The potion slid slowly down Asher's throat. He wiped his lips slowly, his gaze fixed on Miria.
"Mmh… it's quite delicious," he murmured, a charming smile on his lips.
Miria blinked.
- Delicious ? Wait… how is that delicious?!
She looked at the empty vial in her hands in disbelief.
— But… you drank it! Why doesn't it work?!
"Maybe your elixir just tastes like strawberries," Asher whispered, taking a step forward.
Miria immediately backed away.
— Don't come any closer!
"You know," he said in a low, honeyed voice, "if you wanted to seduce me, all you had to do was ask.
- What ?! But I—
— Oh, I understand… you prefer that I take the lead.
His tone had become more serious, even more charming.
Miria, panicked, backed away until she hit the coffee table.
— Asher! Get over yourself!
— Impossible, my heart, I am totally under your spell.
And before she could react, he disappeared—literally.
- Eh ?! Asher?!
A voice whispered behind her:
— Right here.
Miria turned suddenly—too late. Asher stood a breath away, his eyes glowing an amber, almost vampiric glow.
- So, my queen... ready to succumb?
Miria, with a panic in her heart, raised her hands and muttered:
— Flaris entelum!
A magical gust erupted, sending Asher rolling against the couch.
— Ouch… that wasn't very romantic, my dear.
Miria fled, running back up the stairs.
— Come back, Miria! We can make this…nice!
- Never ! she shouted.
— You can't resist me forever, my sweet.
He snapped his fingers: "Vulnera transitum."
The hallway bent like a ribbon, forcing her back downstairs.
— No, no, no, no! she moaned.
"You should know that I hate being avoided," he whispered with a predatory smile.
Miria brandishes a lamp.
— One more step and I'll burn you!
— Tempting promise… you want to electrify me?
She threw the lamp. He dodged it with a simple magical gesture.
— Deflectum.
The lamp flew across the room, bouncing off a wall before blowing out a candle.
— Asher, stop! It's not you!
— Oh yes, it's really me… the real me. The one who adores you, who dreams of you, who wants—
— Shut up! Ventaris arcum!
A magical gust arises, sending cushions and books in all directions.
Asher rolled over, stood up, laughing like a kid.
—I love it when you fight, Miria. It's… terribly sexy.
— I'm not sexy, I'm angry!
— The two are not incompatible.
Miria turned around, furious, trying a new formula:
— Fumaris protecta!
A bubble of smoke exploded around her, rendering her invisible.
—Hah! We're less smart now! she whispered, proud of herself.
Asher, amused, raised an eyebrow.
— Sonaris revelum.
A magical ringing sounded, and Miria's figure immediately reappeared.
—Oh no!
— Found.
She took off running, running into the kitchen. Asher followed her quietly, hands in his pockets, like an amused predator.
— Miria... sweetheart... you're not going to make me run, are you?
— I won't make you run, I will burn you to ashes!
She cast a spell on him. He blocked it with his fingertips.
—Always so adorable when you get angry.
Miria's conscience suddenly intervened:
— Well done, very smart! You are playing with fire, literally!
- Shut up ! I'm looking for an idea!
— Any idea? You mean an excuse to keep seeing him move towards you?
—That's not true!
— Of course it is. Look at him, you're shaking.
— For fear!
— Of desire, yes.
Miria almost tripped on a rug.
— I swear to you that if you continue, I will exorcise you!
— Always try, naughty girl.
Asher appears behind him again.
— Catching my prey has never been so exciting...
—Dormaris exitum! Miria shouted.
A blue wave burst from his hands.
Asher stopped in his tracks… then burst out laughing.
— It tingles, but it doesn't work.
- WHAT ?!
—You know, we could stop fighting and get straight to the interesting part.
— Asher, if you take one more step...
—What? Are you turning me into a frog?
— Or worse! As a pigeon in love!
— No need, I already am.
Miria rolled her eyes, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
— Please make it stop...
His conscience sneered:
—At this rate, he's the one who's going to arrest you… in your bed.
- Never !
— Oh, you say that now, but your look says something else.
Miria screamed in frustration, grabbed a pot from the table, and threw it.
Asher caught it in one hand, looking delighted.
—Are you cooking for me? How cute.
— You are unbearable!
— And you, irresistible.
He took another step, then another. Miria backed up to the wall.
Their eyes met.
Miria raised her arms to the sky.
— I can't take it anymore!
Silence fell again, just before she shouted:
— Glacius maxima!
An icy blast enveloped the room, freezing Asher in a layer of frost... waist-deep.
Miria sighed, exhausted.
— Finally… silence.
His conscience concludes, teases:
— You say that now, but you really liked the hunt, huh?
— Shut up, you!
And, scarlet, Miria collapsed on a chair, while Asher froze.
Asher, covered in frost, gave him an amused wink. but gave a smile.
— ...You know that I find you even more attractive when you win... Well almost...