The Damned Demon

Chapter 719  To Last Longer Than A Memory

n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lori's towering serpentine body loomed over Asher as he dismounted, her dark purple eyes narrowed in indignation. She let out a hiss, her tone thick with pique, "Ssss, I can't believe my magnificent self has been reduced to being a free ride for a brat who can't keep his handsss off every beauty out there."

Asher chuckled, giving her sleek scales a reassuring pat, "Come on, Lori. You know you're much more than that."

Lori's eyes narrowed further, and with an irritable flick of her tongue, she began to slither away, "Ssss, I'll believe that when you start seeing me as one of those beauties too," she retorted before vanishing into the dark mist.

Shaking his head with a faint smile, Asher continued deeper into the cave, where he caught sight of Lysandra standing near the stone wall. She was carefully inscribing something, her slender finger aglow with a fiery, dark red light. Her gaze was focused, and as he neared, Asher noticed the delicately etched letters: his name beside hers, the two entwined in intricate detail.

He arched a brow, his surprise clear, "What are you doing there?"

Lysandra's cold expression softened, her dark red eyes holding a gentle warmth, "It was in this cave that we had our union for the first time," she murmured, "That day was…unexpected, but it is a memory that means more to me than I expected. I wanted to leave behind something tangible—a mark that lasts longer than the memory."

Asher's expression softened. He hadn't expected such tenderness from her, and it tugged at his heart, revealing the depth of her feelings. He wondered if he could ever bear to tell her the truth about her son.

Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on her bare shoulder, "Your handwriting is as beautiful as you are," he whispered, a warm smile touching his lips. "And it means more than you know to see you doing this."

Lysandra finished the final stroke, her hand lowering as she took in their engraved names with a soft gaze, "I hope Lori doesn't take offense at this…"

Asher chuckled softly, "She's already too busy being offended by something else. So we will be fine."

A soft smile touched Lysandra's lips, and she looked at the inscription with longing in her gaze, "I hope our names last here for an eternity."

Asher looked at her with a similar longing, his voice low, "I wish the same…" His lips brushed against her shoulder, leaving a soft trail of kisses along her slender neck. Lysandra's breath hitched as she tilted her head, exposing her neck further to his touch, inviting him to continue as he dragged his warm lips over her soft skin.

Her eyes flared with a passionate light, and she turned, clutching his chest, pulling him into a fervent kiss.

Asher returned her passion with equal intensity, their emotions pouring into the kiss, filling the cave with their longing.

As they broke apart, their faces barely an inch apart, Lysandra's gaze softened, her voice laced with yearning, "I wish we could be together like this all the time. Each time I return to my kingdom…it feels more and more miserable without you."

Asher cupped her face gently, his gaze warm and steady, "I know, Lysandra. I feel the same. And if I could, I'd carry you away with me right now. But soon…soon we'll be able to end this."

She nodded slowly, her hands resting over his as she drew strength from his touch, "I've gathered enough vassals to spark a civil war. With a bit more preparation, we can start it soon. Drakar will fall, and with him gone, I can finally join you in fighting these humans who threaten to destroy our world."

Relief crossed Asher's face, tempered with a hint of concern, "It must have been hard gathering all those leaders to your side. You are a born leader, Lysandra…You'll be your kingdom's greatest ruler, far better than any of your ancestors." He held her gaze, his voice firm. "But I want to help. I don't want you facing this war alone."

Lysandra took a step back, though she kept hold of his hands, shaking her head gently, "You've done more than enough, Asher. Your words alone give me strength. Your kingdom is in greater danger. I won't let myself distract you." Her voice softened, her gaze steady. "And this is my responsibility. I must take care of it myself."

Her eyes held a glint of purpose, and she added, "And speaking of your troubles… I came here to talk about Kira."

Asher's brow furrowed, his gaze sharpening, "I was about to ask. You managed to find her? I thought you said she was hiding somewhere difficult even for you to track."

Lysandra's expression darkened, a tension visible in her jaw, "Yes, she's hiding well. But I managed to pinpoint her general location. She's deep in the Wretched Lands, where the air is filled with corrosive mana, deadly enough to distort any sense of direction or clarity while being dangerous to us. Since she's a Caelumbra, she likely has access to ancient ancestral arrays, creating a small, habitable pocket where she can hide and protect herself from the deadly atmosphere. I would've gone in myself, but blindly searching would be…unwise. She'd have the upper hand and could ambush me."

Asher frowned, his mind racing, "No, you did great. We know she's still in the Oseon Continent and the exact area she's hiding in. But as you said, we can't go in blindly, and she's likely not alone. Kira could easily use her charms to amass a small army or even have the backing of other kingdoms and clans."

Lysandra's eyes reflected her concern as she held his gaze, "Then how do we deal with her? Shouldn't we stop her before she gets closer to…whatever she's planning against your kingdom?"

Asher sighed, his expression grave, "Honestly, with Kira entrenched somewhere so treacherous, I don't know. My resources are stretched thin just trying to counter the humans trying to destroy our world. And my kingdom's reserves…they're spent on that 'key' and war preparations. Even if Drakar doesn't wage war on us, Kira and those werewolf clans are waiting for the right moment to strike. We can't afford to hold back."

Lysandra's brows knitted tighter in worry. She clasped his hand, her grip firm, "I'll end my war as quickly as I can so I can join you. You won't have to face this alone. With my kingdom's strength, we'll be able to stand strong against Kira, the werewolves…anything they throw at us. Together, we'll be stronger than ever."

Asher smiled, warmth touching his eyes as he raised her hand to kiss it, "I am indebted to you. But don't rush into things unless you're certain. Drakar may be a dog, but he's a cunning one. You have to be careful—I'm sure you know better than me. And don't forget…he could use Rhygar against you."

Lysandra nodded slowly, her eyes gleaming with determination, "Don't worry. I have Rhygar under control. Once he's served his purpose…he no longer has a reason to exist," Lysandra coldly stated.

Asher's smile grew, satisfaction lighting his face, "Good. Oh, and Oberon is still alive, right?"

Lysandra nodded, "I can still sense my slave seal on him. But I can't say for sure how long he would last before Kira finds out he is worthless."

Asher furrowed his brows as Rebecca's face flashed in his mind, "Let's hope Isola has done enough to make him last long. Even if I want him dead, he can still be useful alive."

He looked back at Lysandra and added, "I should head back now. But if you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to reach out."

Lysandra nodded, her expression softening as she pulled him into a kiss, slow and gentle. Asher's hand slid to the nape of her neck as he returned her kiss, savoring the moment. She knew that these meetings with him were always brief, and she wanted the warmth of his touch to linger as long as possible.

Above them, unbeknownst to the two, Lori's serpentine head peeked through a small opening in the ceiling.

Adjusting a pair of oversized spectacles perched on her snout, she observed them with a mixture of bewilderment and intense curiosity.

Mumbling under her breath, she jotted down notes on "lip-lock techniques" with the end of her tail, intrigued and wondering why Asher and his women loved to play with their lips. —

Meanwhile, night had fallen over the Sterling mansion, casting a cool, muted glow through the large windows of the posh dining hall. Cecilia and Rachel sat across from each other, tension palpable in the air as they picked at their food, speaking only of trivial matters. The maids and servants hovered silently, casting their own shadows over any attempt at genuine conversation.

Both mother and daughter felt a gnawing worry clawing at their insides.

Derek had asked them to join him for dinner, something he never insisted on before. Each silently feared that he might have discovered what they have been doing. Their eyes met occasionally, sharing a glance that spoke volumes while they kept up polite talk about everyday subjects.

Suddenly, the soft hum of conversation stopped as they heard a measured, firm set of footsteps. Both of them turned, their bodies tensing as they saw Derek entering the room, his expression unreadable.

Cecilia managed a small, uncertain smile, "Honey, you're finally here. We were wondering if something came up."

Derek slowly walked towards the head of the table before turning around to look at the two, a glint flashing past his right eye.