Chapter 7: Dawn, Depletion, and Devotion

  Sunlight, sharp and unforgiving, sliced through the massive bedroom window, prying Kenji’s eyelids open. He didn’t so much wake up as regain consciousness, surfacing from a deep well of exhaustion like a drowning man gasping for air. His first sensation was ache. A profound, full-body ache that resonated deep in his bones, his muscles, in pces he hadn't known possessed the capacity for such profound soreness.

  He felt… hollowed out. Utterly depleted. Like every spark of energy, every ounce of vitality gifted by Seraphina’s ‘Adonis Upgrade,’ had been meticulously, thoroughly, and enthusiastically extracted overnight. Moving felt less like a conscious decision and more like negotiating a ceasefire with protesting limbs. He tried to sit up, a groan escaping his lips involuntarily. It felt like his joints were filled with grit, his muscles repced with overstretched rubber bands. That 'Adonis physique' currently felt less like a divine gift and more like a thoroughly plundered temple.

  [System Alert: Host Vitality Levels Critical (15%). Recommend Immediate Rest & Nutrient Intake. Stamina Regeneration Inhibited by… External Factors.]

  [New Skill Unlocked (Passive): 'Endurance Under Duress' - Minor resistance to prolonged physical… interaction.]

  "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Kenji rasped, his voice hoarse. Even the System seemed vaguely exhausted on his behalf.

  A soft chuckle, rich and melodious, sounded beside him. Kenji turned his head slowly, every muscle screaming in protest.

  Kat Volkov was already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching him with an expression of pure, unadulterated satisfaction. If Kenji felt like a depleted husk, Kat looked like she’d just had the best night's sleep of her life, followed by a rejuvenating spa treatment and a gallon of pure energy drink. Her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, her skin seemed to glow, and her emerald eyes sparkled with possessive delight and vibrant energy. She wasn't just beaming; she was practically incandescent, radiating a smug contentment that was almost offensive given Kenji’s current state. The dark silk sheet was pooled around her waist, leaving her upper body bare, showcasing smooth skin marked only by the faint sheen of satisfaction.

  "Good morning, my Kenji," she purred, reaching out to trace a pattern on his aching shoulder. Her touch, which st night felt like possessive fire, now felt like sandpaper on sunburnt skin. He flinched instinctively.

  Kat’s smile didn't waver, but her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of that intense possessiveness returning. "Still sensitive? Understandable." She leaned closer, her scent – still perfume and wildness, but now overid with something intimately theirs – enveloping him. "Last night was… thorough. Necessary. To establish the foundation of our understanding."

  She surveyed his depleted form with proprietary approval, like an artist admiring a canvas they’d vigorously worked on all night. "You held up remarkably well, though. Better than expected." A predatory glint entered her eyes. "Good stamina. Excellent potential."

  Kenji just groaned again, letting his head fall back onto the ridiculously soft pillow. Potential for what? More exhaustion? Being drained like a Capri Sun pouch left in the desert?

  "Don't worry," Kat murmured soothingly, though her eyes danced with amusement and something else – a promise of more. "I'll take good care of my prize. You need sustenance." She slid gracefully out of bed, completely unbothered by her nudity, moving with the fluid power of a well-rested predator. She stretched nguidly, a move that showcased every perfect curve and further highlighted the stark contrast between her vibrancy and his near-colpse.

  She gnced back at him, still sprawled amongst the rumpled silk sheets, looking utterly wrecked. A possessive smirk touched her lips. "Don't move," she commanded softly, though Kenji doubted he could move even if he wanted to. "I'll arrange breakfast. We have a lot to discuss about our future. And tonight…" she paused, letting the implication hang heavy in the air, her eyes darkening with renewed interest, "…we continue your… acclimatization."

  As she padded silently out of the room towards the en suite bathroom, leaving Kenji alone in the wreckage of the bed and his own energy levels, the System pinged again, adding insult to injury.

  [System Alert: Target 'Kat Volkov' Satisfaction Levels: Maximum. Bonding Strength: 95% (Dangerously High). Possessiveness Index: Elevated. Likelihood of Voluntary Host Release: 0.00%.]

  [Objective Update: Survive. Seriously, just try to survive.]

  Kenji stared up at the ornate ceiling, feeling the deep, resonant ache throughout his body. He’d ‘fixed’ Kat Volkov, alright. He’d fixed her good. And now, he was paying the price, one agonizing muscle twitch at a time, trapped in silk sheets and under the unwavering, insatiable gaze of emerald eyes. The roaring twenties vibe of Aethelgard suddenly felt less like glitz and gmour, and more like the frantic energy of trying

  desperately not to be consumed.