studied me with an almost predatory amusement. “Oh, but it is~ You’re just too adorable for your own good.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself before I lost what little sanity I had left. "You're impossible," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "So, what happens if they say no?"

  “Oh, then I just have to convince them otherwise.” Viola’s smile didn’t waver. If anything, it grew sharper. Viola smirked, clearly entertained by my outrage. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I could have taken what I wanted forcefully." She leaned in slightly, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "But where’s the fun in that?"

  I shuddered, stepping back instinctively. "Creepy," I muttered under my breath before straightening up.

  Viola tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Oh, some agreed, some refused. The ones who refused… well, let’s just say they were stubborn little things." Her smirk deepened. "But you’re different, aren't you, Mashiro? You feel different. Your scent, your presence… You're more than just a simple fox-kin."

  I stiffened at her words, swallowing hard. Did she… know? Did she somehow sense that I wasn’t originally from this world?

  “That’s why I’m asking you,” Viola continued, her voice smooth as silk, each syllable dripping with a deceptive gentleness. “What will it be? Will you let me borrow your power?” She lifted her hand toward me, palm open, as if offering a contract written in the air itself. The flickering candlelight cast long, wavering shadows across her delicate fingers, making them seem almost otherworldly.

  I hesitated, my mind racing. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, as if the very walls were waiting for my answer. The flickering candlelight wavered in the tension, shadows stretching and shrinking across the plush carpet. The scent of lavender and aged parchment curled around me, grounding me in the moment. I thought about Yuzu, about Catherine, about everything that had happened up until now. Their faces flashed through my mind, each memory tugging at me from a different direction. My heart pounded as I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Viola’s expectant gaze pressing against my skin. And then, I took a deep breath.

  “No.”

  A tense silence filled the space between us. Viola remained still, her violet eyes locked onto mine. For a long moment, she simply stared, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she sighed, the faintest hint of amusement still clinging to her tone.

  “I see,” she murmured.

  Before I could react, she reached out, her warm fingers grazing my cheek. A soft touch, gentle, yet undeniably firm. My breath hitched as she trailed her fingertips along my skin, leaving a strange, tingling warmth in their wake.

  I tensed, my hands instinctively pushing against her shoulders, but she didn’t budge. Her fingers brushed along my jaw, tilting my face just enough to deepen the contact. My tail bristled, my ears flicking wildly in a mix of frustration and flustered panic.

  The warmth of her lips pressed against mine, soft yet insistent, sent a jolt through my entire body. My ears twitched violently, my tail bristled, and my brain practically short-circuited. I tried to push her away, but my hands only met the fabric of her silky robe, the heat of her body seeping through it. The overwhelming sensation flooded my senses, making my legs feel weak, my balance unsteady. My breath hitched, the rapid pounding of my heart drowning out every other sound in the room. The faint scent of roses and something darker curled around me, intoxicating and inescapable.

  Kyaaa! This isn’t fair! My mind screamed.

  “Mmph—!!” I made a muffled protest, my fingers gripping the armrests of the chair as I squirmed beneath her. The room suddenly felt way too warm, the flickering candlelight casting deep shadows that danced across the walls. A haze settled over my mind, my thoughts growing sluggish as an overwhelming drowsiness took hold.

  My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, my body slackening as warmth spread through my limbs, seeping into my very bones. My breathing slowed, each inhale shallower than the last. The flickering glow of the candles blurred together, melting into a hazy swirl of gold and amber. My fingers twitched slightly before going limp. The soft hum of Viola’s voice wrapped around me like a lullaby, her words indistinct yet strangely soothing. The weight of sleep pressed down on me, an irresistible tide pulling me under. My vision darkened, my last conscious thought slipping away as everything faded into a velvety black void.