Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

{Javir}

Javir walked through the palace halls, her footsteps echoing off the marble floors.

She could feel the tension in her shoulders, a knot of unease that had been growing ever since she received the letter from the court sorceress.

[What does she want with me?] Javir wondered, her brow furrowing. [It has to be about Melisa. There's no other reason she'd summon me like this.]

She knew she could have declined the invitation, could have made up some excuse about being too busy with her classes. But she also knew how that would have looked, like she had something to hide.

[And I don't,] Javir thought firmly. [I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just trying to help Melisa reach her full potential.]

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that this meeting was going to be more than just a friendly chat.

Zephyra Vortell was a powerful woman, with a reputation for being both brilliant and relentless in her pursuit of the things she wanted.

Javir had only caught glimpses of her back when she was working at the palace, but even then, she'd been struck by the sorceress's presence, the way she seemed to command every room she entered.

[I wonder if she's changed at all,] Javir mused, stopping outside the door to Zephyra's office.

Taking a deep breath, Javir knocked on the door, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Come in," a rich, velvety voice called from within.

Javir pushed the door open, stepping into the office with her head held high.

Zephyra was seated behind a large, ornate desk, her amethyst eyes fixing on Javir with an intensity that made the professor stiffen up.@@novelbin@@

For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, sizing each other up like two predators circling for dominance. Javir couldn't help but notice the way Zephyra's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile, as if she found something amusing about the whole situation.

"Javir," Zephyra said finally, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Javir did as she was told, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap. She could feel Zephyra's gaze on her, studying her, trying to read her intentions.

"I assume you know why I've asked you here," Zephyra said, her voice smooth as silk. "It's about Melisa Blackflame."

Javir nodded, keeping her expression carefully neutral.

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"I figured as much," she said, her tone even. "What about her?"

Zephyra leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers under her chin.

"It has come to my attention that you recently borrowed several tomes on Blood Magic from the palace archives," she said, her eyes never leaving Javir's. "I'm curious as to why."

Javir felt her stomach clench, a flash of panic running through her.

[Ah...]

She'd been careful when she borrowed those books, making sure to go through all the proper channels and fill out all the necessary forms. But, well, when she made that decision, she hadn't counted on the court sorceress not only coming back, but also ending up as Melisa's tutor.

[Shit,] she thought, her mind racing. [I can't tell her the truth. Telling her that I gave those books to Melisa so she could practice some Blood Magic is probably the number 1 easiest way to ruin what Melisa's got going for her right now.]

But she also felt as though lying here completely would be a mistake. Say the wrong thing and Javir felt like she'd only spur Zephyra to look deeper.

"I was doing research," Javir said finally, choosing her words carefully. "For a project I'm working on."

Zephyra raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"A project?" she repeated, her tone skeptical. "And what kind of project would require such... controversial reading material?"

Javir swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.

"It's a theoretical study," she said, hoping her voice sounded more confident than she felt. "On the potential applications of Blood Magic in healing and... and other areas."

It wasn't a complete lie. That was, after all, what Melisa had ended up using the texts for.

So far, anyway. Melisa still had those tomes. She could still find other ways to use Blood Magic.

Zephyra studied her for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

"I see," Zephyra said finally, her voice soft and dangerous. "And does this project of yours have anything to do with Melisa Blackflame's... unique capabilities?"

Javir's heart skipped a beat, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of her neck.

"Melisa is a talented student," she said, her voice steady despite the fear churning in her gut. "But her abilities are her own. I'm not involved in her personal studies."

It was a half-truth, and Javir knew it. She'd been helping Melisa with her magic since the girl first arrived at the academy, guiding her and nurturing her talents in whatever way she could. But she also knew that Melisa's true potential lay far beyond anything Javir could teach her.

Zephyra's lips curved into a small, knowing smile, as if she could read Javir's thoughts as easily as a book.

"Of course," she said, her voice silky smooth. "I do apologize if I come across as though I was implying anything. I was merely curious about your... involvement with the girl."

Javir's jaw clenched.

"Well, I can assure you that my involvement with Melisa is strictly professional," she said, her voice cold and hard as steel. "I am her teacher, nothing more. I guide her when she asks for guidance. That is all."

Zephyra's smile widened, a glint of something dangerous and alluring in her eyes.

"Of course," she purred, leaning forward across the desk. "I would never suggest otherwise."

But Javir could hear the unspoken accusation in her words, the insinuation that there was something more to her bond with Melisa than met the eye.

[Well... Let her think what she wants,] Javir thought, staring back at the sorceress. [As long as she doesn't get in the way of Melisa's research, I don't care what she assumes about me.]