Aslan held out his hand, and the bird-shaped magical accessory Melusine had been playing with obediently returned to him.
Melusine turned her head away with a small pout. "Why don't you go back to your queen? Why are you here with me, hmph!"
Aslan gave a weary smile and gently cupped her cheeks, giving them a little tug.
"What are you sulking for? I only used Altria's identity. Nothing happened with Guinevere, I swear. It'd be weird if something did happen, wouldn't it?"
After all, what could happen between Altria and Guinevere—even under suggestion magic? Aslan wasn't that far gone.
Melusine pouted harder, her jealousy obvious. Over the years, her possessiveness had grown—like she'd marinated every meal she cooked in vinegar.
But instead of getting annoyed, Aslan simply chuckled. "Don't forget where we are. This is someone else's royal city. So tell me, how should I get you to behave? And don't say anything that we can only do at home—you're not some reckless dragon."
Melusine blushed and cleared her throat. "Let's do that again~"
Aslan's expression froze. He looked around to make sure they were alone, then glanced at her again, deadpan. "You're serious?"
She nodded, hands on her chest, index finger raised. She tilted her head, feet turned inward, looking up at him with a pout and wide, shimmering eyes.
"Just once, okay? One time! Please~!"
Aslan turned away and covered his nose, feeling his composure crack. She knew how to push all his buttons. And in this place, at this time… this request was as inappropriate as it was irresistible.
He sighed, resigned. The longer they lingered here, the more likely they were to be discovered.
His eyes slowly chilled.
Seeing the shift in him, Melusine's breath quickened. She swallowed hard.
Aslan slammed his palm against the wall beside her head, trapping her with a kabe-don. His expression was cold and domineering, completely devoid of the softness he had shown before.
"Hey. Trash. How many times do I have to say it? When you make requests like that, consider the time and place. There won't be a next time!"
Anyone familiar with Vortigern would have done a double take. At that moment, Aslan's demeanor was indistinguishable from the dread dragon himself.
And Melusine… clasped her hands and sighed with starry-eyed delight.
Yes, this was the version of Aslan that made her heart race. Ever since their last trip together, she had fallen more and more in love with his dominant side. In her mind, she imagined him as a dragon—powerful, regal, terrifying—pressing her down, his sharp teeth grazing the tender scales near her throat, asking for her total submission.
Ah~, what a lovely fantasy.
Aslan watched her spacing out, then inserted the key into the treasure vault's lock. With a soft click, the door creaked open, revealing golden light.