The dungeon routine wasn't exactly exciting.
Wake up. Eat something vaguely resembling porridge. Listen to the goblin in the next cell practice his "escape tunnel" (which turned out to be just him scratching the wall with a spoon). Wonder if today was execution day. Go back to sleep.
Ethan was starting to think he might actually die of boredom before the Demon Queen decided what to do with him.
So when the sound of soft footsteps echoed down the dungeon corridor, lighter and more graceful than the armored guards, he perked up immediately.
The guards at their posts stiffened as a figure emerged from the shadows. At first glance, Ethan thought it was Lilith again, but no — this woman's presence was different.
Her hair was a deep shade of violet, tumbling in loose waves over bare shoulders. Her eyes glowed faintly pink in the torchlight, playful rather than piercing. She wore a gown far more revealing than the Queen's regal attire, with slits in dangerous places and a neckline that could cause nosebleeds in weaker men. Black wings folded neatly behind her, and a spaded tail flicked lazily at her side.
She was, without a doubt, a succubus.
And judging by the way the guards averted their eyes, she was not just any succubus.
"Well, well, well," she purred, stopping in front of his cell. Her smile was sharp, mischievous. "So this is the little mortal who has my sister in such a mood."
Ethan blinked. "Wait. Sister? As in… you're…?"
"Selene," she said with a graceful curtsy, though the teasing glint in her eyes made it feel more like mockery than respect. "First Princess of the Demon Realm, Mistress of Desire, General of the Third Legion, and…" She leaned closer to the bars, lips curving, "…Lilith's dear younger sister."
Ethan's stomach sank. Oh no.
"Oh yes," Selene said, as if reading his mind. "You've caused quite the stir upstairs. Our dear Queen hasn't stopped thinking about you."
"I doubt that," Ethan muttered. "She probably just hasn't decided what seasoning goes best with human stew."
Selene laughed — a throaty, melodious laugh that curled around him like smoke. "You're funny. No wonder she's flustered."
Flustered? Ethan almost choked. The Demon Queen, flustered? Impossible.
But Selene looked entirely serious… or as serious as someone with a perpetual flirtatious smile could look.
"I had to see for myself," she continued, circling his cell with a predator's grace. "The mortal who waltzed into my sister's bath and lived. The mortal who dared compliment her without groveling. The mortal who made her laugh."
The way she said that last word made Ethan wince. "That was an accident!"
"Mm. Accidents can be dangerous things."
She stopped in front of the bars again, gripping them lightly. Her eyes locked onto his, shimmering with mischief.
"So tell me, Ethan," she whispered, voice dropping like silk over skin. "Do you only seduce Queens… or do Princesses catch your fancy too?"
Ethan sputtered. "I—I didn't seduce her! I was begging for my life!"
Selene tilted her head. "Begging can be very seductive in its own way."
He smacked his forehead against the bars. "Why is this happening to me?"
The goblin in the next cell croaked, "Because you lucky, human. Very lucky."
Selene chuckled and flicked her tail through the bars, brushing it against Ethan's chin. He yelped and scrambled back.
"Aw, don't be shy," she teased. "I don't bite. Hard."
Ethan pointed a trembling finger at her. "You're trying to get me killed, aren't you? If your sister walks in and sees this, I'm toast."
Selene's smile widened. "Now, that would be entertaining."
Before Ethan could retort, the sound of heavy doors opening echoed through the dungeon again. His blood ran cold.
Oh no.
Lilith.
The guards snapped to attention as the Queen strode in, her gown trailing like shadows behind her. Her crimson gaze swept over the room—and froze on the sight of Selene standing at Ethan's cell, her tail lazily caressing the bars.
The air temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Selene." Lilith's voice was icy enough to freeze magma.
Selene turned, utterly unbothered. "Dearest sister. What a coincidence. I was just visiting."
"Visiting," Lilith repeated flatly.
"Of course. I had to see the mortal who's caused such a stir. I was curious." She gave an exaggerated shrug. "You can't fault me for that, can you?"
Lilith's gaze sharpened. "Step away."
Selene pouted dramatically. "So protective already? How sweet." She winked at Ethan through the bars before gliding gracefully past Lilith, her hips swaying in deliberate provocation.
As she passed, she whispered loud enough for Ethan to hear, "She's already jealous. Be careful, mortal… or perhaps be bold."
And with that, she was gone, vanishing into the shadows with a flutter of her wings.
The silence she left behind was suffocating.
Ethan forced a laugh, weak and nervous. "So, uh… sisters, huh? That's… nice. Family visits. Keeps the dungeon lively."
Lilith's eyes snapped to him.
"Do not," she said in a dangerously low tone, "confuse her games with affection. Selene delights in stirring trouble."
"I figured that much," Ethan said quickly. "She nearly gave me a heart attack."
Lilith's gaze softened—just a fraction—before hardening again. "Do not let her charm sway you. She is a succubus. Every word from her lips is poison."
Ethan sighed. "Trust me, Your Majesty, I'm not exactly the type who women line up to seduce. I'm more of a… trip over my own feet and scare people away type."
The faintest twitch tugged at Lilith's lips again. She turned sharply to hide it, her gown sweeping behind her as she moved toward the door.
"You will stay here," she said curtly. "And you will keep your distance from Selene."
Ethan raised his hands innocently. "Not a problem! Distance is my specialty."
Lilith hesitated at the door, then glanced back over her shoulder. For just a heartbeat, her crimson eyes glimmered with something unguarded.
Then she was gone, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts.
He sank against the wall, groaning.
"First the Queen. Now the sister. I swear, if another demon woman shows up—"
The goblin cackled from the next cell. "Oh human, you doomed. Very doomed."
Ethan buried his face in his hands.
And for the first time, he began to suspect that maybe his survival wasn't the problem anymore.
Maybe it was exactly why he was in danger.