The Incubus System Chapter 1081. Smooth Exit Time

The Incubus System Chapter 1081. Smooth Exit Time

I blinked blearily at the clock hanging on the wall. The clock hands ticked silently, glowing faintly in the dim morning light filtering through the thick curtains. “Crap,” I muttered under my breath. The time? 6:15 a.m.

Morning had already crept up on me, which meant one thing—people were about to start moving around. Guards. Maids. Whoever else kept this grand palace running. And me? Well, I wasn’t exactly on the visitor roster.

‘Okay, smooth exit time,’ I thought. Gotta get out of here before It became trouble. Carefully—like, so carefully—I started shifting. Zalira’s soft, warm weight pressed against me, her crimson hair still fanned across my chest, and her tail coiled lazily around my legs like it didn’t want to let go.

“Alright, just a little to the side…” I whispered, trying to free myself inch by inch.

But no. The universe wasn’t feeling kind today. As I leaned to slide out from under her, Zalira’s eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep.

“Mmm?” She blinked up at me, her expression groggy and disoriented. Then her gaze sharpened. “Wait… you’re still here?” Her voice rose slightly, her surprise clear.

I froze, caught like a thief in the act. “Uh… yeah?” I offered a sheepish grin, scratching the back of my neck. “I, uh, ended up crashing here. Turns out even a Nephilim needs sleep sometimes.”

Her shock melted into something softer—amusement mixed with disbelief. “You stayed all night?” she murmured, a small smile curving her lips. “I thought… I thought you’d leave.”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I was gonna leave. But you looked so peaceful, and I figured I’d just…” I trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the couch. “…nap. It’s not like I planned to stay all night. My body had other plans.”

She chuckled softly, the sound warm and rich like honey. “I didn’t think a creature like you could feel sleepy,” she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Isn’t exhaustion a mortal thing?”

“Oh, absolutely,” I deadpanned, smirking. “But I’m not just a creature of the night, you know. I’ve got layers. Like an onion. Or maybe cake. Cake sounds better.”

Zalira let out a full laugh at that, her head tipping back slightly. The sound filled the room. “You’re ridiculous,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, but you like it.” I leaned closer, my voice dropping just slightly. “Don’t even try to deny it.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she nestled closer, her arms wrapping around me as her tail gave a lazy twitch. “You’re not wrong,” she murmured, her voice quieter now. “Thank you… for staying.”

Something about the way she said it—so soft, so genuine—made my chest tighten. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. Instead, I tilted her chin up slightly, my eyes meeting hers.

“You don’t have to thank me,” I said quietly. “I wanted to be here.”

And then, because I wasn’t exactly known for restraint, I kissed her. It started soft, slow, like we had all the time in the world. But as her arms tightened around me and her tail coiled a little more firmly, it deepened.

Her lips were warm and tasted faintly of something sweet. I let myself get lost in the sensation, my hand moving to cradle the back of her head, my fingers tangling gently in her crimson hair.

But, of course, because the universe really loves messing with me, that’s when the knock came.

“Your Majesty?” a voice called from the other side of the door. Feminine, polite, but with a definite edge of urgency. “You have a meeting soon. Should I prepare the tea now?”

Zalira stiffened against me, her eyes snapping open. For a moment, we just stared at each other, both of us frozen like guilty teenagers caught sneaking out past curfew.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, pulling back reluctantly.

Zalira sighed, her expression shifting from warmth to something more neutral—her regal mask slipping back into place. “Yes, I’ll be ready shortly,” she called out, her voice steady and composed. You’d never guess she’d just been cuddling with an incubus a moment ago.

The maid didn’t respond immediately, but the sound of footsteps retreating down the hall confirmed she’d heard. Zalira let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

“I guess that’s my cue to go,” I said, giving her a lopsided grin.

She arched a brow at me, her lips quirking in faint amusement. “You don’t have to sound so disappointed.”

“Oh, trust me, I am,” I shot back, already standing and stretching out the stiffness from sleeping in such an awkward position. “But hey, duty calls, right? And I’d rather not get caught sneaking out of the royal chambers. I’m allergic to public scandal.”

Zalira laughed again, softer this time, and stood as well. Her tail swayed lightly behind her as she smoothed down her gown. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Yeah, but it’s part of my charm,” I said with a wink.

She rolled her eyes but stepped closer, her hands brushing against my arms. “Thank you, Damian,” she said, her tone sincere. “For everything.”

I reached up, tucking a stray strand of crimson hair behind her ear. “Anytime,” I said softly. “You know where to find me.”

With one last lingering look, I summoned a portal. The edges shimmered faintly, glowing with a dark, otherworldly light.

“Try not to miss me too much,” I teased, stepping through.

Her laughter followed me, warm and bright, as the portal closed behind me.

In a blink, I found myself back in my house, my bedroom dimly lit despite the growing brightness outside. The time difference was no joke—morning there, afternoon here. The sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting faint, lazy streaks of light across the floor. Sleep was still clinging to my body, and yet, the day had already blazed ahead without me.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Well, that was… something,” I muttered.