As Asher approached the entrance of the imposing Dreadthrone Castle, he couldn’t help but feel the spookiness of this place. The castle’s dark, foreboding walls seemed to cast an ominous shadow over the surrounding area, giving off an aura of mystery and intrigue.

As he neared the massive iron gates, he was met by a pair of stoic, cold-eyed guards clad in House Thorne’s dark blue colors. Their faces were unreadable, and their demeanor unwelcoming. Asher couldn’t help but feel as though he was entering the home of some predators.

“Greetings. Lady Sabina asked me to come here,” he announced casually. This time he came alone since he felt that he was going to be here for a while.

One of the guards simply gave him a curt bow while the other bowed and motioned for him to follow.

The guards escorted Asher through the labyrinthine halls of the castle, the echoing footsteps of their heavy boots the only sound that punctuated the eerie silence.

The air inside the castle was thick with an oppressive weight, as if the very walls were keeping the countless secrets of this House tightly locked away.

Asher had to admit he was curious about what kind of secrets these people were keeping.

The moment he got in, the guard bowed and left silently, much to his confusion. Were they seriously expecting him to find his way around the castle on his own? How rude could—

“Fu~, Fu~, look who finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you,” the voice teased. He instinctively tilted his head upwards, his eyes meeting the intoxicating gaze of a striking woman standing at the balustrade above.

Her sleeveless dark blue garments clung to her lithe frame, accentuating her sinuous curves and showing off her entire cleavage right down to her navel. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, framing her entrancing yet ghostly red eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets.

As Asher held her gaze, a slow smirk spread across his face. “I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting, now would I?” he replied smoothly, his charismatic confidence unshaken by her magnetic presence.

Sabina let out a melodious chuckle, her voice dripping with playful seduction. “Oh, I like your spirit,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Now, why don’t you come up here? I can’t wait to start my experiments with you,” Saying so, she slowly disappeared back into the darkness.

Asher could see that she seemed quite excited and wondered what was so special about these experiments.

Just as Asher was about to ascend the stairs, the sound of a door creaking open caught his attention. From the shadows emerged Jarius, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the sight of the royal consort standing in the dimly lit hall.𝒱𝐋xt.𝐜𝑜𝑚

“Uh, Your Highness?” Jarius stammered, his voice barely a whisper, “What are you doing here?” A wave of anxiety washed over him, as he feared the repercussions if Asher was here to stir up trouble—trouble that might somehow drag him into the fray.

Asher smirked, unfazed by the nervous display. “Your sister invited me in for some help with her experiments,” he explained nonchalantly.

Jarius blinked in disbelief. Was his sister really insane enough to involve the queen’s consort in her questionable experiments? What if something went wrong and word reached the queen?

Despite his reservations about Asher, he wanted to be on his good side. And so Jarius hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer to him, his voice barely audible as he whispered, “Listen, be on your guard, and don’t let my sister take control of anything. Because once she does, then…”

Asher let out a chuckle, his confident demeanor unshaken, “Thanks for the warning,” he replied, his voice tinged with amusement, “I could guess what kind of person your sister is, but trust me, I’ve handled worse.”

With that, Asher strode up the stairs, leaving behind a dumbfounded Jarius, who couldn’t help but think that if the royal consort came out of this unscathed, then perhaps his bragging wasn’t entirely unfounded.

…

Upon entering the dark, half-empty hall, Asher’s gaze swept over the eclectic assortment of tools scattered about: ropes, shackles, binders, and more.

The sight was both intriguing and unsettling. In the center of the room stood Sabina, her attention fixed on two tables placed at a distance from each other, each adorned with a cauldron and various strange ingredients.

Asher couldn’t help but wonder if the hall served purposes beyond potion-making, given the unusual tools on display.

He felt as if this hall looked more like a—

“Come over here,” she purred, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Asher walked towards her, but he couldn’t help but notice the temperature in the room. He wondered why this room was so cold. It was as if there were no temperature-regulating magical circles in this area. Wouldn’t this room then get very hot or cold depending on the time of day and the activities being carried out here?

He looked around the chamber, his curiosity piqued. “Why is this room so cold?” he asked Sabina, rubbing his hands together for warmth. “Aren’t there any rune circles in here?”

Sabina let out a soft, playful chuckle, “That’s the charm of this room,” she said, her breath forming a small cloud in the chilly air, “It’s a constant dance between hot and cold, adding a certain thrill to the experiments we undertake here.”

Her eyes sparkled with a mysterious glint as she continued, “Besides, a little bit of discomfort can heighten the senses, don’t you think?”

Asher smirked at her explanation, finding an odd sense of allure in the idea.

“I know you enjoy placing bets, so how about making one with me?” She asked with a wink.

Chuckling, Asher replied, “Is this your attempt at revenge for our last bet?”

Sabina flashed him a coy smile. “You could say that. So, are you confident enough to win again?”

Intrigued, Asher inquired, “What’s the bet about?”

“It’s simple,” Sabina explained. “We’ll each concoct a potion, and the one who does it better will win.”

Asher considered the proposition and replied, “I’m ready for anything. But what are the stakes?”

Sabina’s lips curled into a grin. “Just like last time, the winner is entitled to a favor from the loser.”

Asher’s smile matched hers as he agreed, “Sounds good.”

Sabina placed her hand on her hip, her posture oozing confidence, “The potion we’ll be making is actually a lotion that should make the consumer feel good. In this case, we’ll be the consumers, testing each other’s potions.”

She paused for a moment, considering the options, “I’ll start first. You can either choose to concoct your potion alongside me, or test mine and then start concocting. Either way, I’m fine with it.”

Asher raised an eyebrow as he pondered her words, wondering if he had heard her right. Did she really want to make a lotion that helped a person feel good? If his suspicions were correct, she was proposing to concoct pleasure lotions.

He surmised that she had probably brought him here to make him succumb to pleasure, and in doing so, turn him into one of her pets.

Thanks to Kookus, he had heard whispers about Sabina’s collection of doting followers, constantly trailing her as if their lives depended on it.

But Asher had no intention of becoming one of those poor souls. He silently resolved to teach her a small lesson and show her just who might end up becoming a pet in this game.

“Alright, Sabina,” Asher said, his voice steady and confident, as a wicked grin formed on his lips, “I’m looking forward to our little bet.”

Sabina smirked, her eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation, ‘Oh, Asher, you have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this moment.’

Sabina’s eyes flickered with a sly, devilish glint as she contemplated the inevitable outcome.

She could almost see it now – Asher, the prodigal consort with the Immortal Bloodline, succumbing to the enthralling effects of her lotion.

It wouldn’t be long before he clung to her every word, his gaze filled with boundless admiration and desire for her.

In her mind, she could hear his voice, heavy with longing, whispering her name like a prayer and offering her his delicious blood. The thought of it sent a shiver of excitement down her spine.

Sabina relished the anticipation of turning the tables on him and having the prodigal royal consort in the palm of her hand.

The air in the cold room seemed to crackle with tension as the two of them prepared to engage in their twisted game, each determined to prove their dominance over the other.

Asher leaned back in his chair, a picture of nonchalance, as he observed Sabina beginning to concoct her lotion with great earnestness.

Her slender, graceful hands moved with expert precision, dark blue magic emanating from her fingertips. Each ingredient was expertly combined and guided into the cauldron with her enchanting power.

He watched intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to discern the ingredients she used. Sabina, however, was clever, concealing her movements and the nature of her components, just as anyone would in a potion-concocting competition. She was indeed a formidable opponent, but Asher’s confidence remained unshaken.

A ghost of a smile graced his lips as he considered his own skills in potion-making. He was no amateur in this game, and he had every intention of giving Sabina a run for her money.

And so he decided to start concocting his own lotion instead of waiting for her to finish. His lips curved as dark green light reflected his eyes.