The cold obsidian tablet pressed into Lin Xi's spine, scattered case files scraping at her skin. Lucifer's heavy frame pinned her completely, his scorching breath on her neck, the sharp sting of his fangs painfully clear. That overwhelming, destructive Alpha pheromone felt like tangible shackles, making every inch of her muscles scream in protest.
Surrender? Or be utterly crushed?
No!
A near-mad resolve flashed in Lin Xi's eyes. If she couldn't match his strength, she'd gamble—gamble on his pride as a wolf king, gamble on his curiosity for the "unknown" far outweighing the rage of a momentary provocation!
The instant his fangs were about to pierce her skin, Lin Xi ceased struggling or pushing him away. Instead, she relaxed her physical resistance, channeling every ounce of her remaining mental energy—along with that alien essence deep within her soul, foreign to this world—unreservedly. Like a bursting dam, it surged through their tightly pressed bodies, violently flooding back into Lucifer's system!
This was not an attack, but a raw, defenseless "opening."
"Gah—!"
Lucifer's body convulsed violently, emitting a suppressed growl. Instead of the anticipated sweet, submissive pheromones of an Omega, what flooded his senses was a torrent—cold, scorching, chaotic, yet pulsing with a strange vitality. This sensation was alien and violent, unlike any known wolf or vampire energy. It felt more like primordial cosmic dust from the universe's birth, brutally washing over his nerve endings and even momentarily disrupting the stable flow of his own pheromones!
His grip on her waist tightened violently, his nails nearly digging into her flesh. The hand holding her wrist unconsciously loosened its hold. Within his crimson pupils, pure savagery was replaced by utter shock and an intense urge to understand.
Now!
Seizing the moment his mind reeled from this sudden energy shock, Lin Xi tilted her head back. Her pale face flushed an unnatural crimson from the excessive drain on her psychic energy, yet her eyes burned with terrifying intensity.
"Do you feel it, Your Majesty..." she gasped, her voice broken yet laced with hooks. "This is the 'thing' you wished to mark... The 'unknown' even I cannot control. Are you certain... you wish to make it a part of you?"
With effort, she raised her functioning hand. Her trembling fingertips pressed precisely against his heaving, scorching chest, feeling the frenzied beat of the powerful heart beneath.
"Or perhaps," she forced a near-exhausted smile, her gaze locked on his crimson eyes churning with tempestuous waves, "you'd rather... conquer it first?"
Lucifer stared at her intently, his chest heaving violently, breath ragged. The spot on his neck where her energy had struck still tingled faintly. That unfamiliar, chaotic, yet fatally alluring sensation burned like a brand into his senses.
Conquer?
The word struck him precisely.
Forcibly marking a helpless Omega was instinct. But conquering an "existence" carrying unknown chaos—one that could make even him feel momentarily out of control? This was far more... intriguing than the "game" he had originally anticipated.
The savagery in his eyes slowly settled, transforming into a deeper, darker, more relentless possessiveness. He no longer desired merely a mark. He sought to utterly control this chaotic flame, to brand everything about her—including that damned "unknown"—with his own imprint!
He straightened slowly, still pinning her between the desk and his body, yet the explosive, destructive pressure quietly receded. In its place emerged a thicker, more dangerous patience—the patience of a hunter.
"Conquest..." he murmured hoarsely, his fingertips tracing the faint red mark where his fangs had pressed against her neck. The gesture carried an unsettling tenderness. "Very good."
He lowered his head, his nose nearly touching hers, their scorching breaths mingling.
"Then I shall grant you this opportunity, 'Vessel'." His voice was like a demon's whisper. "Use all your 'unknown' to please me. Before I lose patience... prove you are worthy to bear my mark."
He abruptly released her, stepping back.
The sudden space nearly sent Lin Xi tumbling to the floor. She braced herself desperately with her elbows on the tabletop to avoid sliding down. Dizziness from mental exhaustion and the crushing pain in her body hit her simultaneously.
Lucifer stood a step away, adjusting the slightly rumpled collar of his shirt. His expression had returned to its usual icy composure and commanding presence, save for the dangerous, unquenchable flame burning deep within his crimson eyes.
"Extract every scrap of information about the 'Sower' and the 'New Moon' from the crystal," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "This is the first step in proving your worth."
He turned and walked toward the inner chamber.
"Remember, the time you have left... is running out."
Lin Xi leaned against the cold desk, breathing heavily as she watched his figure disappear behind the door. She raised her hand, staring at her fingertips that still trembled slightly.
This time, she had won the gamble.
Yet she was acutely aware that she had thrown herself into an even more perilous game. What Lucifer sought was no longer mere submission, but complete conquest—along with every secret buried within her soul.
And she must uncover the conspiracy behind the "Vessel" and find a way to save the system before he "conquered" her.
She lowered her gaze to the "Shadow Eye" crystal lying on the floor, emitting a faint, ominous glow.