The Primal Hunter

Irinixis lay on the large bed and stared at the overly decorated ceiling of the ridiculously expensive hotel. The silky blanket barely covered her body, and she felt like she was almost in a trance. Every second she expected to wake up from some powerful illusion or cruel mental attack, but with every moment passing with nothing happening, the world was proven more and more real.

Turning her head, she saw the human lying beside her, hands behind his head, and his eyes closed as he looked to be meditating. If he actually was, she didn’t know, as he seemed to always be aware of his surroundings even when he was supposed not to be. Proven by him opening an eye and catching her peeking at him.

“Something on my face?” he asked, teasing Irin. Definitely revenge for all the teasing she had done recently. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but answer honestly.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that, you know… I thought it was a joke all the way up to when it suddenly wasn’t,” Irin said, still feeling like everything was a bit surreal.

“What? You thought I was some eunuch?” Jake raised an eyebrow.

“The thought had crossed my mind for a moment after you missed every subtle and obvious hint I dropped. Seeing as you showed no interest in the elf girl at your residence either, I kind of assumed you weren’t very interested in anything like this,” she answered.

“Just had some complicated feelings on the matter,” he shook his head as he sat up.

Irin looked at him a bit and questioned something she had noticed before but never brought up. “That scar on your neck. Why is it there?”

He had just evolved and should have been able to fix something like that. Even the Azure Dragonkin would be healed by the system when he evolved, so no matter what caused a scar, the system would heal it. The only way it wouldn’t disappear would be because the person wanted it to stay, either consciously or unconsciously.

Jake brought his hand to the small scar and smiled. “Just a reminder of this one time an old man nearly cut my head off. It was a good time, and I am looking forward to when a rematch feels right.”

Irin was intrigued but didn’t ask more as she felt he didn’t plan on sharing. Instead, she just snuggled up to him and just enjoying being there. Jake gladly threw his hand around her, and she wondered if he wanted to go for another round, but it seemed he just wanted to cuddle.

All fine by her, if a bit disappointing. Irin closed her eyes and laid her hand on Jake’s shoulder as he also relaxed.

Irin couldn’t help her internal questioning, which made this entire scenario feel so surreal. She truly had never expected to actually be where she was right now. She, a relatively low-ranked worker at the Order in bed with the Chosen of the Malefic Viper. If it did ever happen that she managed to “snatch up” a powerful and influential person, she would have expected it to happen under far other circumstances. For her to perhaps just be one of many women who caught the eyes of some young master - that she would end up sharing a bed with hundreds. Not that she would have the undivided attention of a Chosen for an entire night.

To her Path, it truly was the equivalent of some C-grade crafter managing to create a peak-quality mythical weapon or a fighter killing a foe multiple times stronger than them.

As a succubus, she pretty much had to level her race through intimacy. She could also do it through practicing her racial magic or a bit from combat, but her Path was designed around what she and Lord Thayne had just done. It was a Path she had chosen herself, and she couldn’t lie and say it was one she didn’t enjoy. But, even so…

She almost felt guilty. Irin had always thought herself a very headstrong woman. She had to be if she wanted to survive the demonic corporate world, but even so. She truly felt like she had taken advantage of the Chosen, even if he seemed to think it was the opposite for some inexplicable reason.

It somehow just felt wrong. It had been one night – a long night, granted – but still just one night. The Velvet Mistress, who had long figured out who Jake truly was, had already hinted at this being a thing if she succeeded, but still. She couldn’t shake the thought that it was too much.

Irin had expected levels. It was her Path, after all. But… really?

nineteen fucking race levels from one round

and didn’t always think his actions through before just jumping straight into things. When Irin had asked him outside of the hotel, a “screw it” switch had flipped, and he

is, did he regret

Fuck no.

any model from the world before the system to shame wasn’t something he could really be mad at himself for doing. He also began to consider how stupid it was for him to reject Irin over and over again because he thought he

of her, then who was he to proclaim she was wrong? Even if he felt like that, it felt wrong to punish others

and he felt like he owed her, plus she was clearly interested in him with a form of affection he could accept. She wasn’t like the Emberflight or whatever, who viewed him as a Bloodline Patriarch and nothing more. Irin instead just wanted him for

twenty throughout the night. By the end, she had stopped rapidly progressing, so he assumed it wasn’t like she could spend a week with him and reach

now he realized why Irin had been so persistent in her pursuit. Her dragging Jake to bed was her version of Jake killing the King of the Forest during the Tutorial. Records, levels, skills. It was her Path, and Jake wouldn’t lie; he was A-okay helping her progress. A

about a bit, rubbing all over him before she stared up at him

thought as they made their way into the street. Irin was a bit more restrained than before and, of

question my sudden growth,” Irin said in a worried tone. “Perhaps they may even suspect you. It is no secret I have spent time with you over these last few days and

do if they figured it out besides making some preparations and maybe spreading information to a few larger factions? I assume most would know that spreading it far and wide when the Viper and I intend to keep it hidden

“I sincerely thank you, Lord Thayne, for humoring me during this night. It means more

said, looking surprised at Irin. “You actually thought I did it just to reward you for something? I don’t really operate like that. I did it because I wanted to, not out of any sense of obligation or whatever. I sure as hell don’t view it as transactional… ah, but don’t misunderstand; I am not looking for a relationship or anything, more just a casual

the middle of the deserted street and stared at him. “I… I was under the impression this was

totally can

I meant!” she quickly tried to clarify. “Just that… ah, you can be frustrating sometimes, you know that, right? Most people with your status have very high standards and don’t just casually make decisions like this. They need to consider the political impacts, how their allies, concubines, or even wives perceive things, and of course, how their own faction would interpret their actions. Especially how their Patron receives it matters, and… are you sure

hotel,” Jake grinned, making Irin stare for a second. “Also, his thoughts on the matter are irrelevant to me. Sure, I would take his advice into consideration, but the Viper isn’t

Patron,” Irin said in a

just a technicality. I call him a friend for a

a Chosen and a Patron. It seems a lot more casual than I had anticipated, but if your attitude is accepted by the Malefic

fine with it. The system? Not sure on that one considering how it labeled me a heretic,” Jake said

wait, what did you say?” Irin said, confused. “The system labeled you a heretic before you

me one after I was blessed,” Jake

of

I don’t really see it as an issue, and neither does the Viper. Ah, but probably don’t spread it around too much. It would probably

possible…” Irin muttered to herself. “And… why did you tell

of the Malefic Viper, right? Well, if you are supposed to act as one, then keeping something so huge a secret may just end up screwing me in the long

serious?” Irin

it is a bit weird being both a heretic and a

About being

rhetorically. He knew he needed one because fuck him if he would do all that political shit himself. “And I want someone I trust and actually like, not just some

a liaison, it was due to you being a