I woke up the next morning not to the sound of birds, but to the soft, rhythmic hum of the penthouse’s climate control. The bed I had been given—which Su Qian called a "guest cot"—was larger than my entire apartment back in my old world. I felt like a stray coin lost in the vastness of the silk sheets.
As I sat up, rubbing my eyes, the sliding glass door to my room hissed open. Su Qian stood there, already dressed in a sharp, cream-colored power suit that made her look like a monolith of authority.
"Rise and shine, little one," she said, her voice cutting through my morning fog. "We have a long day ahead of us. My tailors are waiting."
"Tailors?" I croaked, my wings stretching instinctively and hitting the headboard. "For what? I’m fine in these clothes."
I looked down at the oversized silk pajamas I was wearing—they were intended for a "petite" woman of this world, which meant they were still twice my size.
Su Qian’s eyes swept over me with a mixture of pity and possessiveness. "You look like a beggar, Li Yuan. Tonight is the Su Corporation’s annual gala. I am the guest of honor, and I do not attend events without my most precious belongings."
"I'm a guest, not a belonging," I snapped, sliding off the high bed. My feet hit the floor with a soft thud.
Su Qian didn't argue. She simply walked over, reached down, and scooped me up under my arms. I let out a yelp of surprise as she tucked me against her hip, holding me like a luxury handbag.
"Tonight," she whispered, leaning her head down so her lips were inches from my pointed ear, "you will play the part of the devoted consort. If you do well, I might let you explore the penthouse gardens. If you embarrass me..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but the way her grip tightened slightly told me everything I needed to know.
Ten minutes later, I was standing on a pedestal in the middle of a massive dressing room. Three women—all of them at least 190 cm tall—were buzzing around me with measuring tapes and laser scanners. I felt like an exotic specimen in a laboratory.
"His wings are so delicate," one of the tailors whispered, reaching out to touch the translucent membrane.
I flinched away, my tail lashing out. "Don't touch those!"
"Careful," Su Qian’s voice boomed from the doorway where she sat, sipping a dark espresso. "He’s temperamental. And his skin is sensitive. Use only the Grade-A Moon-silk."
For three hours, I was poked, prodded, and draped in fabrics that cost more than a year of my old tuition. They settled on a midnight-black velvet suit with silver embroidery that mimicked the veins in my wings. It was tight-fitting, designed to accentuate my "fragile" frame while making me look like a prince of the underworld.
When they finally finished, Su Qian stood up and walked toward the pedestal. She dismissed the tailors with a single nod.
She stood in front of me, her height so overwhelming that I had to crane my neck back just to see her chin. She reached out, her long fingers adjusting the silver tie around my neck. Her touch was unexpectedly gentle, her thumb brushing against my throat.
"You look... acceptable," she murmured. Her eyes, usually cold and calculating, darkened with a hunger that made my knees weak. "Almost too good. I’m starting to regret letting the world see you."
"Then let me stay here," I said, my heart racing.
"No," she replied, her hand moving up to cup my face. Her palm covered my entire cheek. "I want them to see. I want them to know that I found the last true male Succubus. I want them to see the envy in their eyes when they realize you are mine."
She leaned in closer, her scent—that intoxicating sandalwood—filling my lungs. "Do you know what happens to beautiful things in this city, Li Yuan? They get stolen. They get broken. But not you. Because you are behind my shield."
She leaned down and pressed a firm, lingering kiss on my forehead. It felt like a brand.
"The car is waiting. Remember the rules. Do not speak unless I tell you to. Do not move more than a step away from me. And most importantly..." She grabbed my hand, her fingers interlacing with mine. My hand looked like a child’s in hers. "...do not look at any other woman the way you look at me."
As she led me out of the penthouse toward the private elevator, I felt a suffocating mix of fear and strange, twisted pride. I was a prisoner, yes. I was a trophy to be displayed. But as we stepped into the golden elevator and Su Qian pulled me closer to her side, I realized that in this world of giants, being the "belonging" of the most powerful woman in the city was the only thing keeping me alive.
And as the elevator descended toward the gala, I found myself gripping her hand back, terrified of the moment she might let go.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 21 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments