As we approached Lucy's cramped little shop tucked in a shadowy alley, I slowed my steps.
Something felt off.
The faint magical hum leaking from under the door, the overly sweet scent wafting out—it screamed **trap** to every survival instinct I had.
I raised a hand, stopping the group.
"Wait," I said quietly. "This could be an ambush. I'll go in first."
Bella shot me a look. "Ragnar, it's just Lucy's place. She's… annoying, not murderous."
"Maybe," I muttered, eyes narrowing at the flickering violet light behind the stained-glass window. "But I'm still going first."
Sarah tilted her head innocently. "Like a hero in those stories?"
"More like the guy who doesn't want all of you turned into toads because we walked into an obvious setup," I replied dryly.
After a moment of hesitation, Bella sighed. "Fine. But if anything happens, I'm blaming you."
I pushed the door open slowly, hand resting near my dagger, and stepped inside.
The scent hit harder, honey-sweet mixed with something acrid and alchemical.
Glowing bottles lined every wall, each pulsing with faint magic.
Then that familiar sultry voice floated from behind a curtain.
"Hmm, visitors? Welcome to my humble shop."
Lucy emerged, violet robe clinging to her exaggerated curves, huge breasts straining the fabric, hips swaying with practiced seduction.
Her half-lidded eyes scanned us, landing last on me.
"Lucy," Bella growled, stepping forward aggressively, arms crossed so tightly her knuckles whitened. "Long time no see."
Lucy's smile curled wider, dangerous and delighted. "My oldest *client*, Bella. How lovely."
The air crackled. Bella's tail lashed. Lucy's tail curled playfully, but her claws flexed.
For a heartbeat I was sure they were about to lunge.
I stepped between them, raising both hands. "Hey. We're here for business, not a rematch of whatever ancient grudge you two have."
Lucy's gaze slid to me, then back to Bella. She smirked. "So *he's* the guy you kept rambling about all those nights, hmm?"
She leaned closer to Bella, voice dropping to a teasing purr. "The one you couldn't shut up about?"
Bella's face went scarlet. "Lucy, shut. Up."
Lucy laughed, delighted, then turned her full attention to me. "I could tell you *all* her secrets, handsome. Every embarrassing little fantasy she spilled while pretending it was 'just research'."
I felt Bella tense beside me like she was about to combust.
Internally I weighed it. Part of me, the petty, curious part, wanted to hear every detail just to watch Bella squirm.
But… no. I wasn't that kind of asshole.
I shook my head. "Appreciate the offer, but I'll pass. Bella can tell me herself if she ever wants to."
Lucy's smirk softened into something almost approving. "Well, well. Bella, you struck gold with this one."
Bella made a strangled noise and looked away, ears burning.
Lucy clapped her hands, all business again. "Fine, fine. For the sake of my *dear old friend* here, I'll give you the demon rift location… but I need a favor first."
She lifted a glittering vial, liquid inside swirling with soft pink light. "My Eternal Love Potion. One sip, and the drinker falls eternally in love with whoever handed it to him."
**Bella's POV**
My breath caught the instant I saw it.
That soft, hypnotic pink glow… it pulled at something raw and desperate inside me.
Every rational part of my brain screamed *danger*, but the rest—the lonely, aching, pathetic part—whispered *what if*.
What if he drank it? What if those stupid, stubborn walls he kept up finally crumbled and he looked at me the way I've dreamed about for years?
No more teasing, no more distance, just… him. Completely mine.
My claws dug into my palms hard enough to draw blood. I forced my expression into a scowl, tail rigid.
*I can't let him see how much I want it.*
I tore my eyes away before anyone noticed the way my pupils had dilated or how my breathing had shallowed. Not happening. Not today. Not ever in front of *her*.
**Back to Ragnar**
Aria's narrowed gaze turned almost feral, pupils shifting into glowing hearts edged with murder. Kalia leaned forward with dangerous interest.
I stared at the vial, and felt ice slide down my spine.
If Sarah could brew something like *that*… then she could brew the opposite. An antidote. A rejection potion. Something to make every woman I'd ever loved, my entire harem, turn their backs on me in an instant.
The thought hit harder than any blade. Real fear, cold and sudden, coiled in my gut.
Lucy noticed my expression and tilted her head. "Oh? Most men look excited. You look like you just saw your own grave."
I forced a neutral shrug. "Just… thinking."
Before she could press, a loud **THUD** came from upstairs, followed by a high-pitched "Ouch!"
Lucy sighed theatrically. "Elaris! Come down, we have guests!"
Footsteps, light, hesitant, descended the stairs.
A young woman appeared. White milky skin, narrow waist flaring into wide hips, thick thighs barely contained by tight green shorts.
Long silver hair framed a delicate face. She kept her eyes down, shy, clutching a clipboard to her chest.
"My assistant," Lucy announced proudly. "Elaris."
Elaris glanced up briefly, directly at me, then quickly looked away again, cheeks pink.
I couldn't help it. My gaze dipped for half a second, tracing the curve of her hips, the way the shorts hugged her body.
Then I snapped my eyes back to her face, jaw tight.
*Don't be a creep. Don't be that guy.*
Elaris noticed. Her lips curved into the smallest, softest smile I'd seen in days.
"You're… the first man who's ever stopped staring," she said quietly, almost wonderingly. "Most just… keep looking."
I cleared my throat, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, well… least I can do. Especially since you're helping us get those ingredients."
She blushed deeper, eyes flicking to the floor.
Behind me, Bella and Sarah immediately grabbed my arms, pressing close possessively. Aria slid in on my other side, more subtle but no less claiming.
Elaris watched the three of them clinging to me, cheeks now scarlet, then hurriedly turned and walked ahead.
"Here's the list," Lucy said, shoving a parchment into my hand and practically herding us toward the door. "Elaris knows the dungeon best. Get my ingredients by sundown and I'll give you the rift coordinates. Bye now~"
The door shut behind us with a definitive click.
Bella muttered under her breath, "Such a bitch."
Elaris, still flushed, glanced over her shoulder at us. "W-we should go. Teacher expects the materials before nightfall."
She started walking, hips swaying naturally with each step.
Behind her, the rest of the guild followed in loose formation. I caught Kalia, then Sarah, then even Aria letting their eyes linger on the hypnotic roll of Elaris's ass in those criminally tight shorts.
Each of them quickly looked away—guilty, then irritated at themselves.
*We're heading into a death trap,* I thought grimly. *And we're all still acting like horny teenagers. Focus.*
I quickened my pace until I walked beside Elaris.
"Hey," I said quietly so only she could hear. "Thanks for coming with us. Seriously. This place sounds like it chews up parties and spits out bones. You didn't have to risk yourself."
Elaris's steps faltered for half a second. She gave me a small, wry smile without quite meeting my eyes.
"It's… not a problem," she murmured. "I'm only following Teacher's words. She said to guide you. So… here I am."
Her tone was soft, almost resigned. Like she was used to being sent into danger simply because someone else ordered it.
Before I could respond, we reached the dungeon entrance. Ancient stone steps descended into perfect black.
Lucy's warning finally sank in as we stood at the threshold.
Elaris turned to face the group, voice quiet but firm.
"This dungeon is extremely dangerous. Many parties have entered… and none have returned. The traps reset. The monsters learn. The deeper levels twist your mind. If we go in, we must move with caution—every step, every shadow. No recklessness."
Her words hung heavy.
I stared into the darkness, stomach twisting.
Part of me screamed to turn back. We had a good life. A guild. People who cared. Why risk it all for some ingredients and coordinates we might find another way?
But the rift was spreading. Demons were slipping through faster every week. If we didn't find the source soon…
I clenched my jaw.
No. We go in. We get what we need. We come back alive.
I looked at each of them—Bella's determined scowl, Sarah's bright-but-nervous eyes, Aria's calm lethality, Kalia's predatory grin, Elaris's quiet resolve.
"Let's move," I said. "Stay sharp. We're getting those ingredients and the rift location. No one dies today."
We descended.
Darkness swallowed us as we stepped inside.
And just then, down in the gloom, something soft brushed against the front of my pants, deliberate, teasing.
I froze.
A small hand closed around me through the fabric, squeezing lightly.
I caught the wrist in an iron grip before it could retreat.
"Aria?" I asked, voice low.
But the quiet, trembling voice that answered from the darkness wasn't hers at all.