Faith shifted in her seat, fingers tapping against the carved wooden cup. “So how exactly is this going to work? Do we just… walk up and introduce ourselves?”

  “Not quite.” Aria leaned forward, scanning the room with practiced efficiency. “Since we’re staying together, we need someone wealthy. Someone willing to splurge. Preferably a group—easier to split attention that way.”

  “A group?” Faith’s voice climbed half an octave.

  “More efficient.” Isabella swirled her drink. “Four of us, multiple targets. Simple mathematics.”

  I watched the room, letting my gaze drift across various clusters. A trio of Malani near the windows, their clothing simple and functional. Two Verdani by the bar, their photosynthetic skin patterns suggesting merchant class at best. Nothing that screamed resources or opportunity.

  “What about them?” Aria nodded toward a corner booth.

  Isabella followed her line of sight. “Too cautious. See how they’re positioned? Backs to the wall, watching exits. They’re here for discrete business, not pleasure.”

  “Fair point.” Aria resumed her search.

  Faith took another sip of her drink, probably hoping the motion would settle her nerves. It wouldn’t—alcohol did nothing for demons beyond providing pleasant flavours. But old habits died hard.

  “There.” Isabella’s attention fixed on a table near the far end of the bar. “Three males. Malani, judging by the horns. The one in the centre keeps gesturing at his clothes, his drink. Classic wealth display behaviour.”

  I followed her gaze. The man in question wore silk that caught the amber light, his horns adorned with decorative bands that probably cost more than most demons earned in a month. His two companions wore simpler attire, their posture slightly deferential.

  “Perfect.” Aria’s grin widened. “He’s exactly the type who needs an audience for his generosity. Makes it personal.”

  “I don’t know if I can—” Faith started.

  “Easy target,” Aria interrupted. “Look at how he’s talking. He wants attention, validation. We just provide it.”

  Isabella nodded. “I’ll take the one on the left. Aria, you handle the right?”

  “Already planning it.” Aria turned toward Faith and me. “Which leaves our wealthy friend for you two.”

  My mind stuttered. “Wait, what?”

  “Both of us?” Faith said simultaneously.

  “Makes sense.” Aria’s tone suggested this was obvious. “Faith needs guidance, and Lily has the instincts to compensate for inexperience. Besides—” her grin turned mischievous, “—it would be improper for a princess to settle for the secondary treats.”

  Heat crept up my neck for the second time that evening.

  Faith looked between Aria and me, something uncomfortable flickering across her features. The awkwardness made sense—she was about to seduce someone alongside her ex-boyfriend who was now an entirely different person. A succubus. A woman.

  My own discomfort settled somewhere in my chest. Tutoring Faith through her first hunt felt simultaneously natural and completely strange. The situation defied every frame of reference I had.

  “I’m not sure I can do this,” Faith said quietly.

  “You won’t be alone.” Aria waved away her concern. “Lily will compensate for anything you miss. And you’ve got instincts—every succubus does.”

  “I’m only half succubus.” Faith’s fingers tightened around her cup.

  “Half the instincts is still leagues better than an average mortal.” Aria stood, smoothing her outfit. “Trust your body. It knows what to do.”

  My thoughts settled into something approaching clarity. Yes, this was complicated. Yes, the dynamics were messy and layered with history that didn’t quite fit anymore. But Faith needed this, and somehow the prospect of guiding her through it felt… right. Important.

  Maybe because I’d finally made peace with what I was. Or maybe because Faith was truly part of this world now—my world—and this represented another step in accepting that reality.

  “Don’t worry too much,” I told Faith. “It worked out for me in the end.”

  Faith met my eyes. Something shifted in her expression—not quite acceptance, but closer to determination.

  “Alright.” She set down her cup. “Let’s do this.”

  Aria was already moving toward the target table, her hips swaying with deliberate emphasis. Isabella followed at a more measured pace, her approach suggesting refined interest rather than overt availability.

  I stood, offering my hand to Faith. She took it, her palm warm against mine.

  The apprehension that had coiled in my stomach gave way to something sharper, more focused. Excitement, maybe. Or hunger dressed in anticipation.

  We crossed the bar floor together, the amber light casting shifting shadows across polished wood. Our target’s attention hadn’t found us yet, but it would. They always did.

  * * *

  We positioned ourselves near a curved booth with plush seating, close enough to the Malani trio to enter their peripheral vision, far enough to suggest we hadn’t noticed them. Isabella settled against the cushions first, her posture relaxed but calculated. Aria took the spot beside her, leaving the center positions for Faith and me.

  The arrangement wasn’t random. Faith and I became the focal point, framed by our companions like artwork in a gallery.

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  I felt Faith’s uncertainty radiating through the subtle tension in her shoulders. My own nerves twisted somewhere beneath my ribs. Strange, considering I was supposed to be guiding her through this. Teaching someone else felt absurd when my own experience amounted to a handful of encounters—most of which I’d just stumbled through.

  But my body knew things my mind didn’t. Knew how to tilt my head to catch the light. Knew the exact angle to cross my legs that suggested interest without desperation. Months of Professor Moira’s lectures had wormed their way into my already impressive instincts, theoretical knowledge merging with demonic reflexes until the distinction blurred.

  “Relax,” I murmured to Faith. “Just follow what feels natural.”

  Faith’s laugh came out tight. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

  Aria leaned across the table, her voice pitched for our ears alone. “Don’t force it. Your body already understands the game. Let it lead.”

  The wealthy Malani’s gaze found us. His attention swept across our group, lingered on Faith and me, then returned to his companions with a comment I couldn’t hear. One of his friends glanced our direction and grinned.

  “They’ve noticed,” Isabella said. “Now we wait.”

  Waiting required its own skill. Not staring directly at them, but maintaining awareness through peripheral vision. Continuing our conversation—Aria’s animated description of some absurd incident at the Academy—while projecting availability. The space between acknowledgment and invitation where men convinced themselves they were doing the pursuing.

  It took three minutes. The Malani trio approached with practiced confidence, the wealthy one leading while his companions flanked him.

  “Forgive the intrusion.” His smile revealed sharp canines, his Malani physiology similar enough to demonic that casual observation wouldn’t spot the differences. “I couldn’t help but notice such striking company, and thought introductions might be in order. I’m Osweald. These are my associates, Ilos and Deort.”

  Aria’s responding smile managed to suggest both surprise and pleasure. “How kind of you to say. I’m Aria.” She gestured to each of us in turn. “My friends Isabella, Lily, and Faith.”

  “A pleasure.” Osweald’s attention settled on Faith and me. “Are you here for the resort’s famous relaxation treatments? The Blue Lagoon has quite the reputation.”

  “We’re more on a sightseeing tour,” I said. The words came easily, my voice carrying exactly the right blend of friendly and approachable. “Taking in different destinations. We’ll probably move on in a few hours.”

  Faith nodded, adding, “Just passing through, really.”

  Something flickered in Osweald’s expression—opportunity recognized. “Only a few hours? That seems hardly enough time to appreciate what this place can offer.” He gestured to his companions. “Please, join us for drinks at least. It would be criminal to let you leave without proper hospitality.”

  Ilos and Deort echoed the invitation, their attention dividing between Aria and Isabella with obvious interest.

  “We wouldn’t want to impose,” Isabella said, her tone suggesting the exact opposite.

  “Nonsense.” Osweald waved away her concern. “I insist. In fact—” he paused, as if the thought had just occurred to him rather than being his plan all along, “—you should stay the night. The resort truly reveals its charms after sunset. I’d be happy to arrange accommodations.”

  Aria exchanged glances with Isabella, then Faith and me. The silent communication looked spontaneous, four friends considering an unexpected offer. In reality, we were confirming our hook had set properly.

  “That’s very generous,” I said slowly, letting reluctance colour my words. “But we couldn’t accept—”

  “Please.” Osweald’s smile widened. “Consider it my gift. Four rooms, whatever you prefer. I’d hate to think I let such delightful company slip away without showing you proper hospitality.”

  Faith leaned closer to me, her uncertainty reading as endearing shyness rather than actual nervousness. Her instincts were already working, translating her genuine awkwardness into something that enhanced rather than hindered the dynamic.

  “What do you think?” she asked quietly.

  I pretended to consider, tilting my head in a way that made my hair shift across my shoulders. “I suppose one night wouldn’t hurt our schedule.”

  “Wonderful!” Osweald’s expression suggested he’d just accomplished something significant. He turned to his companions. “I’ll handle the arrangements. Why don’t you all get better acquainted?”

  Ilos moved toward the spot beside Aria while Deort claimed the space next to Isabella. Osweald settled himself between Faith and me, his positioning exactly as calculated as our own had been.

  The difference was that we’d placed ourselves. He thought he’d chosen.

  “So tell me,” Osweald said, his attention bright with interest, “what brings four beautiful women to our quiet corner of the realms?”

  Faith’s nervousness spiked, but before she could stumble over a response, her body language shifted. Some instinct kicked in, softening her expression, angling her shoulders toward him. “Adventure,” she said simply. “Seeing places we’ve never been.”

  “How exciting.” Osweald leaned back, his posture expanding to occupy more space. “I travel quite extensively myself. Business interests across multiple countries. You’d be amazed at the connections I’ve cultivated…”

  He launched into what would probably become a lengthy catalogue of his importance. Beside me, Faith’s hand found mine beneath the table. Her fingers squeezed once—nervous, but holding steady.

  I squeezed back, a silent reassurance. We had this. The plan was working.

  And despite the strangeness of seducing someone alongside my ex-girlfriend, despite everything that should have made this awkward and wrong—it felt natural.

  The hunt had begun properly now. All that remained was letting Osweald believe he controlled where it led, while we guided him exactly where we needed him to go.

  * * *

  Half an hour dissolved into easy conversation and increasingly bold touches.

  Osweald’s hand had migrated to my thigh, his palm warm through the thin fabric of my skirt. I leaned into him, letting my shoulder press against his chest while he described his latest property acquisition in tedious detail. His self-importance made focusing difficult, but my body knew the script even when my mind wandered.

  Across the table, Ilos had somehow positioned himself close enough to Aria that their legs touched beneath the surface. She laughed at something he said, her fingers trailing along his forearm in a gesture that looked casual but promised everything.

  Isabella had turned her full attention on Deort, her ice-blue eyes fixed on his face with an intensity that made him stumble over his words. When she reached across him for her drink, her breast brushed his arm—an accident that definitely wasn’t.

  Faith surprised me most. Her initial nervousness had faded into something smoother, more natural. When Osweald’s friend made some joke about the beach at sunset, she smiled and said they should all go together. Her hand rested on his knee, fingers spreading just slightly. The contact looked exploratory, shy even, but it held his complete focus.

  “We should move somewhere more comfortable,” Osweald suggested. His thumb stroked circles against my leg. “The rooms have excellent views. Private balconies, wine service…”

  “That does sound better than this crowded bar,” I agreed. My tail curved around to brush his side, and his breathing changed immediately.

  Aria stood first, stretching in a way that made Ilos stare. “Lead the way then.”

  Isabella followed, her movements liquid grace as she rose beside Deort. He offered his arm like a gentleman, which would have been charming if we’d been interested in anything beyond what his wallet could provide and what feeding we’d take afterward.

  Faith hesitated just a moment before accepting Osweald’s offered hand. I caught her eye as she stood—her expression calm despite the nervous energy I could still feel radiating from her in subtle waves.

  We left the bar together, three demons and one half-demon following our prey through the resort’s elegant corridors. Osweald walked between Faith and me, clearly pleased with himself, oblivious to the truth.

  They thought they’d found convenient company for the evening.

  They had no idea they were dinner.

  The anticipation settled warm in my chest as we approached the room doors. Not guilt, not anymore. Just the natural satisfaction of a successful evening ahead.

  Faith glanced at me one more time before Osweald’s door, and I saw my own expression reflected there—relaxed, confident, ready.

  Whatever doubts she’d carried earlier had dissolved completely.