"I am glad she’s safe now," Monica said with a relieved exhale, patting her chest.
Ginna nodded. "Yes. From what you told us, she was deeply shaken."
Luke sat between them as he recounted everything that had happened outside the room.
He hummed in agreement. "She was. But in the end, I just reminded her of everything she would lose if she kept letting herself be trapped by those memories."
Monica nodded. "True. That coward used the cruelest nightmare he could to break her. Poor Zuri..."
Luke chuckled. "Poor me too, Monica."
A faint smile appeared on Monica’s lips. "You’re right. Come here, my dear. Let me spoil you a little."
Luke shook his head, yet still rested it against her bust as her fingers gently ran through his hair.
"Haaa..."
A soft yawn escaped Monica’s lips.
Luke slowly pulled away and told her. "Let’s get some sleep. You look exhausted."
Monica shook her head. "Not really..."
"Don’t lie to him, Monica," Ginna cut in. "While you were away, Luke, she kept walking back and forth to the door, checking if you’d returned. She even insisted on washing the dishes by herself this afternoon, even though I told her I’d take care of them."
"Speaking of the dishes, you haven’t eaten anything. Let me..."
Monica suddenly panicked and tried to get up, only for Luke to gently hold her down.
"I am not hungry, my dearest," he said softly. "Just relax and get some sleep. If you are hungry, I’ll go bring something for you."
Monica immediately shook her head. "Ginna and I ate plenty of berries while we were chatting."
Ginna nodded in agreement. "Yes. My stomach is quite full too."
Luke shrugged. "In that case, how about we call it a night?"
Monica exchanged a glance with Ginna, and the two women nodded.
Since she was closer, Monica reached over and blew out the candle.
As darkness settled over the room, Luke draped a thin sheet over Monica, knowing the nights often turned chilly.
"What about you two?" Monica asked.
"I don’t need one," Luke replied. He preferred sleeping in the cool air. Some habits simply never faded.
Ginna lifted the folded sheet she had been using as a pillow. "I’ll use this if I start feeling cold."
Monica nodded before lying back down.
Holding Luke’s hand, she slowly closed her eyes, a faint smile of contentment resting on her lips.
For Monica, there was no place more comforting than falling asleep beside her mate.
His warmth alone put both her mind and body at ease.
...
"Haa... haa..."
Almost half an hour later, Monica’s soft, steady breathing filled the quiet room, a clear sign that she had fallen asleep.
It was only to be expected.
So much had happened today. First came the tension at the breakfast table, followed by everything that unfolded after the hunting contest.
The weight of those events had undoubtedly exhausted her, and she drifted off much sooner than she usually did.
Luke, however, remained wide awake.
Staring at the dark ceiling, his thoughts slowly wandered back to the battle.
Today, he had encountered a magician capable of wielding a powerful Unique Skill.
Until now, every magic user he had faced, Baldon and Claw included, had relied on nothing more than a basic ability. Body Enhancement.
So today’s fight had been a completely different experience.
The battle itself had been brief, but it had taught him lessons he doubted he would ever forget.
’System... do you think raising my Intelligence stat would have prevented me from seeing that vision?’
He remembered the exact moment.
Just as he was about to redistribute his stats, that bastard had cast his spell.
He had been caught completely off guard.
As for what happened afterward...
He had no desire to relive it.
[Most likely not, Host. You would need an active spell capable of protecting your mind against mental attacks. Raising your Intelligence stat might have helped resist the darkness, but only because the Gamma infused into that spell was relatively low and your opponent underestimated you.]
Luke hummed inwardly.
’So I need a skill that can fortify my mind...’
He briefly summoned the small, star-like gemstone he had obtained before asking,
’Will this give me what I need?’
This gemstone had come from that bastard.
For the first time, it hadn’t dropped from a creature.
Then again, that man had been no less of a monster.
[It is uncertain, Host. However, the gemstone will certainly increase your Gamma.]
[Caution: The gemstone appears to be polluted. It is advised that the Host refine it before use and prepare several healing potions in advance.]
Luke nodded in understanding.
That made sense.
There was no way he would use something obtained from that vile creature without taking every possible precaution.
The only disappointment was that he had gained nothing from the giant wolf.
Sure, Luke had defeated it with a single swing, but the beast was undoubtedly powerful enough to give even Baldon a difficult fight.
Still, it made sense that no gemstone had formed inside it. That cowardly bastard would never have been able to tame such a monster if it possessed magic.
’Hmm...’
Just then, Luke felt Ginna gently squeeze his hand from his right.
Turning his head, he found her eyes still closed, but it was obvious she wasn’t asleep.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return, intertwining his fingers with hers before slowly brushing his thumb along the side of her hand.
Ginna shifted slightly toward him, inching a little closer until her foot lightly touched his.
Luke nearly scoffed.
’Look at this woman...’
He gave her a long glance, his eyes darting downward.
Since she was not covering herself with the sheet he could clearly see her sinful body in the faint moonlight pouring from outside.
The thin one-piece clung to her like a second skin, the delicate fabric stretched taut over her full, heavy breasts.
The deep valley between them rose and fell with each slow breath, the soft mounds straining against the material, nipples faintly outlined in the cool air.
His gaze traveled lower, tracing the generous curve of her waist before it flared out into those wide, fertile hips that begged to be gripped.
The hem of her nightdress had ridden high, revealing the smooth, thick thighs pressed together, the shadowed heat between them just barely hidden.
Every inch of her body radiated raw, inviting heat, her skin glowing softly under the moonlight as if silently calling for his touch.
He was a man who listened to his desires. And right now, he desired the woman.
Wordlessly, he pulled her hand to his rising cock.
And much to his surprise...or not, she slowly began to move her hand, massaging his cock slowly. Squeezing it over his pants and jerking him with deliberate slowness.
Luke glanced at his mate. Seeing her calmly sleeping he sneaked his hand toward Ginna’s waiting pussy.
She nearly moaned when his hand clamped around her twat.
She finally opened her eyes and the two exchanged a glance.
There was a heat that they mutually experienced.
And this silent night, they were eager to share this heat.