The Incubus System Chapter 1079. Tired Queen

The Incubus System Chapter 1079. Tired Queen

Zalira’s PoV

Zalira slithered closer to Damian, her movements slow and deliberate as if she were testing the waters of her own decision. This wasn’t like her—none of this was like her. To expose herself like this, to let her guard down around someone she had met only a few days ago… It was baffling. And yet, here she was.

His arm rested around her shoulders, warm and steady, and she allowed herself to lean into him. The strength of his presence wasn’t suffocating—it was grounding, like an anchor she hadn’t realized she needed. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she let herself rest.

The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest under her cheek was oddly soothing. She could feel the steady beat of his heart, strong and unyielding, and it matched the power he exuded without effort. It was a stark contrast to the chaos she carried every day—decisions, responsibilities, and endless calculations to keep her kingdom intact.

But here? Here there was nothing to calculate. Nothing to weigh or second-guess. She was just Zalira. Not the queen. Not the protector of her people. Just… herself.

“Comfortable?” Damian’s voice rumbled through his chest, low and warm.

Zalira closed her eyes, nodding slightly against him. “Strangely, yes,” she admitted. Her tail coiled loosely around the base of the couch, her body relaxing in a way she hadn’t thought possible.

“Strange how?” he asked, his tone curious but light.

She hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns against his shirt. “I didn’t feel this way when we did it the first time,” she said softly, almost to herself. “When we were together a few days ago.”

Damian tilted his head slightly, glancing down at her. “No?”

“No,” she said firmly. “It wasn’t like this. It was… intense. Overwhelming, even. But not this.” She gestured vaguely at the two of them, her words fumbling to describe the foreign sensation. “This is… different. I feel… calm and comfortable.”

His arm tightened around her slightly, a small but reassuring gesture. “That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

Zalira shook her head, her hair brushing against his shoulder. “No. It’s just unexpected.”

She paused, letting her thoughts settle as she took in his scent—warm, slightly smoky, with an undertone of something she couldn’t quite place. It was oddly comforting, grounding her further in the moment.

“This isn’t like me,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “To feel this way. To let someone see me like this.”

Damian didn’t respond immediately, and for that, she was grateful. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was understanding, allowing her the space to find her words.

“I’ve spent my whole life protecting my kingdom,” she continued. “Protecting the angel. She wasn’t just a treasure—she was a target. Every country wanted her, and they tried everything to take her. The ambushes, the kidnappings… or stealing attempts to be precise since we only saw her as the source of power.” Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head. “We stopped counting the attempts. It was endless. And they blamed demons for it.”

“They did?” Damian asked, his tone steady but with a faint edge of irritation.

Zalira nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Always. They masked their own greed by blaming your kind. ‘Manipulation,’ they called it. Convenient, isn’t it?”

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she recalled their words. “They even had the audacity to claim that demons had bewitched them, forcing their hand. They said they were 'ordered' to steal the source of the holy vaccine—because, apparently, weakening the human world's defenses would somehow benefit the demons.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “As if such a plan wasn’t entirely their own.”

Zalira's gaze sharpened, anger flickering in her eyes. “But we both know the truth. They didn’t need demons to whisper in their ears. Their greed, their fear, their ambition—they did all the talking.”

He let out a low hum, clearly not surprised but still displeased. “Sounds about right.”

She exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing further against him. “I think… Maybe I was tired of it all. The lies. The constant vigilance. When you came, part of me thought it was a mistake to let the angel go. But another part of me… was relieved.”

Damian didn’t interrupt, letting her speak at her own pace. That alone was refreshing. Most people would try to fill the silence, to push her toward answers they wanted to hear. But he didn’t. He just listened.

“I’ve never felt safe,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Even in my own palace, surrounded by guards and barriers, I’ve always been on edge. Always waiting for the next threat. But with you…” She hesitated, her words catching in her throat. “It’s different.”

“How so?” he asked, his tone gentle.

“You’re stronger than me,” she said simply, as if the words explained everything. “More powerful. You dominate me in ways no one else ever has. It’s strange, but… it makes me feel like I can rest. Like I can let go, even if it’s just for a moment.”

Damian was silent for a moment, and she could feel him processing her words. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft but firm. “You don’t have to carry it all by yourself, Zalira.”

She let out a small, bitter laugh. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” he admitted. “But it’s worth it.”

Zalira looked up at him, her crimson eyes searching his face. For a moment, she said nothing, just taking in the steady resolve in his gaze. And for the first time in her life, she believed him. Truly believed that someone else could share the weight she carried.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Damian smiled, his hand brushing against her shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Anytime.”

She rested her head against his chest again, her eyes closing as she let herself relax fully. For once, she wasn’t a queen or a protector. She was just Zalira—a woman resting in the embrace of someone she could finally trust or she hoped she could trust.