Exiled Prince and His Succubus Army-Chapter 15: Alone with Kaede again

Renji’s eyebrows rose with interest. An appraisal ability would be incredibly useful, allowing him to assess threats and opportunities with much greater accuracy. He filed that information away for later consideration.

"We should head back," Aya suggested, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I’m exhausted."

The others nodded in agreement. They were all tired from the intense hunt, muscles aching and energy depleted. The walk back to the shrine felt longer than the journey out, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the battle and what it meant for their growing capabilities.

When they finally emerged from the forest and approached the shrine, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. Rei stood near the entrance, and laid out before her was a simple but appetizing meal, rice, grilled vegetables, and what looked like some kind of stew. Steam rose from the dishes in the cooling evening air.

"I prepared food," Rei said simply as they approached, her pale features showing a hint of satisfaction. "My oracle told me you would be famished when you returned."

All three of them stared at her in surprise.

"How does that work exactly?" Renji asked, his curiosity piqued as he gratefully sank down near the food. "This oracle of yours?"

Rei considered the question for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "It’s hard to explain," she admitted, her short hair shifting as she tilted her head. "It’s not like seeing the future clearly, not like visions or prophecies. It gives me more of a... sense of what is going to happen. Impressions, feelings, intuitions that are almost always correct." She gestured to the food. "I could faintly sense that you would all be famished when you returned, so I prepared accordingly."

"That’s incredibly useful," Kaede observed, already reaching for a bowl.

"It has its limitations," Rei replied modestly. "But yes, it can be helpful."

After they finished eating, Rei added, "I need to go gather some more vegetables and herbs from the forest. We’re running low on supplies, and the evening light is still good enough for foraging."

Renji looked up, immediately thinking of the wolves they’d just killed. "Kaede, go with her. Keep her protected."

But before Kaede could respond, Rei shook her head firmly. "Actually, I want Aya to come with me instead." Her dark eyes flickered to the telekinetic woman. "If that’s acceptable."

Aya looked surprised but nodded. "Of course. I’d be happy to."

Renji shrugged, not particularly invested in who accompanied whom. But before Rei could leave, a thought occurred to him. "Wait, Rei, question. Can we cook and eat monster meat? Like from those giant wolves we just killed?"

Rei paused, considering. "Yes," she answered after a moment. "Monster meat is perfectly edible if prepared properly. It’s actually quite nutritious, though it can be tougher than regular game. Why do you ask?"

Renji’s grin was wolfish. "Because we left four giant wolf corpses in the forest, and I hate wasting resources."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Now that they were alone, Renji looked at Kaede and smirked.

The shrine’s interior felt unusually quiet now, with Rei and Aya having stepped out to gather vegetables and herbs from the nearby garden. The soft afternoon light filtered through the paper screens, casting a warm, golden hue over the wooden floors and the simple furnishings.

Renji leaned back against a pillar, his eyes locking onto Kaede, who was sitting a few feet away, her legs tucked beneath her as she absentmindedly traced patterns on the tatami mat.

She looked stunning in that moment, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders like a silken waterfall, framing her sharp features and those piercing eyes that held a mix of defiance and vulnerability.

Her gown clung to her form in a way that accentuated her curves, the gentle swell of her hips, the curve of her waist, and the fullness of her chest rising and falling with each breath. Renji felt a familiar heat stirring within him, his body responding to the sight of her, arousal building like a slow-burning fire.

Kaede sensed his gaze almost immediately, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as she glanced up. She tried to play it off with her usual snappy attitude, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?" she demanded, her voice sharp but laced with an undercurrent of nervousness.

She could feel the weight of his eyes on her, making her skin tingle, and it irritated her how easily he could unsettle her composure.

Renji’s smirk widened, his lips curling into that infuriatingly confident grin that always seemed to get under her skin. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Me? Staring at you? Come on, Kaede, you were staring at me first. Don’t think I didn’t notice those little glances you’ve been throwing my way since we got back from the hunt."

He chuckled softly, his voice low and teasing, enjoying the way her blush deepened. It was true; during their return to the shrine, she’d stolen a few looks at him, admiring the way his muscles flexed under his shirt after the exertion of battle, but she’d never admit it.

Kaede huffed, turning her face away to hide her embarrassment, but her heart was racing. "As if! You’re delusional, Renji. Just because you’re some self-proclaimed leader doesn’t mean I’m interested in your stupid face."

Her words were biting, but there was a hesitation in them, a crack in her armor that Renji could sense. She shifted uncomfortably on the mat, trying to ignore the magnetic pull she felt toward him, a strange compulsion that had been growing ever since their first encounter.

Renji’s gaze intensified, drinking in every detail of her. The way her gown hugged her body made his imagination run wild; he could picture the soft skin beneath, the smooth lines of her thighs, the inviting dip of her lower back.

His arousal grew more insistent, a tightness in his pants that demanded attention. He straightened up a bit, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Scoot over here, Kaede. Come closer." It wasn’t a request; it was laced with that commanding tone he knew had some effect on her.

Kaede felt it immediately, the invisible thread tugging at her will, urging her to obey. Her body wanted to move, to slide across the mat and press against him, but she fought it with everything she had. Clenching her fists, she stayed put, her eyes narrowing in defiance.