Acaedien Kingdom

Within the dimly lit level B9 in the military department of Acaedien, two demon lords, one in each prison cell, were chained to the wall, kneeling on the floor, their arms spread out. There they stayed, quiet and in slumber, for four hours. Then, just as it was passing five, there were movements.

Felix fluttered his eyes opened, his irises a deep purple in color, and they were glowing. He inhaled deeply, and instantly, he sensed something sweet and exotic and just so fucking heavenly that his body started reacting. He wanted it, whatever that was. He wanted it so badly that his manhood started aching, both in pain and in pleasure.

He transformed.

His dark-brown hair instantly turned crimson as two fangs started to protrude, which were small and sharp, and two horns grew on his head.

He grinned devilishly, licking his lips in anticipation of a taste of the enticingly sweet nectar.

The desire was strong, and because he bloody well couldn't wait, he started to unleash his dark qi. With a swirl of his finger, the magic restraints crumbled into dust, thus freeing him.

He stood and then headed over to the exit. There, he noticed that he was imprisoned inside a high-tier controlling shield. Of course, there was no other way than to break the damned thing, because berserk Felix wasn't about to let some prison cell stop him from claiming and tasting what he desired most, the sweet nectar of one with pure qi.

He raised his hand in the air and summoned his blade. Dark qi gathered, and his mighty sword appeared, glowing with sinister energy.

He gripped the hilt, raised the sword high, and then started whacking the blade against the shield, again and again and again. The clanging noises echoed throughout the floor. Then it creaked, and with one last blow, the barrier broke and crumbled to pieces like broken glass.

Job done, Felix returned his sword to the abyss. Then he headed out, tracking that enticingly beautiful scent that he couldn't wait to sample.

It was a few seconds after Felix had left that in the next cell, Caleb rose from his slumber. As he opened his dark eyes, the qi around him pulsated and grew stronger and more sinister.

He raised his head, a growl escaping his mouth. Two sharp fangs protruded, along with two horns on his head. His dark hair turned even darker, exuding a sinister aura.

Once he gained a sense of his whereabouts, Caleb swore under his breath, "Fuck."

With a swirl of his finger, unleashing his dark qi, the magic restraints crumbled to the ground.

Freed, Caleb stood. Then he noticed the high-level shield that surrounded the cell. Without wasting time, he summoned his twin sabers. In a split second, he elegantly somersaulted in the air and hit the barrier with his blades in one mighty whack, thus breaking it, the magical pieces falling to the floor and then dispersing into fine dust.

Job done, he returned his twin swords to the abyss and then stepped across the threshold. It was then that he smelled something divine and heavenly, which attracted his attention. Instantly, his body reacted, the dark qi within his being pulsating and bursting excitedly and wildly.

He wanted it, whatever that enticing scent was. In fact, he desired it so badly that he felt as though he might just die if he couldn't obtain it.

He followed the scent, a grin playing devilishly about his lips.

* * *

It was the oddest thing ever.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a bunch of perfect red roses in a vase. They were vibrant and beautiful, and since I couldn't help myself, I reached out and picked one.

After giving it a little sniff, which didn't give out any scent whatsoever, I inserted the rose into my hair. Then I moved over across to the mirror along the dressing table. There, I raised my eyes to look at myself.

Staring back at me was a woman. She isn't me. She isn't Alfie Yuki Akari Nakamura.

This woman was stunning. She looked so damned alluring and just very out of my world, which was Earth, that I felt my breath was snatched out of me.

The woman had long, silky dark hair, flawlessly fair skin, and rose-red lips.

Strangely enough, I felt as though I knew this woman all my life, despite the fact that I was sure I had never seen or met with her before.

Through the mirror, she was gazing at me and whispered the word, "Stardust," to me. Then she pointed at me, or her, in the mirror and said, "Stardust," again.

I didn't quite understand what she meant and continued to stare at her.

A moment later, she turned away from the mirror, and once again, I was in her point of view.

As light as air, she sailed elegantly around the room for a moment, and I realized that it was the same one Lord Geoffrey had dumped me in. Then she headed to the door.

Passing this, she strolled along the maze-like corridor, and a moment later, she opened another door and came into a dining room. There, she headed toward the balcony as she said, "Morning, everyone."

"Morning," a deeply timbred voice said from behind.

She—and I—turned. And there, to my astonishment, was Felix, looking all very charming.

Felix took hold of the woman's hand, or rather mine, and made me swirl around as if we were in a ballroom, dancing or something. But of course, I had fun, laughing excitedly.

When we stopped, we walked over to the table where an enormous amount of delicious-looking food was laid on the table. I took a seat, Felix on my left.

Sitting at the head of the table was Lord Geoffrey, who said, "Good morning, Yuki. Did you sleep well? Philip didn't bother you last night by connecting with your qi again, did he?"

I shook my head. "I refused to talk to him," I said.

Caleb suddenly appeared to my right across the table. He said, "You should just cut all ties with him, Yuki. It's hard watching you getting hurt."

I flicked my long, lush hair over my shoulder and laughed lightly. I said, "I don't know what's going on, but he doesn't seem himself anymore since the marriage. He's very possessive and…"

Lord Noah, who was sitting across from me, looked heavenward. "He's probably just showing his true colors, Yuki. Some men are like that. Only revealing who they truly are after they've gained your trust."

Sitting next to Lord Noah, Lord Victor said, "Perfectly right."

At the other end of the table, Lord Ethan said, "Enough talk about that bastard. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Besides, I'm starving."

I said, "Please stop calling Philip a bastard, my Lord Ethan. He's my husband. If you continue to do so, I will be very upset and leave this place."

So this woman who I happened to possess was named Yuki, which I supposed was that Yuki Hoshi of Yamato, one of the Great Ones. And she had a husband? Named Philip? He didn't happen to be that bastard Prince Philip who had been hunting me back in the woods, did he?

Aaron said, "Don't mind him, Yuki. He's just frustrated."

Felix said, "Why don't we have our breakfast?"

I nodded, and as I picked up my cup of coffee, I saw something sinister—a dark qi—forming in the distance. Within an instant, a black cloud and dust gathered, and then, boom! There was an explosion, dark qi erupting and dispersing everywhere.