Present, in Asher’s city
The day had been exhausting.
All week, Asher’s mind had been elsewhere.
Ever since Stolas had thrown that truth in his face, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. It consumed him. No matter how hard he tried to focus on his responsibilities—on the management of new clans, the expansion of the demon city he had built with his own hands—nothing worked.
His thoughts always led him back to the same place.
To Luci.
Luci, Prince of Camellia.
Luci, heir of the Star lineage.
Luci, the little human prince with the sharp tongue.
Luci, Luci, Luci… AHHHH!
He let himself fall onto his bed, wings sprawling across the mattress.
His room suddenly felt massive… and unbearably empty.
Everything around him was a reflection of himself—the furniture sculpted by his own claws, the artifacts forged over the years, a space entirely shaped by his hands. And yet, none of it filled the hollow ache weighing in his chest.
Asher let out a long sigh and grabbed one of his sketchbooks. Drawing, creating, sculpting, these things had always calmed him.
Without thinking, his pencil traced a face.
Luci.
First, the Luci of his childhood, but the lines were vague.
Too distant.
He tried again.
This time, he drew the Luci from the battlefield.
Proud. Tall. Powerful.
Then, he drew him smiling.
His heart clenched. When was the last time he had seen him smile?
His hand moved on its own, sketching sharper details. His neck. His shoulders. His bare chest.
Asher stopped abruptly.
His scales tingled, his cheeks burned red.
With a swift motion, he snapped the sketchbook shut and tossed it onto the bedside table.
— Fuck...
Running a hand over his flushed face, he turned toward the window. It had started raining. The scent of damp earth filled the room, and a cool breeze rustled the curtains. He had never feared the rain.
Rain extinguished fire.
And fire...
Asher swallowed hard. He leaned back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling, and absentmindedly reached for his pinky finger.
The cool touch of metal.
His golden ring.
Luci…
He tried to remember him.
Despite a disastrous beginning and only a short week spent together, Luci had always been kind and full of life. His first friend, before Stolas, before the other demons with whom he had built bonds and, later, this city. Luci was the first person who had ever told him he was beautiful. The only one who had looked at his scales and found them fascinating, rather than fearing or worshiping them. That had left a mark, deep in his soul.
Even now, after all this time, Luci still had a special place in his heart.
Luci was… different. From the moment Asher had met his bright red eyes, he had been drawn in. Captivated. To him, Luci was like a fallen angel. He was so impressive, so pure, so... breathtaking.
But that wasn’t why Luci was so special to Asher.
The poor boy had never truly felt human or demon. Humans called him a monster. His father had wanted him to behave like a human. And the demons had no idea about his past in the forest. But Luci had seen him for what he was.
Luci was the only one who had allowed him to be both sides of himself.
He hadn’t tried to control him. Hadn’t tried to command him. He had just… been his friend.
With him, Asher had been free, like he had spread his wings for the very first time.
He missed that.
He missed Luci.
Maybe that’s what he wanted to get back.
Maybe he wanted more...
What did he really want from Luci now?
To have his friend back?
For him to be his prince?
Or... more than that?
Asher closed his eyes.
His mind whispered the answer.
He wanted Luci.
By his side.
Against him.
But was Luci still the same Luci?
He imagined him sitting on the edge of the bed, only inches away.
— Luci… do you remember me? What do you think of me now? What do you feel for me?
In his daydream, Luci gave him that same bright, pure smile.
— That’s not the real question, Ash…
He leaned in, his fingers sliding over the demon’s shoulders, his smile shifting into something more hypnotic.
Asher shivered under the imaginary touch.
— The real question is…
Luci straddled his thighs, his hands exploring the heat of his skin.
— …What do you feel for me?
Asher’s breath hitched. His scales deepened to a shade of crimson, betraying his turmoil.
— I… I don’t know. I… I want you to be my friend… again?
— Nothing more?
(Mature Content Disclaimer)
Luci tilted his head and leaned in, his breath warm against Asher’s ear before he caught the lobe between his teeth, nibbling gently. A fire ignited in Asher’s core. His lips parted as he struggled for air, his body responding instinctively.
— Come on, Asher… tell me what you really feel…
Luci’s lips ghosted over the base of his neck, brushing against his scales with a featherlight touch. Asher bit down on his own lip, his breath ragged.
— Say it, Ash…
Luci’s gaze burned through him, tracing the lines of his scales with an angel’s touch. His fingers wandered across his chest, finding his sensitive nipples before sliding lower. A deep, guttural sigh escaped the demon lord’s throat.
— And then, I can give my little demon lord everything he desires, Luci whispered.
It was as if the prince’s image had taken on a will of its own, completely ensnaring him. The illusion of Luci took Asher’s trembling hand and guided it down to his own stomach, while his other hand wrapped around Asher’s tail, the tail that had instinctively coiled around his own aching length.
The sensitive ridges at the tip, swollen with desire, pulsed under Luci’s teasing fingers. Asher shuddered, his breath coming in short, desperate gasps.
— Say it… and we can have all the fun we want, Luci murmured, his voice dripping with seduction.
The mirage shed its clothes, leaving only the golden crown upon his head, his body laid bare, offered entirely to Asher.
The demon lord broke. Whatever resistance he had clung to crumbled in an instant. His claws dug into the sheets.
— Luci… I think I… no.
He could no longer lie to himself.
— I think I’ve always loved you.
The illusion’s smile widened as he straddled Asher’s lap, his hand pressing against his lower abdomen.
— I love you too, Ash.
That was all it took for Asher’s mind to spiral completely into the fantasy.
He imagined Luci playing with his tails, caressing them, teasing their length with wicked intent before, in one smooth motion, he took them inside himself. The prince’s cry of pleasure rang through his mind, and Asher arched off the bed, his body overwhelmed by the intensity of sensation of his own imagination.
With a shuddering moan, he came undone, spilling hot ribbons of pleasure across his stomach. His wings stretched to their fullest, trembling as the aftershocks coursed through him.
His eyes snapped open.
His breath came in ragged gasps. His heart thundered against his ribs.
He looked down at himself, his flushed skin, the tightness of his muscles, the evidence of his release staining his chest.
The truth he had tried so hard to avoid…
Was now laid bare before him.
(End of mature Content Disclaimer)
"Luci, I think I’ve always loved you."
Yes, it was an admission to himself.
He had been in love with Luci since the moment they met.
And now that they were grown, he wanted to consume that love.
The sound of the rain crashed against the windows, pulling him back to reality.
He was alone.
Even though he had finally been honest with himself, he still didn’t know if Luci felt the same.
He grabbed a damp towel, wiped himself clean, and got dressed again.
His gaze drifted toward the window. The rain was pouring harder now, blurring the horizon. He reached out, letting the cold droplets brush against his fingertips.
It was unbearable, sitting with these unanswered questions. Even if they shattered his heart, he needed to know.
It’s not like he could just knock on Luci’s door and ask, right?
Stolas’ words echoed in his mind.
"A demon lord can do whatever he wants. Stop asking yourself questions and just do it."
Stolas was cunning and wise. He was probably right.
Asher inhaled deeply.
Yes. He needed to know.
He took his outfit and all the courage he could muster, then walked toward the balcony. In one smooth motion, he spread his wings wide.
The rain pelted against his burning-hot scales, but he didn’t care.
The rain protected him from fire.
And tonight, it would protect him from prying eyes.
At his speed, he would reach Camellia’s capital in less than three hours.
And then, he would have his answer.
With a single powerful wingbeat, he shot into the night, faster than sound.
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