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Chapter 12: Hospitality

  Lilith led Sera into the dining hall, a space of calculated opulence that struck the perfect balance between intimidating grandeur and intimate comfort. Obsidian columns stretched toward a vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of demonic revelry. At the centre stood a table that could have seated twenty, yet had been arranged for just two, with settings placed at one end to create a more personal atmosphere.

  Shadow servants materialised from the darkness, gliding forward with trays of food. The aromas that wafted through the air made Lilith's mouth water—spices she couldn't name, sweetness that promised indulgence, savoury notes that awakened hunger she hadn't realised she felt.

  "Please, sit," Lilith gestured to the chair across from her own. The shadow servants pulled it out for Sera, who hesitated before lowering herself onto the plush velvet cushion.

  As the servants placed their meals before them, Lilith noticed something curious. While her own plate contained a glistening array of delicacies with a subtle, familiar shimmer, Sera's food appeared entirely different—hearty, rustic fare that nevertheless looked exquisitely prepared.

  Lilith realised. She remembered the lore about the Infernal Sanctum providing a feast "according to your tastes." Apparently, that extended to accommodating different dietary needs without her having to specify.

  Lilith lifted her fork, then paused. Sera sat perfectly still, hands folded in her lap, eyes downcast despite the tantalising meal before her.

  "Is something wrong with your food?" Lilith asked.

  "No, Lady Lilith," Sera replied quickly. "I would never presume to begin before you."

  Lilith blinked in surprise. "There's no need to stand on ceremony here. It's just the two of us." She gestured with her fork. "Please, don't hold back on my account."

  "As you wish," Sera said, though she still waited until Lilith had taken her first bite before reaching for her own utensils.

  Lilith noticed how Sera handled the silverware with careful, deliberate movements, as if unfamiliar with their use. The half-demon woman's eyes widened at her first taste, a small, involuntary sound of pleasure escaping her lips.

  "This is..." Sera struggled to find words. "I've never tasted anything like this."

  "The sanctum provides only the finest," Lilith said, enjoying her own meal. The flavours danced across her tongue, complex and satisfying in a way that went beyond mere sustenance. Each bite seemed to replenish something within her, a pleasant warmth spreading through her body.

  They ate in comfortable silence for a while, Sera's expression of wonder never quite fading. When they had finished, shadow servants cleared away the dishes with silent efficiency.

  "Would you care for a bath?" Lilith suggested. "To wash away the day's travels before rest?"

  Sera's eyes lit up. "That would be wonderful, Lady Lilith."

  It was only then that Lilith remembered a crucial detail—the sanctum, as she had conjured it, contained only one bathing chamber. In the game, designing the layout had been a separate process, but she didn't really know how it worked here.

  "You can go first," Lilith offered, rising from her chair. "I'll show you where it is."

  "Oh, I couldn't," Sera protested. "You should go first, Lady Lilith. It wouldn't be proper—"

  "I insist," Lilith said firmly. "Take your time and enjoy it. There's no rush."

  After a moment's hesitation, Sera relented. "Thank you for your generosity."

  Lilith led her to the bathing chamber, instructing shadow servants to provide fresh clothing and towels. Once Sera was settled, Lilith returned to the dining hall and sank into her chair with a sigh.

  As she sat waiting, her mind drifted to thoughts of Sera. She imagined the half-demon woman sinking into the steaming water, her skin glistening wet, her expression one of bliss as she experienced such luxury for perhaps the first time.

  Lilith felt heat rising in her cheeks and a familiar warmth stirring. She shook her head sharply, trying to dispel the images.

  she wondered. These thoughts felt intrusive, yet somehow natural—as if her body was pulling her mind in directions she wasn't sure she wanted to go.

  The worst part was the arousal building within her, one that would not go away without 'external' help. Lilith shifted uncomfortably in her seat, aware of a growing need that felt both foreign and utterly familiar.

  * * *

  Lilith waited in the dining hall, absently tracing patterns on the polished table with her fingertip. The shadow servants had cleared away the remnants of their meal, leaving nothing but gleaming surfaces and the lingering scent of spices. She'd lost track of time—had Sera been bathing for minutes or hours? Time felt strangely fluid within the sanctum.

  Finally, the soft padding of bare feet on marble alerted her to Sera's approach. Lilith looked up and felt her breath catch in her throat.

  Sera stood in the doorway, her skin flushed pink from the heat of the bath. Her damp hair clung to her neck in dark tendrils. The shadow servants had provided her with a silken robe of deep burgundy that complemented the subtle ashen undertone of her skin. The garment hung loosely on her frame, cinched at the waist but revealing the elegant line of her collarbone and the curves beneath.

  Lilith realised she was staring and quickly averted her gaze. "How was the bath?" she asked, her voice coming out slightly huskier than intended.

  "Exquisite," Sera replied, a note of wonder still evident in her tone. "I've never experienced anything like it. The water stayed perfectly hot, and those oils..." She trailed off, inhaling deeply as if to catch the lingering scent on her skin.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "I'm glad you enjoyed it," Lilith said, rising from her chair. "Let me show you to your room. You must be tired after today's excitement."

  She led Sera through the corridor, past ornate tapestries depicting scenes from demonic history that Lilith herself had never actually witnessed. Fortunately, the guest chambers had been part of the sanctum's default design—one less thing for her to worry about.

  "Here we are," Lilith said, opening a heavy door to reveal a spacious bedchamber. A four-poster bed dominated the centre, draped with midnight-blue silk. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across the plush carpet. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be retiring after my bath."

  Sera stepped into the room, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. "This is... for me?" she asked, her voice small.

  "Of course," Lilith replied. "Rest well, Sera. We can discuss our plans in the morning."

  With that, Lilith retreated, making her way to the bathing chamber. The moment the door closed behind her, she let out a long, shaky breath. The room was still warm and humid from Sera's bath, the air heavy with the scent of jasmine and something darker, muskier.

  Lilith disrobed quickly and slipped into the large sunken tub. The water, somehow still perfectly hot, enveloped her like a lover's embrace. She sank down until the water lapped at her chin, closing her eyes with a sigh.

  But instead of relaxation, her mind immediately conjured images of Sera—Sera in this very tub, water sliding over her curves, head tilted back in pleasure. Lilith imagined joining her, their bodies slick and warm, pressing together in the steaming water.

  She shook her head sharply, sending droplets flying. But despite her efforts, her thoughts circled back to Sera like a compass finding north. The half-demon's eyes, the way her lips had parted in surprise at the luxury surrounding her, how her robe had clung to her damp skin...

  Lilith felt a familiar heat building within her, different from the warmth of the bath. She could sense her mana reserves swelling in response to her arousal, the energy flowing through those specialised pathways she'd discovered earlier. Her skin felt hypersensitive, every ripple of water against her body sending shivers of pleasure through her.

  She considered relieving the tension, but the thought of Sera potentially hearing her—or worse, walking in on her—gave her pause. Though strangely, that very possibility only intensified the heat pooling low in her abdomen.

  Lilith rose from the water abruptly, water cascading down her blue skin. She felt hot, bothered, and intensely frustrated. As Jacob, she'd never experienced desire quite like this—so persistent, so all-consuming, yet somehow her rational mind remained unclouded even as her body thrummed with need.

  Succubus arousal was something else entirely.

  * * *

  Lilith stepped out of the bathroom, her skin still flushed and damp from the bath. She'd hastily wrapped herself in a silken robe—one of the many luxuries her shadow servants had provided. The garment was practical enough, covering what needed to be covered, but the thin material clung to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination. Droplets of water still beaded on her blue skin, catching the light as she moved.

  She paused in the hallway, surprised to find Sera standing there. The half-demon woman wore a flowing nightdress of pale silver that complemented her slightly ashen skin tone. She was gesturing in apparent frustration at one of the shadow servants, who stood motionless, its featureless face revealing nothing.

  "Is there a problem with your accommodations?" the servant asked in its hollow voice, repeating what was clearly not its first response.

  "No, I just want to know how to—" Sera began, then spotted Lilith. Her words died in her throat, and she quickly averted her gaze, though not before Lilith caught the widening of her amber eyes.

  "Is everything alright, Sera?" Lilith asked, acutely aware of how the robe hugged her body. A part of her—a part that felt increasingly natural—enjoyed the effect she was having on the half-demon.

  Sera stole another glance at Lilith, her cheeks darkening slightly. "The room is beautiful, truly, but I can't seem to make the lights go out. And these... servants... they don't understand what I'm asking."

  "I'm afraid I can only respond to direct commands related to sanctum maintenance and service," the shadow servant intoned.

  Lilith suppressed a smile. "Oh, right. I forgot about that." She gestured for Sera to lead the way. "Show me your room, and I'll help you."

  As they walked side by side down the corridor, Lilith found herself stealing glances at Sera. The negligée draped elegantly over her athletic frame, hinting at the strength beneath its delicate fabric. Lilith noticed how the material shifted with each step, revealing glimpses of Sera's legs. Something warm and hungry stirred within her at the sight.

  They reached Sera's room, and Lilith followed her inside. The chamber was bathed in soft golden light from ornate sconces along the walls. The fire in the hearth had died down to embers, casting a warm glow across the plush furnishings.

  "Here's your problem," Lilith said, approaching one of the walls. "You need to use these." She pointed to what looked like a small crystal embedded in the wall—a light switch, though it bore little resemblance to its modern counterpart. "Just press it like this."

  Lilith demonstrated, touching the crystal. It dimmed slightly at her touch.

  "It responds to pressure," she explained. "Press harder to dim it further, or press and hold to extinguish it completely."

  Sera approached, standing close enough that Lilith could smell the jasmine oil from her bath. "Like this?" she asked, placing her fingers on another crystal. The light flickered and dimmed.

  "Perfect," Lilith said, her voice coming out huskier than intended. She cleared her throat. "You can control each light individually, or use the master crystal by the door to control them all at once."

  Sera nodded, her gaze meeting Lilith's for a moment before sliding away. "Thank you, Lady Lilith. I appreciate your patience with my ignorance."

  "There's no ignorance in not knowing something you've never encountered," Lilith replied. "And please, just Lilith is fine."

  She turned to leave, feeling Sera's eyes on her as she walked to the door. The sensation sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, and she found herself swaying her hips slightly more than necessary.

  "Sleep well, Sera," Lilith said, pausing at the threshold. "Tomorrow will be a long day."

  "Goodnight... Lilith," Sera replied, her voice soft.

  As Lilith closed the door behind her, she caught Sera's final glance—a look that contained curiosity, admiration, and something warmer that made Lilith's pulse quicken. She made her way to her own chambers, increasingly aware of the heat building within her that had nothing to do with the bath she'd just taken.

  Lilith hurried to her bedchamber, leaning against the wall with a sigh. The encounter with Sera had left her strangely flustered. She crossed to her bed, the enormous four-poster draped in midnight blue silks that matched her skin tone. As she slipped between the sheets, she couldn't help but imagine Sera in her own bed just down the hall.

  "This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself. "I've been in this body for what, three days? And already I'm..." She trailed off, unwilling to complete the thought.

  Was this attraction to Sera simply her new nature asserting itself? Or was it something more genuine?

  "Different hardware, same software," she whispered with a wry smile. Yet it wasn't that simple. The way desire manifested in this body was so much more intense, so much more immediate.

  Lilith turned onto her side, drawing the silken sheets around her. Her wings folded comfortably against her back, and her tail curled naturally around her thigh. These demonic features that had seemed so alien just days ago now felt as natural as breathing.

  Sleep came more easily than she expected, her body relaxing into the luxurious bed. Unlike the previous nights of dreamless slumber, however, her mind filled with vivid images as consciousness slipped away. Dreams of pale ashen skin beneath her blue fingers. Of amber eyes darkening with desire. Of Sera's lips parting in pleasure.

  Throughout the night, Lilith's dreams wove a tapestry of possibility—her and Sera entwined together, exploring each other with unhurried curiosity. The dreams felt real, almost tangible, leaving Lilith's sleeping form restless beneath the sheets, her tail twitching and her wings unfurling slightly as the night deepened around her.

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