Page 96

I left the training hall and walked toward the living room on the second floor. From there, I ascended the stairs to the top floor. Once in my room, I took a moment to freshen up before changing into a simple silver robe.

I lay down for a while—not out of exhaustion but to gather my thoughts after the grueling training session with Lucian.

This was an opportunity, one I couldn't afford to waste.

Ever since my reincarnation into this world, I hadn't faced many struggles.

My path had been straightforward: acquiring power.

I had come to understand that power was the ultimate authority in this world, governing everything.

But I knew I couldn't be like my father.

While he was a good man and a strong ruler, he was too lenient.

His kindness had allowed corruption and deceit to flourish, though many still enjoyed the benefits of his rule.

I wasn't a saint—few nocturnals were—so I wasn't judging anyone but I understood the necessity of making my rule absolute.

If I wanted to solidify my authority, I needed to ensure that the consequences of defiance were clear.

Only then could I reward those who supported me.

A line from my previous life came to mind, one that captured the balance I sought to maintain:

"Punishment without mercy is tyranny; mercy without punishment is weakness."

A knock at the door drew me from my thoughts.

"It's me, my love," came my mother's soft, familiar voice.

"Come in," I replied.

The door opened, and she stepped inside, still dressed in the elegant white gown she had worn for the meeting.

The soft fabric clung to her voluptuous figure, accentuating her ample bust and the gentle curve of her hips.

A simple pearl necklace adorned her slender neck, the white pearls gleaming against her smooth, pale skin.

Her cascading white hair flowed down her back, resting just above her full hips, its silky strands catching the light as she moved.

Her white eyes daring anyone whose eyes would linger as they reminded them their place were a finishing touch to the whole look.

On anyone else, the dress might have seemed sultry, but on her, it was regal—a perfect combination of grace and authority.

Her piercing white eyes,so often sharp and commanding, had softened, their edge replaced with a warm, inviting glow.

She walked toward the bed, her presence instantly filling the room with warmth. Her expression had shifted from the authority she'd shown earlier to something softer, almost vulnerable.

"Since when do you knock, Mother?" I asked, sitting up.

"Since my little boy became a man," she replied, her voice warm and sweet as she sat beside me. Her closeness soothed the lingering tension from my training.

I turned toward her, meeting her gaze. My silver eyes locked with her white ones as I coiled an arm around her waist, feeling the silky smoothness of her dress and beneath it her softness as it filled my hands.

Tightening my hold, I pulled her into my lap.

Her soft, full curves pressed against me, molding perfectly to my form.

"And what brings you here, Mother?" I asked, my voice low and teasing as my lips brushed the shell of her ear.

"Nothing. I just missed you. It's been such a long day," she murmured, her tone gentle but tinged with weariness.

I leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, earning a soft sigh from her lips.

"I missed you too," I said, my voice deepening as the silver in my eyes began to glow.

My extended fangs grazed her delicate skin, teasing the sensitive flesh of her neck.

Catching the pearl necklace between my teeth, I yanked it away, the string snapping with a satisfying sound as the pearls scattered across the floor in a musical clatter.

"This will be a significant change," she said after a moment, her tone thoughtful. "It wasn't just House Aestherisin that was attacked. Other houses suffered similar fates as well." Her hands came to rest lightly over mine, which were splayed across her soft belly.

Without hesitation, I sank my fangs into her neck. The sweet, intoxicating taste of her blood flooded my senses, its warmth and richness making my body hum with satisfaction.

"Ahhh... we have solutions, but others do not," she continued, her voice growing softer, almost breathless, as I drank from her.

I pulled back, licking my lips clean of the silvery-white blood that lingered there.

"Why don't they have solutions?" I asked, my tone calm but commanding.

"Every grand house has its own specialty. Only we, House Aestherisin, can wield mystical powers, and only we have the ability to craft enchanted items," she explained, her voice steady despite the lingering warmth of my touch.

"So, they'll either find their own solutions... or come to us for help," I said, my hands sliding upward, slowly tracing the soft curves of her figure. My palms rested against her full breasts, my fingers teasingly caressing the sensitive skin beneath the fabric of her dress.

"Exactly. But if they want our help, they'll have to offer us something in return," she replied, her voice dropping to a sensual murmur as her hips shifted against mine. The friction sent a spark of heat between us as she ground herself into my lap, her movements deliberate and enticing.

"This will be a long, drawn-out process," I said, my grip tightening as my extended nails trailed along the edge of her dress, the sharp tips grazing her skin and leaving faint red marks in their wake.

"Yes, a very lengthy process," she whispered, her voice heavy with desire as she leaned further into me, her soft lips brushing against my jawline.

With a swift motion, I tore through the fabric of her gown, my claws slicing through the delicate material and the tender skin beneath.

The silk fell away in tatters, exposing her alabaster skin, now streaked with faint trails of silvery-red blood that glistened in the dim light.

She gasped, her breath hitching as my hands roamed freely over her bare form.

Her nipples were already hard, the peaks taut beneath my teasing fingers as I pinched and rolled them, eliciting soft, breathy moans from her lips.

My other hand traced downward, shredding the remnants of her gown as I explored the softness of her thighs.

Now completely exposed, her glistening folds pressed against me, soaking through my trousers with her arousal.

"So eager," I murmured, my voice dripping with amusement as I let my fingers tease her entrance, the slick heat of her need unmistakable. I pinched her sensitive bud, delighting in the way her body arched against mine.

"Only for you... just for you," she whispered, her voice quivering with longing.

I let my robe fall open, revealing my throbbing, veiny length. The tip brushed against her entrance, her slickness coating me as she shuddered in anticipation.

"Do you want it?" I asked, my voice a low growl as I teased her, letting the head press lightly against her entrance.

"Please... please," she pleaded, grinding herself desperately against me.

"Good girl," I murmured, slowly pushing into her. Her warmth enveloped me completely, her slick folds parting to accommodate me as I filled her inch by inch.

"Yes... yes!" she cried, her voice trembling as her body convulsed, her first climax spilling over me as her juices soaked the space between us. Her trembling form melted into my embrace as I began to move, each thrust sending waves of pleasure rippling through her.