The next six months Drake worked tirelessly trying to find a way to break the curse.

  Time flowed strangely in the forest.

  Days were filled with work, nights with books and experiments.

  Sometimes Drake forgot about sleep.

  The candles on his desk burned down one after another, leaving bck streaks of wax on ancient pages.

  Dozens of books y before him.

  Treatises on dark magic.

  Records about demons.

  Ancient tomes Moraena had collected over decades.

  Sometimes he sat motionless for hours, studying the structure of the curse.

  The weave was incredibly complex.

  It didn’t simply lie on Moraena’s soul.

  It seemed to be entwined within her, like the roots of an ancient tree gripping the earth.

  When Drake first fully reconstructed the structure of the spell and showed it to Moraena, the witch remained silent for a long time.

  She carefully studied the diagram.

  Her fingers gently traced the lines of magic.

  Then she sighed heavily.

  — This is ancient work… — she said quietly. — Very ancient.

  For a moment her gaze turned serious.

  But the next second she smiled.

  And simply kissed Drake.

  Over these months their love had become almost obsessive.

  Moraena seemed afraid to miss even a single moment beside him.

  She constantly kept Drake in her arms.

  Sometimes she would simply walk up behind him and hug him while he was reading.

  Sometimes she sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

  Sometimes she didn’t let him work at all.

  Especially at night.

  Drake’s single bed had no space for two people.

  But that did not stop the witch in the slightest.

  She simply y directly on top of him.

  One night she settled comfortably and sighed with satisfaction.

  — You’re too hard… — she murmured sleepily.

  Then she quietly ughed.

  — I mean your muscles. Hehehe.

  Drake’s eye twitched.

  He y there staring at the ceiling.

  His hands clenched into fists.

  He was desperately trying to remain calm.

  Only one thought spun through his mind.

  To tear her clothes off.

  And do what he had dreamed of for so long.

  But every time the witch calmly repeated the same words.

  — When you turn eighteen… and become an adult…

  She said it softly.

  But there was absolutely no doubt in her voice.

  — Then we will make love.

  The tone left no room for argument.

  Drake endured.

  And continued working.

  He read Moraena’s books on dark magic.

  Studied demonic magic.

  Ancient rituals.

  Curses.

  Methods of breaking curses.

  He conducted dozens of experiments.

  Some ended with bursts of magic.

  Once half the kitchen simply disappeared.

  Moraena ughed about it for a long time.

  — I told you not to touch the third circle!

  But there were still no results.

  And when Drake was almost completely desperate…

  He found a solution.

  And realized one thing.

  He could not tell Moraena about it.

  ?

  — Drake! Congratutions, my love!

  Moraena literally jumped into his arms the moment he stepped out of the room.

  The young man easily caught her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  — Thank you, my love.

  His kiss was bolder than usual.

  His tongue skillfully invaded her mouth and began pying with her tongue.

  The movements were confident.

  Brazen.

  The instincts of the incubus awakened within him.

  And completely took control of his body.

  Moraena pulled away for a moment.

  Her breathing became uneven and hot.

  When did he become like this…

  A man…

  Her heart beat faster.

  She felt the magic of the incubus.

  Warm.

  Dangerous.

  And for some reason she did not want to resist it.

  She tried to say something.

  But Drake kissed her again.

  — Mmm!

  She let out a quiet moan.

  At first the witch tried to resist.

  But very quickly she surrendered.

  And began responding.

  Her fingers gripped his shoulders tightly.

  She pressed closer.

  And for a few moments forgot about everything.

  After a long ten minutes Drake finally allowed her to escape.

  She breathed heavily.

  — You’re lustful… hahh… ahh…

  She tried to regain her breath.

  — Stop! We have a celebratory dinner!

  She slipped out of his arms and ran toward the table.

  A whole mountain of dishes was already waiting there.

  The table looked luxurious.

  Roasted game with fragrant herbs.

  Fried fish.

  Fresh bread.

  Fruit.

  Cheese.

  Several bottles of wine.

  Some of the dishes Moraena had cooked herself.

  Others she had ordered from merchants who sometimes came to the edge of the forest.

  — Thank you, Moraena. You’re the best.

  Drake gently kissed her on the forehead and smiled.

  The witch puffed up her cheeks.

  She had clearly expected something else.

  Drake smirked smugly and helped her sit down at the table.

  For a while they ate in silence.

  Then Drake looked at the witch questioningly.

  — So… why do I need the title of baron and the academy?

  She narrowed her eyes.

  — We were considering a different pn, weren’t we?

  Drake gnced sideways at her.

  She blushed slightly.

  — Sorry… I acted according to the situation.

  She poured herself some wine.

  — But listen.

  She leaned closer.

  — This year the so-called hero will be entering the Imperial Academy.

  Drake raised an eyebrow.

  — The Saint will be there too.

  He smirked.

  — That same Saint. Her soul is truly pure, but there’s something about her…

  Moraena nodded.

  — Yes.

  Drake thought for a moment.

  He remembered that encounter.

  Her gaze when he had embraced Moraena.

  And that strange silence when she tried to cast some kind of spell.

  — An interesting girl…

  Moraena looked at him carefully.

  — Oh?

  She smiled slyly.

  — Has my student become interested in the Saint?

  Drake smirked.

  — In her role, rather.

  He continued.

  — The Hero. The Saint. And a talented swordswoman.

  — An interesting combination.

  Moraena nodded.

  — The Empire is clearly preparing a big game.

  He tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the table.

  — The demons are preparing to py their cards as well.

  Moraena brightened.

  — I’m gd you’re thinking along the same lines!

  She winked.

  — With this situation we could take control of the entire kingdom.

  Drake sighed heavily.

  — Sigh…

  He leaned back in his chair.

  — It was so simple to swing a sword and kill demons.

  — I hate political intrigue.

  She smiled.

  — Liar.

  She looked at him carefully.

  — It’s in the blood of demons.

  She added quietly:

  — I can feel your excitement and anticipation even from here.

  Drake smiled.

  He was already imagining the possibilities the academy would open for him.

  — And who’s to bme for that?

  He leaned closer.

  — Of course my beloved witch.

  He spoke with a special tone.

  Moraena’s magical protection trembled.

  She received a small pulse of incubus power.

  — Ahh…

  She sighed softly.

  — What a man you’ve become.

  She said quietly:

  — My beloved student.

  Drake coughed.

  — In any case we’ll have to bring two neighboring baronies under our control.

  He grew serious.

  — Take control of the bordernds.

  — And organize resistance so the demons will move through the kingdom of Valtera…

  Moraena continued.

  — Help the demons break through…

  — And then…

  Suddenly Drake’s face twisted.

  His eyes filled with hatred.

  Hatred toward himself.

  Once, because of such political games, he had lost everything.

  Moraena noticed it.

  — Drake…

  He slowly raised his gaze.

  — I won’t back down.

  His voice became cold.

  — I need to end this once and for all.

  He clenched his fist.

  — Even if I drown in blood.

  — I will finish this.

  — No matter the cost.

  Moraena looked into his ruby eyes.

  And understood…

  She had long since drowned in them.

  Suddenly he stood up and lifted her into his arms.

  — You’ve been dripping like a bitch all evening.

  His voice became low.

  — I can’t hold back forever.

  She wanted to protest.

  But Drake slightly squeezed her neck and looked at her with that gaze.

  A gaze that allowed no refusal.

  Her breathing faltered.

  And he carried her toward her room.