Cain cradled the chalice Faith presented, running his thumb along her jawline with a possessive touch. His eyes never left mine as he drank deeply from the vessel.

  "So," he said, wiping a crimson droplet from his lip, "are we going to do this dance again? You three can fight, die, and return to hell with your tails between your legs—or you could stay, enjoy what I've created here, and leave when you've had your fill." He gestured toward the chamber beyond where vampires and enthralled mortals continued their revelry. "There's more than enough entertainment for three succubi."

  My fists clenched at my sides. "I'm not leaving without—"

  "Without what?" Cain cut me off. "You lost your chance to get your hands on Liam. Better accept that reality, princess."

  Aria turned to me, her brow furrowed. "What's so special about Liam anyway? You never explained why you're so obsessed with this mortal."

  "Not now, Aria," I hissed, keeping my eyes fixed on Cain.

  Isabella stepped closer, her ice-blue eyes studying me. "Aria has a point. You've been keeping secrets from us. What aren't you telling us about this mortal?"

  I hesitated, feeling trapped between Cain's knowing smirk and my friends' suspicious stares. "I'll explain everything, I promise. Just not now. When we're back in Igneus."

  "If you make it back," Cain added casually.

  Isabella's expression hardened, but she nodded slightly, accepting my promise for later.

  Cain raised an eyebrow, leaning forward on his throne. "So, what will it be? My generous offer stands."

  I forced a smile, keeping my voice level despite the rage boiling inside me. "We'll accept your offer."

  Isabella and Aria exchanged a quick glance. Their expressions barely shifted, but I caught the flicker of understanding between them. They knew I was buying time.

  Aria's lips curled into a seductive smile as she stepped forward. "It would be foolish to refuse such... hospitality."

  Isabella nodded, her ice-blue eyes calculating. "Indeed. The night holds so much potential."

  Cain's smug expression made my stomach turn. He leaned back on his throne, satisfaction evident in every line of his body. "I'm pleased you understand. I knew you could be reasoned with." He stood with fluid grace, extending his hand toward Faith.

  She took it immediately, her movements unnaturally smooth. Her eyes never left his face, filled with an adoration that made my chest ache. This wasn't Faith—not the sharp-witted woman I'd known. Whatever Cain had done to her had twisted her very essence.

  "Come," Cain said, motioning for us to follow as he led Faith by the hand. "Let me show you what I've created here."

  We followed them down the staircase, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to maintain my composure. Every fibre of my being wanted to lunge at him, to tear him apart. But I knew better than to attack without a plan. We needed to wait for the right moment.

  "I hope you don't mind sharing the space with some VCD negotiators who'll be visiting me soon," Cain remarked casually as we descended. "They believe they can bargain with me." He laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "As if they have anything I want."

  Faith gazed up at him adoringly. "They're beneath you," she murmured.

  "Yes, they are," he agreed, stroking her cheek with his thumb. The gesture was so intimate, so possessive, that I had to look away to maintain my calm.

  We reached the orgy chamber again, where bodies writhed in various states of ecstasy and torment. The scent of blood, sweat, and sex hung heavy in the air. Under different circumstances, it might have been enticing. Now, it just felt wrong.

  "Please," Cain gestured expansively, "enjoy yourselves. Consider this my peace offering for our previous... misunderstanding."

  Faith stood at his side, her hand still in his, watching us with vacant eyes. The woman who had once faced down supernatural threats without flinching now looked at me like I was a stranger. Whatever connection we'd shared was gone, replaced by her twisted devotion to Cain.

  I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. "How generous of you."

  "I'll leave you to it," Cain said. "Faith and I have preparations to make for our guests." He turned to leave, Faith following him like a shadow.

  Aria leaned close, her lips brushing my ear. "So what do we do now?" Her voice was barely audible, even to my enhanced hearing.

  I glanced around the chamber, taking in the writhing bodies and the heavy scent of desire that hung in the air. "For now, we play along," I whispered back, drawing both Aria and Isabella closer. "We gather information until we find a weak spot or until Kyriakos finishes whatever he was doing."

  Isabella's ice-blue eyes narrowed. "You're trusting that Lich?"

  "For now, we have no better alternative," I replied, keeping my voice low.

  Isabella sighed, her expression hardening. "Fine. But you owe us explanations about all of this when we get back home."

  I nodded, a knot forming in my stomach. "I'll tell you everything as promised." The thought of revealing the truth made me uneasy. How could I explain that I might not be the real Lily at all, but just some mortal trapped in her body? That the body Cain now possessed had once been mine?

  Aria's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Well, I'm going to at least enjoy this information gathering." Without further hesitation, she stepped away from us, her glamour falling away to reveal her true succubus form. Her horns gleamed in the dim light as she sauntered toward a group of vampires and enthralled mortals.

  Isabella and I exchanged glances before following suit. I let my own glamour dissolve, my fingers brushing against the ring as I stored my clothes within its magical space. My horns and tail materialized, the cool air caressing my bare skin. It was strange how natural this felt now—how comfortable I'd become in this body that once seemed so alien to me.

  I scanned the room, searching for potential sources of information. My gaze settled on a female vampire and a mortal man who had just seated themselves in a corner alcove. They seemed less engaged than the others, perhaps more willing to talk. I made my way toward them, swaying my hips with deliberate intent.

  The vampire noticed me first. Her pale skin contrasted with raven-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Her eyes followed my approach with undisguised interest.

  "Room for one more?" I asked, my voice carrying the subtle harmonics of a succubus's charm.

  The vampire smiled, revealing the tips of her fangs. "Always." She patted the space beside her on the velvet chaise. "I'm Elara. This is Leon."

  The mortal man looked up at me with glazed eyes, clearly already under Elara's thrall. He was handsome in a conventional way—strong jaw, dark hair, muscular build. His pulse quickened visibly at my approach.

  I settled beside them, arranging my body with calculated grace. "I'm Lily."

  "A succubus," Elara observed, reaching out to trace one of my horns with a cool finger. "We don't often see your kind here."

  "I'm a guest of your master," I replied, leaning slightly into her touch. "He's been most... accommodating."

  Leon watched our interaction with fascination, his breathing becoming heavier. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice carrying the slightly monotone quality of the enthralled.

  I smiled at him, trailing my fingers along his arm. "Thank you, Leon. You're quite handsome yourself."

  Elara's hand moved from my horn to my cheek, then down my neck. "Cain has excellent taste in guests."

  The atmosphere between us shifted, becoming charged with anticipation. I leaned toward Elara, my lips hovering near hers. "How long have you served him?"

  "Not long enough," she whispered before closing the distance between us.

  Her kiss was cool but not unpleasant. I returned it with practiced skill, letting my succubus instincts guide me. Leon watched, entranced, until I reached for him with my free hand, drawing him closer.

  Soon, we were a tangle of limbs and sighs. Elara's hands explored my body with a vampire's precision, finding sensitive spots with unerring accuracy. Leon's mortal warmth provided a delicious contrast to her cool touch. I guided their movements, using my body as both a distraction and a tool for information.

  "You seem very devoted to Cain," I murmured against Elara's neck as I guided her to straddle Leon's hips. His desire strained against his trousers, eager for release.

  Elara's head fell back as I helped her position herself above Leon. "He is... magnificent," she gasped as Leon entered her. "His vision... his power..."

  I kissed along her collarbone, my hands supporting her waist as she began to move. "What vision is that?" I asked, my voice deliberately casual.

  "Tonight," she moaned, her body rising and falling in a hypnotic rhythm. "At midnight... his grand design comes to fruition."

  I shifted my position, moving behind Elara to cup her breasts while meeting Leon's gaze. His eyes were fixed on me with hunger as I positioned myself above his face. "Tell me more about this design," I urged as I lowered myself.

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  The first touch of Leon's tongue sent a shiver through me. I gasped, genuine pleasure mingling with my calculated seduction. Elara leaned forward to kiss me deeply, her body still moving atop Leon.

  "A ritual," she whispered against my lips. "Something... ancient."

  I arched into Leon's ministrations, my hands finding Elara's hips, then sliding lower to squeeze the firm curves of her buttocks. I slipped a finger between them, seeking a more intimate entrance. She gasped against my mouth, her rhythm faltering momentarily.

  "What kind of ritual?" I pressed, my finger teasing her sensitive opening.

  Elara moaned, her eyes fluttering closed. "I don't... I don't know the details." Her voice broke as my finger slipped inside her. "But it will be magnificent. He promises... a new world."

  We continued our dance of pleasure and questions, eventually shifting positions. I found myself beneath Leon, his mortal warmth filling me as Elara positioned herself above his face. The sensation was exquisite—different from feeding on mortals, yet still satisfying in its own way.

  "Has he been planning this long?" I gasped as Leon's rhythm intensified.

  Elara's back arched as Leon pleasured her. "I wouldn't... know," she managed between moans. "He speaks little of... before."

  I tried different questions, seeking any useful information, but Elara either genuinely knew nothing or was skilled at deflection. Each time I pressed, she would change the subject with a kiss or a touch that demanded my attention.

  Leon's movements became more urgent. I felt his release building, my own pleasure mounting in response. Elara cried out above us, her body trembling as she reached her peak. The sight of her ecstasy, combined with Leon's final, deep thrusts, pushed me over the edge as well. As warmth flooded my insides, I surrendered to the wave of pleasure that washed through me.

  Through half-lidded eyes, I noticed movement at the chamber's entrance. A group of people in formal attire passed by, escorted by vampires. Their stiff postures and uncomfortable expressions marked them clearly as the VCD negotiators. Several of them appeared visibly affected by the scenes of debauchery around them, their faces flushed and gazes averted.

  Elara collapsed onto the chaise beside me, her cool body pressed against mine. Leon withdrew, his breathing heavy as he settled on my other side.

  "When did Cain find you?" I asked Elara, stroking her hair with feigned affection.

  "Recently," she murmured, her head resting on my shoulder. "I was... someone else before. He gave me purpose."

  I kissed her forehead, deciding to change tactics. Pressing too hard about Cain might raise suspicion. Instead, I turned my attention fully to Elara and Leon, focusing on building their trust through shared pleasure.

  As we lay entwined, exchanging lazy kisses and gentle caresses, I felt movement behind us. Leon had recovered with surprising speed for a mortal. He approached us from behind, his renewed desire evident as he positioned himself between our intertwined legs.

  The first thrust caught me by surprise—a sudden, delicious fullness that drew a genuine moan from my lips. Then he withdrew, and I felt Elara tense beside me as he entered her instead. Back and forth he moved between us, creating a rhythm of anticipation and fulfilment that had us both gasping into each other's mouths.

  Our bodies pressed together, breast to breast, as Leon continued his alternating attentions. Elara's fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me deeper into our kiss as pleasure built within us both. The line between performance and genuine enjoyment blurred, my succubus nature responding to the energy that flowed between us.

  When release came again, it swept through us like a storm. Elara and I clung to each other, our cries mingling as Leon withdrew at the last moment, his warmth spilling across our skin instead of within.

  We settled into a languid tangle of limbs afterward, Elara's hand resting intimately between my thighs while her head pillowed on my breast. My own hand mirrored her position, feeling the occasional tremor pass through her as aftershocks of pleasure rippled through her body.

  As I lay there, I scanned the room for signs of Aria and Isabella. They were still engaged with their chosen partners, hopefully gathering more information than I had managed. I stroked Elara's hair absently, my mind racing despite my body's satisfied state.

  Midnight. A ritual. A new world. What was Cain planning? And more importantly, how could we stop him?

  I closed my eyes, feigning contentment while inwardly calculating how much time we had left. The VCD negotiators would buy us some time, but not much. Kyriakos was somewhere in the building, hopefully preparing something useful. And Faith—my heart clenched at the thought of her, transformed and enthralled by Cain.

  Whatever happened next, I knew one thing with certainty: I couldn't leave this place without trying to save her. Even if it meant risking everything.

  I noticed Aria and Isabella finishing with their partners across the room. Our eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between us. It was time to regroup.

  With practiced ease, I disentangled myself from Elara and Leon, leaving them in a sated stupor on the chaise. "I'll be back soon," I whispered, trailing my fingers along Elara's cheek. She merely nodded, too exhausted to protest.

  We converged in a quiet corner of the chamber, where the shadows were deepest and the sounds of pleasure provided cover for our conversation.

  "Find anything useful?" Isabella asked, her voice barely audible.

  I shook my head. "Not much. Midnight ritual, something about a 'new world.' Elara's recently turned and doesn't know much about Cain's past."

  "My vampire was more talkative," Aria said, smoothing her dishevelled hair. "He mentioned Cain talking about 'cleansing London with blood' to power some spell. Sounded like he's planning to sacrifice the entire city."

  Isabella nodded grimly. "That matches what I heard. The mortal I was with works for Cain—some kind of occultist. He said Cain needs millions of deaths to generate enough power for whatever he's attempting."

  My stomach turned. "The entire population of London? That's..."

  "Ambitious," Isabella finished. "And exactly the kind of grand-scale atrocity that would appeal to someone of Cain's age and power."

  Aria glanced toward the chamber entrance. "So... do we bounce back to Hell and let the mortals handle their own apocalypse, or are we actually trying to stop this?"

  I didn't hesitate. "I'm not leaving without Faith."

  "Your mortal p—friend?" Aria raised an eyebrow. "Lily, she's his thrall now. She won't simply leave him."

  "I don't care. I'm getting her back." My tone left no room for argument.

  Isabella sighed. "If we're staying, we need a plan. Should we wait for Kyriakos to finish whatever he's doing, or confront Cain directly?"

  I looked at Isabella and Aria, weighing our options. "Let's wait for now and bide our time. If Kyriakos doesn't show up, we'll confront Cain just before midnight."

  "Agreed," Isabella nodded. "Rushing in now would be foolish."

  Aria twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "Besides, I'm not done sampling the refreshments." Her eyes flicked toward a particularly handsome vampire across the room.

  "Just stay alert," I cautioned. "And don't get too... distracted."

  Before we separated to mingle again, something caught my eye—the VCD delegation was moving toward the exit, their negotiations apparently concluded. Their expressions were tight, faces drawn with tension. I wondered if they truly understood what they were dealing with. Did they know what Cain was planning? The fate of millions hung in the balance.

  I didn't particularly care about London's population—I didn't know them that well, after all. But I needed to face Cain regardless to rescue Faith. And I knew Faith would never forgive me if I didn't at least try to warn people, especially when it cost me nothing.

  Among the departing agents, I spotted Diana, the profiler I'd met at VCD headquarters. I raised my hand and waved, catching her attention.

  She looked confused for a moment, then recognition dawned in her eyes. Fortunately, she recognized me despite never having seen me without my glamour. She said something to her companions before cautiously approaching, her body language screaming distrust.

  "What do you want?" Diana hissed, keeping her voice low. "Isn't it enough that you delivered Faith to that monster? Now you have to rub salt in our wounds that we were deceived by demons?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Calm down. You clearly don't understand what happened."

  "I understand well enough," she spat. "You and your friends manipulated Faith's emotions, exploited her connection to Liam, then handed her over to—"

  I sighed and cut her off with a sharp gesture. "I don't care what you think. But I have something to tell you, so shut up and listen."

  Her mouth snapped shut, more from surprise than obedience.

  I leaned closer, my lips nearly brushing her ear. "Cain is planning a ritual at midnight. He intends to sacrifice the entire population of London to power some kind of spell. A 'cleansing with blood' is how one of his vampires described it."

  Diana's face paled.

  "Tell Galahad," I whispered. "Tell him millions will die if Cain isn't stopped before midnight."

  Diana's eyes narrowed, scepticism written across her face. "And why should I believe you? For all I know, this could be another demonic trick to create chaos or distract us from Cain's real plans."

  I shrugged, maintaining eye contact. "It matters not whether you believe me. What matters is that you deliver the message to Galahad."

  Her jaw tightened. I could see the conflict in her eyes—the professional instinct to gather intelligence warring with her distrust of my kind.

  "Look," I added with a final whisper, leaning closer, "we'll try doing something against it, but if you have a way to 'evacuate' London before midnight, you should better start doing it now."

  I didn't wait for her response. Turning away, I walked back toward Elara, who was now sitting up on the chaise, watching me with curious eyes. Her vampire senses had likely picked up that I was speaking to someone, though the noise in the chamber would have prevented her from hearing the actual conversation.

  "Making friends with the opposition?" she asked as I approached, her voice languid from our earlier activities.

  I smiled, sliding back onto the chaise beside her. "Just saying hello to an old acquaintance. Nothing important."

  Her fingers traced patterns on my arm. "Cain doesn't like his guests fraternizing with the VCD."

  "Cain doesn't own me," I replied, letting a hint of my true power slip into my voice. Her eyes widened slightly at the change in my demeanour.

  "No," she agreed, suddenly more cautious. "I suppose he doesn't."

  I softened my expression and trailed my fingers along her jawline. "Now, where were we before I stepped away?"

  The night wore on, and with each passing hour, my concern deepened. Midnight approached with no sign of Kyriakos or additional VCD forces. Had Diana delivered my message? Had Galahad taken it seriously? The uncertainty gnawed at me.

  I'd cycled through two more partners since speaking with Diana—a mortal businessman whose essence tasted of expensive whiskey and cigars, and a female vampire whose cold lips had sent shivers down my spine. Aria and Isabella had similarly indulged, maintaining our cover while we waited for something to happen.

  But time was running out. The ritual would begin soon.

  "We can't wait any longer," I whispered when we finally regrouped near one of the chamber's ornate pillars. "Kyriakos isn't coming."

  Isabella nodded, her ice-blue eyes hard with determination. "I agree. Whatever he's planning, we can't count on his assistance now."

  Aria sighed dramatically. "And I was just starting to enjoy myself." Despite her words, I could see the shift in her demeanour—the playful succubus replaced by something more dangerous.

  I gestured toward our naked bodies. "Let's get dressed. We need to move."

  We slipped away from the orgy and found a secluded alcove. I summoned the cleaning spell Moira had taught us—a practical bit of magic for succubi who found themselves in situations without access to proper bathing facilities. The enchantment tingled across my skin, washing away any evidence of our activities.

  Once dressed, we moved purposefully through the chamber. I spotted the vampire who had first escorted us to Cain—he alone remained fully clothed, supervising the proceedings with cold detachment.

  "We wish to speak with your master again," I told him, keeping my voice steady and confident.

  His pale face registered surprise. "The master is not to be disturbed. He is very busy with preparations now."

  "It's important," Isabella added, her voice carrying the weight of her noble bloodline. "We have information he would want to hear immediately."

  The vampire hesitated, clearly torn between his orders and the possibility of displeasing Cain by turning away potentially valuable information.

  Before he could decide, the ground beneath us trembled. A deep rumbling vibrated through the stone floor, and the air itself seemed to shiver. Cracks appeared in the reality around us—not physical cracks in the walls, but fractures in the very fabric of Cain's domain spell.

  The vampire's eyes widened in alarm. "What is—"

  The spell shattered.

  Like glass breaking into a thousand pieces, Cain's magical domain collapsed. The opulent orgy chamber with its plush divans and golden fixtures melted away, revealing the stark, historical interior of the White Tower. The naked participants looked around in confusion, suddenly finding themselves in a museum exhibition space rather than a pleasure den.

  "Now's our chance," I hissed to Aria and Isabella. "Someone's broken his spell—it must've been either Kyriakos or the VCD."

  Isabella nodded sharply. "The ritual chamber will be at the highest point."

  "The top floor," Aria agreed.

  Without another word, we bolted for the spiral staircase, taking advantage of the chaos. Vampires scrambled to understand what was happening, some frantically searching for discarded clothing, others calling out for Cain.

  We raced up the stone steps, our footfalls echoing in the ancient tower. My heart pounded in my chest—not from exertion, but from anticipation. Faith was up there with Cain, and whatever ritual he was planning was about to begin.

  Unless we stopped it first.