The first sign something was wrong
was the silence.
An unnatural silence—
thick, pulsing, like the air itself was waiting to snap.
Aiden sat beside the saintess, reviewing his plans when—
Her fingers twitched.
Then her lips parted.
"…Aiden…"
His head rose.
Too early.
She shouldn't have woken for hours.
Her eyelashes fluttered, then she looked at him—
And he instantly knew.
Something had changed.
Not a physical change.
Not magical.
Something deeper, coiled inside her soul like a serpent stretching in new skin.
She smiled.
Slow.
Unholy.
"Good morning… my incubus."
Aiden froze.
Sabrina dropped the teacup she was holding.
Catherine went rigid.
The saintess sat up, hair spilling over her shoulders, movements too graceful, too sensual. Her eyes—once pure gold—now shimmered with a faint crimson ring.
She reached out, palm grazing down Aiden's jaw.
"before ..you smelled holy...but now ..You smell like sin…" she whispered.
Her breath trembled.
"And I love it."
