The Incubus System Chapter 1089. Pretending

The Incubus System Chapter 1089. Pretending

Ethan’s PoV

I stared at the closed bathroom door longer than I should have. That’s where Puriel had disappeared, retreating with all the grace and awkwardness of an angel trying not to fall apart. I huffed casually, shaking my head as a smirk tugged at my lips. “Turns out you can stand after all,” I muttered to myself, my tone amused.

I never thought she’d pull that little trick—pretending she couldn’t stand just to throw me off. But honestly? I couldn’t blame her. That was a level of awkward I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Besides, I knew what it meant.

She was falling for me.

It was written all over her flustered reactions, the way she couldn’t meet my gaze, the way her fingers lingered on my skin just a little too long. And yeah, maybe she wasn’t ready to admit it to herself yet, but that didn’t change the fact. Puriel had fallen. For me.

And you know what? I didn’t mind. In fact, it was good news—great news, actually. I wasn’t just playing around with her. I wanted this to be something meaningful for both of us.

She was my aunt, after all… and my partner. Yeah, the whole “aunt” thing might sound weird on paper, but celestial family trees were messy at best. It wasn’t like we’d grown up together or had any sibling dynamics going on. She was an angel who’d spent centuries stuck in a crystal, and I was, well… me. An incubus who happened to be half-human and half-angel. Life was complicated.

What mattered more was giving her a sense of belonging here in the human world. She’d been through so much—isolated, used, left to feel like an outcast. If I could help her feel accepted, like she had a place where she truly belonged, that was a win in my book. And hey, if that place happened to be by my side, even better.

I shook off the lingering thoughts and turned my focus back to the shower. The warm water cascaded over me as I rinsed the last of the soap away, humming casually to myself. My thoughts kept circling back to her, though—her blush, her hesitant touches, the way she’d looked at me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.

It was cute. Really cute.

Once I was done, I grabbed a towel and dried off, the steam from the shower still clinging to the air. A quick snap of my fingers summoned my Demon’s Clothes—a simple t-shirt and sweatpants this time. Casual and comfortable, because hey, I wasn’t in the mood to dress like a king right now. I ran a hand through my damp hair, shaking out the last few drops of water before stepping out of the bathroom.

Instead of heading to my room, I made my way to the living room. I could already hear the faint buzz of voices—well, not voices exactly. More like the subtle sounds of my companions doing their own thing.

As I stepped into the living room, my little sister, Celia, spoke first, her eyes glued to her phone as her thumb scrolled down her screen at lightning speed. “That noisy voice,” she said without looking up. “Was that you and Puriel? I heard it from the bathroom.”

I laughed, heading toward the kitchen. “Yeah, that was me,” I admitted, grabbing a glass from the cabinet. “We had a bit of a… moment.”

Celia raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further, still engrossed in whatever rabbit hole she was spiraling into on her phone. Meanwhile, Foxy, my fox-eared companion, perked up from her spot on the couch, tilting her head curiously.

“What happened, Master?” she asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Before I could answer, Shadow, who was lounging lazily on the armrest, chimed in, his voice smooth and slightly smug. “I bet he was just playing with her,” he said, his tail flicking lazily. “You know what I mean. After what happened last night, she’s basically his partner now.”

I rolled my eyes, setting the glass down and reaching for the kettle to make some tea. “It’s not just playing,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “And you’re jumping to conclusions.”

Shadow let out a soft chuckle. “Am I wrong, though?”

I ignored him, focusing on making the tea. I added a generous spoonful of honey to the mug, letting it dissolve as the hot water filled it. The scent of chamomile and sweet honey wafted up, comforting and familiar. It wasn’t just for Puriel despite Honey milk tea seemed like something she’d appreciate after the emotional rollercoaster she’d just gone through.

As I stirred the tea, Foxy’s ears twitched, and she leaned forward slightly. “So… what did happen?” she pressed, her tone innocent but her curiosity clear.

I sighed, turning back to the room with the mug in hand. “Let’s just say Puriel is… adjusting,” I said vaguely. “It’s not easy for her, you know? Being here, dealing with everything that’s happened.”

Shadow smirked, his eyes narrowing. “Adjusting, huh? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Shadow,” I said warningly, though there was no real heat in my voice. “Don’t push it.”

He raised his paws in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. For now.”

Foxy tilted her head again, her expression thoughtful. “Do you think she’s starting to like it here? I mean, in the human world?”

I nodded, taking a sip of the tea before heading toward the living room. “Yeah,” I said over my shoulder. “I think she’s getting there. Slowly, but surely.”

As I turned the corner, Red bounded up to me, tail wagging so hard it was practically a blur. “That’s good news, right?” he said, his deep voice carrying an innocent excitement that only a dog could muster.

I grinned, crouching to scratch behind his ears. “Yeah, I guess,” I replied. “But there’s still stuff I have to deal with.”

Red tilted his head, his ears perking up. “Like what?”