CHAPTER 832: CHAPTER 832 - ENOUGH DISTRACTIONS

When she was done, Zahra gulped uncomfortably. Now that the excitement was over and she’d spent some time giving her report, it looked like the spell was broken. Morbid fascination and curiosity no longer overrode her rational anxiety, so she was desperate to leave.

Fortunately for her, Erik knew when it was time for the fun to end.

"Thank you, Zahra," he nodded, his serious expression the complete opposite of the lustful amusement of before. "It looks like things are going well. You can go now, but keep me updated."

Erik’s stern expression threw Zahra for a bit of a loop. While the previous episode had delivered several mental blows to Zahra’s mind, Erik was treating it like just another day. Even Emma’s continued shivering, kneeling, and dripping next to him didn’t seem to change the seriousness with which he treated the information she gave him.

Yet, Zahra needed several seconds of silence before realising her ordeal was finally over. Despite her discomfort, her mind was racing a mile a minute, wholly occupied by the previous events.

When she realised, however, she snapped around without a word, eyes wide. "Y— Yes...!" she muttered, and finally rushed out the door.

***

She didn’t stop at the door either. As soon as she was back in the circular entrance hall, she bolted through the dimensional portal and almost fell past Seraphina, who looked at her haste and stumbling indifferently. Though she had no idea about the specifics, she clearly wasn’t surprised by Zahra’s flushed and flustered state.

Seraphina used to be a member of what amounted to the European Council’s Inquisition. She was very good at judging a person’s weaknesses. From the moment she saw Zahra, Seraphina had realised the third-ranker’s mental state was shaken by the many things she’d gone through since meeting Erik for the first time more than a month ago.

This, combined with Zahra’s beauty and knowing all about the games Erik and Elora liked to play, she’d have been more surprised if Zahra came out calmly.

’Should I warn her that this is only the beginning...?’ she thought, a light smirking playing on her lips. Yet, before she could make up her mind, Zahra had already rushed deeper into the palace, causing Seraphina to shrug. "Well, whatever..." she muttered, and went back to meditating. "What do I care if he adds another one to his collection?"

Only very careful listening would reveal the slightest hint of frustration behind her indifference.

***

Meanwhile, Zahra arrived in her bedroom—naturally, the palace’s master bedroom. As with the rest of the palace, it was far more luxurious than the ones in Enkare Nkai.

As soon as the door slammed shut behind her, she started leaning against it, panting heavily, eyes wide. "What the frick... just happened..." she wheezed.

Almost absentmindedly, her hand slipped beneath her loose clothing. As usual, she wore a halter top and flowing sarong over panties, making it easy for her to reach her lower lips. But as soon as her finger tips touched wetness, she snapped out of it. Ripping her hand out of her panties, she looked at their droplets on her fingers with wide eyes.

"Frick!" she cursed softly. Groaning and already a lot calmer, she walked over to the bed to fall on top of it, face-first. "How could I let that happen..." she muttered into her pillow.

"Are you alright, Mistress...?" a concerned voice suddenly asked as Kara appeared next to the bed.

Miserably, Zahra glanced up at Kara and hesitated. Usually, she’d immediately confide in her friend, but as it stood, she wasn’t sure what to do... The concern on Kara’s face appeared real, but it certainly felt different compared to before Zahra was confronted with the sigil construct’s lack of sentience.

Still, after a few seconds, Zahra sighed and turned onto her back to tell Kara everything. In the end, habits were habits for a reason.

***

Over in Erik’s library, the man himself had just watched Zahra storm out of the room with a smirk.

"Well, that was interesting..." he muttered softly as he sipped the drink Emma brought him before.

Suddenly, a transparent form of Elora appeared floating in front of him. Her gaze, too, was locked on the door Zahra just disappeared through. "Interesting is right," she answered with genuine surprise. "I’d half expected her to rush out immediately, but she actually stayed till the end!"

Erik nodded thoughtfully. Although he’d had no idea Zahra would show up at that moment, he had discussed the possibility with Elora before. "I’m becoming increasingly curious about her past and inner desires..." he hummed, scratching the stubble on his chin. "What makes her so fascinated with Emma specifically?"

Elora glanced at him with a smirk. "I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she tells you while moaning around your cock. Have you decided what you want her to be yet?"

Chuckling, Erik leaned back in the chair as he focused his attention on Elora now. "Let’s just see where things go for now. Maybe our relationship won’t develop into an intimate one at all, you know?"

Elora barked a laugh as her projected form started to fade away again. "Hah! Your future intimacy with that Nobuntu woman is in question, but I have no doubts about this one! If I were you, I’d start thinking about it!"

Smirking, Erik watched her go. He knew she was right. If nothing unexpected happened or was revealed, he would probably have to figure out how he wanted to develop his relationship with Zahra. He couldn’t deny that her obviously troubled past and reaction just now had increased his interest.

She was beautiful, of course, but that alone wasn’t enough for him—not considering who he surrounded himself with on a daily basis.

Yet, after being lost in thought about this for a moment, he quickly shook his head and focused back on the present. While Elora had stopped projecting herself, he could still talk to her, of course.

"How’s the situation in Djibouti?" he asked, frowning and now using their bond.

"Progressing," Elora answered with equal seriousness. "Be prepared for them to test the Maghreb situation soon... assuming we don’t have any leaks."

Slowly, Erik nodded. Silence fell in the room as he sipped his drink, caressed Emma’s hair, and became lost in thought.

Soon, however, he sighed and focused back on the present once more. Taking his hand off Emma’s head, he used that hand to grab his drink, and the now-empty hand to pick up the data slate again.

"Enough distractions now," he muttered softly. "I have research to do..."