Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

{Raven}

The morning air carried the scent of jasmine. Raven stood at the edge of the Summers' property, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she watched the empty street.

Old habits died hard.

[Four kills on nights just like this one,] she thought, scenes playing before her eyes on their own. [Two in their beds. One in their study. One right here on a street like this.]

It didn't make her particularly sad or guilty to remember these missions. She was following orders. And, following orders was literally all she'd ever known.

Until Melisa.

Warm arms wrapped around her waist from behind, making her tense for just a moment before Kimiko's familiar perfume registered.

"You're thinking awfully hard out here."

Raven's mind rarely went to any sort of carnal space, when Melisa wasn't around anyway. But, having Kimiko's massive breasts pressed up against her back at the moment surprised even Raven herself with how warm her body got in response.

"Want to share with the class?" She added.

Raven hesitated for just a moment.

"I was thinking about my time with the Shadow Mages," she admitted softly.

"Ah, wow," Kimiko (thankfully) removed herself from Raven's back and instead, sat on the steps leading to the door, next to Raven. "Anything exciting?"

"... I suppose some would think so."

[To me, it was just work, though.]

"But," Raven added, her lips moving on their own. "I guess I just wonder if I'm doing enough. Enough to help Melisa out."

"Mm?" Kimiko hunched over, resting her chin on one knee. "What makes you think you're not?"

"I... don't know. I just wonder if she needs any assistance."

Kimiko giggled.

"Feel free to ask her that, then," Kimiko said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Next time you see her, just say 'hey, I want to help more.'"

Raven frowned.

"Is it really that simple?"

"Only if you make it that simple." Kimiko's smile widened slightly. "Though I suppose you're not exactly used to having friends to discuss things with, are you?"

Raven placed her eyes back onto the street up ahead.

"Not really, no."

"Hm," Kimiko nodded slowly. "Well... You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure."

At that moment, the sound of a door opening behind them made Raven turn her head slightly. And there was Isabella, wearing nothing but a grin and a very obvious erection leaking precum through her skirt.

[Oh my.]

"Oiii," Isabella said, stroking herself slowly. "You two done with the heart-to-heart?" She yawned. "Because I could really use some help with this."

"My my, what a needy girl I've raised," Kimiko got up. She walked over, wrapping her arms around Isabella's shoulder. "I suppose it's my duty. Raven," she turned her attention back to her, "care to help me out or will you stay out here brooding?"

Raven glanced at them both.

She looked down.

[... I suppose this was part of the earlier agreement, right?]

After a moment's consideration, Raven shrugged.

"Sure."

---

{Melisa}

Melisa still couldn't get over how much money had been poured into the palace gardens.

Every time she visited, some new statue or fountain had appeared, each probably worth more than her entire education. Today's addition seemed to be some marble woman with her tits out, water spraying from odd places.

[I dunno. I guess when you're rich enough, you can put nipples wherever you want,] she thought, following Aria down the familiar rose-lined path.

At least they were meeting out here instead of the throne room. The gardens might be a monument to having too much money and too much time, but they were private. No chance of some nosy noble walking in on them discussing terrorism between the perfectly trimmed hedges.

[Wouldn't that start some rumors, eh?]

"So," Aria said, settling onto what Melisa had mentally dubbed 'the most uncomfortable-looking expensive bench in existence.' "Tell me what you've been up to this past week."

Melisa remained standing, partly out of respect, mostly because that bench looked uncomfortable as fuck.

"Well," she started, wondering how exactly to phrase 'I accidentally murdered some people.' "I... found some terrorists who might be connected to multiple attacks throughout the city."

Aria's eyes lit up like Isabella spotting fresh dick.

"That's fantastic!" She leaned forward, excited enough that her usual regal demeanor slipped slightly. "We can send the guards right now. Get this whole mess wrapped up before dinner."

Melisa cleared her throat.

"Actually," Melisa said carefully, "I think we should wait."

Aria's excitement dimmed quickly.

"Wait?" She frowned. "Why would we wait?"

"Because..." [How do I put this?] "... I think I can get more out of them," Melisa explained. "Information about other cells, other planned attacks. They're starting to trust me."

[Also, I'm looking to kill one of them myself, not have him hauled off to a dungeon.]

Aria's frown deepened, her fingers drumming against the stupid expensive bench.

"I suppose I understand the strategic value," she said slowly. "But every moment we wait is another moment these people have to hurt more of my citizens."

[Yeah, don't I know it.]

"Not just hurt them," Aria continued, her voice taking on that edge she got when she was about to make a point. "Every attack makes the tensions between nim and humans worse. You've seen how people are talking in the streets."

She had. The whispers, the suspicious glances, the way humans who didn't recognize her as Melisa Blackflame clutched their purses tighter when she walked by.

[As opposed to before, I guess. When they just pretended we didn't exist.]

"I know," Melisa said, trying to keep her voice neutral. "But if we move too soon, we might miss something bigger. Something worse."

[Like, say, an attack on my aunt's house that I actually want to have happen.]

Aria stood, moving closer. Close enough that Melisa could smell her perfume - something expensive and probably named after whatever flower those patterns were supposed to be.

She placed a hand gently on Melisa's shoulder. Melisa's brows moved up an inch.

"Just..." Aria's voice softened only slightly. "Be careful. I don't want you to get hurt on my behalf."

"I'll be careful," she promised anyway. "Just give me a few more days."

[Just long enough for either Vira to talk Koros down or for me to turn him into particularly evil-flavored ash.]

Aria nodded slowly, though her expression suggested she had about as much faith in this plan as Melisa had in Isabella's ability to keep her hands to herself during family dinners.

"Three days," she said finally. "Then we move, with or without your extra intelligence. I do not wish to extend my citizens' suffering. Both the humans and the nim."

[Perfect,] Melisa thought. [That lines up with when they plan to attack Isabella's place anyway.]

"Deal," she agreed.

A guard basically manifested at the end of the path, bowing slightly.

"Your Majesty," he called. "The trade delegation has arrived."

Aria sighed, her queenly mask sliding back into place.

"Try not to accidentally start any revolutions while I'm dealing with this," Aria said, only half-joking.

"I'll do my best."