Y/N's body tensed as she felt Blitzo stir beside her, his arm lazily draping across her chest in the soft haze of early morning. A sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of irritation and sadness. Not again. The thought pulsed through her mind as she stared at the ceiling, her emotions a turbulent storm.

Her experiences with demons had been as unpredictable as the beings themselves—passionate and tender at best, chaotic and regrettable at worst. Blitzo's affection had always leaned toward the former: gentle, considerate, and laced with a vulnerability that tugged at her heartstrings. But the truth was far from simple. Despite his care, she hadn't been ready to meet him at that level of intimacy, and guilt now gnawed at the edges of her resolve.

She glanced at him, his face slack with peaceful sleep, utterly unaware of her inner turmoil. Her chest tightened as memories of Stolas crept in—another powerful being she had grown deeply entangled with. The weight of their expectations and emotions bore down on her, leaving her torn and overwhelmed.

Carefully, she shifted his arm off her body, her movements deliberate and silent to avoid waking him. Her talons grazed the sheets as she sat up, her wings flexing with a restless energy. The room was too small, the air too thick, and she needed to breathe.

Wrapping herself in a plush robe that whispered against her scales, she padded toward the bathroom, her tail gliding soundlessly behind her. The soft click of the door as she closed it brought a flicker of relief. In this moment, at least, she was alone.

The bathroom was awash in a golden glow, the kind that softened hard edges and made the world feel momentarily gentler. She moved with quiet purpose, her fingers tracing a spell in the air to summon a steaming bath. The water shimmered with lavender and hints of chamomile, an indulgent escape from the emotional tangle she had left behind in the other room.

As she sank into the water, the heat seeped into her muscles, coaxing away the tension she hadn't realized she'd been carrying. Her scales caught the soft light, casting iridescent ripples across the water's surface. She closed her eyes and let herself drift, if only for a moment, in the stillness she so desperately craved.

Back in the suite, Blitzo stirred, his brow furrowing as he reached out instinctively—only to find the space beside him cold and empty. His heart sank, a wave of jealousy and frustration crashing over him. The events of the night before played in his mind like a broken record, the memory of her hesitance gnawing at his already fragile confidence.

He sat up, his tail twitching irritably as the faint sound of running water reached his ears. His first thought was bitter—washing away the night, huh?—but it was quickly eclipsed by something softer, a hope he couldn't entirely suppress. Maybe she hadn't left him, not yet.

When the bathroom door opened, his breath caught. Y/N stepped out, her form cloaked in a sheer, crimson robe that clung to her damp skin. Beads of water clung to her scales, catching the light like stars scattered across her form. Her hair, still wet, framed her face in a way that made her seem otherworldly.

Blitzo felt a familiar stirring of desire, but he held himself back, knowing better than to act on it uninvited. Instead, he watched her, his eyes searching for any clue to her mood.

"You're awake," she said, her voice calm but distant. Her gaze met his briefly before flitting away, like a bird unwilling to linger too long in one place.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

Y/N moved toward the wardrobe, her movements fluid as she began to dress. The room was quiet save for the rustle of fabric and the occasional drip of water from her still-damp hair.

"I need to take care of something," she said finally, her back to him. Her tone was unreadable, a careful mask over whatever storm brewed beneath the surface.

Blitzo sat on the edge of the bed, his tail coiling tightly around his ankle. "Y/N," he started, his voice tentative, but she didn't turn.

"I'll be back later," she interrupted gently but firmly, leaving little room for discussion.

The words hung in the air as she slipped out of the room, leaving Blitzo alone with his thoughts and the lingering scent of lavender.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

Y/N let out a sigh, low and weary, as Valentino's flirtatious tone reached her once again. She pressed her fingers against her temple in a gesture of barely restrained exasperation, willing her patience to hold. "Mr. Valentino," she said, her voice sharp but calm, "if you would kindly focus on the matter at hand?" Each word was measured, her tone balanced precariously between civility and the simmering frustration that his antics had ignited.

The moth demon, unperturbed by her attempt to regain control of the conversation, leaned back with a self-assured smirk. His polished claws drummed lazily against the edge of the desk, the sound deliberate and taunting. "Oh, come now," he drawled, his hand finding its way to her thigh with a calculated slap. The contact lingered just long enough to cross the line into provocation. "You're a dragon," he continued, his voice a purr laced with mischief. "A creature of passion, fire, and untamed strength. Don't tell me you don't enjoy a little... flirty fun."

Y/N's patience, already stretched thin, snapped like a dry twig. Her eyes, previously cool and watchful, blazed with a fiery intensity that caused Valentino to hesitate, if only for a moment. She bared her teeth in a fierce snarl, her draconic nature making itself known in every sharp edge of her expression. "Sir," she said, her voice low and dangerous, "I insist that you keep this professional."

The air in the room grew taut, crackling with unspoken tension. For a moment, it seemed as though Valentino might push further, but her blazing glare finally cut through his bravado. He chuckled, a strained sound that masked his uncertainty, and took a slow drag from his cigarette. The ember flared bright, casting flickering shadows across his smug face as he leaned back into his chair.

"Fine," he said, exhaling a plume of smoke that hung in the air like a storm cloud. "Let's talk business, then." His tone shifted, though the smirk never quite left his lips. "The problem is that damned hotel—the one run by her." His eyes gleamed with a mix of disdain and cunning as he referenced the establishment under the rule of the King of Hell's daughter. "It's become a thorn in my side. One of my finest employees—a real gem of a whore—decided to shack up there. And now? She's out of my reach, taking a whole lot of potential profits with her."

Y/N's tail flicked sharply behind her, a subtle sign of her growing discontent as Valentino spoke. She listened carefully, her expression revealing nothing, though her eyes betrayed the keen intellect dissecting his words.

"And your solution," she said finally, her voice as smooth and deliberate as a blade, "is to destroy the hotel?"

"Exactly," Valentino replied with a casual shrug. "No hotel means no sanctuary for wandering sinners. The Pride Sector crumbles, the King's little princess is put in her place, and my associates—and Voxtech—reap the benefits." He grinned as if his plan was the most ingenious thing ever devised.

Y/N leaned back, her wings flexing slightly as she regarded him with open skepticism. "So, you'd destabilize an entire sector of Hell for the sake of profit and power," she said, her words slow and deliberate. "And you think that will end well?"

Valentino's grin faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, waving her concerns away with a dismissive flick of his hand. "I'm not asking for your approval, sweetheart. Just your cooperation."

Y/N's response was swift and decisive. She reached across the desk, sliding the contract he had laid before her back toward him. Her wings, vast and luminous, unfurled behind her in a display of otherworldly majesty, the starlight they radiated bathing the room in a soft but imposing glow.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Valentino," she said coldly, rising from her chair with an elegance that only heightened the weight of her refusal. "But I cannot and will not condone this course of action. Your ambitions, however cunning, do not align with my principles."

For the first time, Valentino faltered, his composure cracking under the intensity of her presence. The brilliance of her wings, a stark reminder of her immense power, left him momentarily speechless. He took a step back, raising a hand as if to shield himself from the blinding light.

"But surely," he stammered, his confidence shaken, "there's something in it for you?"

Y/N fixed him with a piercing emerald gaze, her voice soft but unyielding. "Not everything is a transaction, Valentino," she said. "Some of us fight for more than petty gains."

With that, she turned on her heel, her wings folding elegantly behind her as she made her way to the door. The weight of her departure was palpable, the soft glow of her wings lingering even as the office lights flickered in her wake.

"Wait—" Valentino called after her, his voice cracking slightly, but his words were swallowed by the heavy thud of the door closing behind her.

Alone in the sudden darkness, the moth demon slumped into his chair, the taste of rejection bitter on his tongue. The faint scent of starlight and lavender hung in the air, a haunting reminder of the dragon who had refused to be swayed by his schemes.