The earth creaked beneath his feet.
Kael walked through the enchanted mists that separated reality from the Kingdom of Tharnys and the space where the succubus hid. Each step was a challenge. Time bent around him, and distant sounds—screams, laughter, cries—wound their way into his ears like stolen memories.
But he didn't stop.
With every meter he traveled, the feeling that something was watching him grew more intense. Not with eyes. But with desire. As if the earth itself wanted to touch him, taste him. His blood. His soul.
Until he crossed the veil.
An arcane circle manifested beneath his feet at the exact moment he crossed the last frontier of illusion. He was not afraid. The succubus wanted him to see.
And he saw.
The living cave rose before him like a profane sanctuary. The walls trembled with impure life, and a fragrance too sweet to be natural filled the air. It was made to seduce, to break reason with every breath.
In the center, she waited for him.
