Let's keep calm. Maybe I can help.

“You’ve been through a lot,” you repeated, your mind spinning. “It might be best to rest for a while before going anywhere.”

“I… I feel… h-hot… Like, there’s a fire… under my skin... Do I have a fever?”

She put a hand to her forehead. You met her square in the eye.

“I think the demon who stung you was a succubus,” you said. “Have you heard of them?”

“I-I… I just… want… Succubus?"

A moan escaped her throat.

"C-can they throw fire? This one could throw fire…”

“They can,” you confirmed.

She swallowed.

“Yes. I’ve heard of succubi before. They’re… temptresses?”

“They’re killers. Their methods are just… lascivious. They barter ecstasy for ****.”

“Mm-hm… Can I have more water?”

You passed her the gourd again; her fingers brushed the back of your hand as she took it. She drank, her eyes fixed on you. Water spilled down her breastplate and on her skirt. She brought her feet under her and extended her arm to you.

“Help me up?”

You suspected her seduction game had begun, even despite herself, but she was hurt—and in need. You pulled her up. She slipped and braced herself on your forearm as she stood.

“Thank you…” she said, holding on to you.

“That stinger…” you pressed, trying to ignore your own rising lust. “I think she’s infected you with her patron’s hunger.”

Recognition flashed in her eyes, and for a moment, her fevered look sobered.

“Y-yes. She must have,” she said, almost to herself. “When those… fiends… When they… took me… My head was screaming, I—”

Her jaw clenched, and so did her grip on your forearm.

“I didn’t want it,” she said.

“I know.”

“I didn’t want it…. But part of me… Something in me… enjoyed it. No… Loved it. Every second of it.”

“It’s her. The succubus...”

“All I could think of was…”

She hesitated, but her eyes found yours again, and a flush passed between you.

“Cock. Cock… in me.”

Despite yourself, you stared at her mouth in awe. Feeling yourself grow hard, you tried to pull back, but she held on to your arm.

“Even now… Even though…"

"Leanne—"

"—I know it’s wrong… I know it’s… dangerous…”

"—Leanne, wait..."

In the space of a breath, her whole body moved to you, her breastplate touching your chest. Behind her arctic blue eyes, something stirred and danced like flames on a log, and the woods around you faded away.

“I-I can’t think straight,” she whispered.

Her lips parted, and her face closed in on yours—but you were faster. You jerked back and pushed against her shoulder plates to keep her off of you.

“Listen," you said, as she gasped. "If I’m right—and it looks a whole lot like I am… lust will consume you. You will never be satisfied. You’ll want more and more, until you lose your mind... or turn into a succubus yourself.”

She glanced at your crotch and bit her lips. You could tell she was battling with the tidal lust rising inside her. She shut her eyes and swallowed twice before speaking.

“There has to be a cure…” she said.

She opened her eyes again, and the flush returned to her cheeks. Gods, she was beautiful.

“I hear there is...” you managed, “ but for that, we’ll have to get you to a cleric of the Circlets.”

“C-can I… I just need…”

And she dropped to her knees.

“Wait!” you said, swatting her hands away from your crotch.

Your heart and mind raced. Less and less certain why you were fighting this, you scrambled:

“Tell me, uhm…”—with a speed you hadn’t expected, she grabbed your buckle and undid your belt—“...what’s your name!?”

Her hands inches from your opened trousers, she froze. She looked at you like she was waking up from a dream, taking in her current state: on her knees, before you, lust-crazed... Your question had thrown her off, as you'd hoped. She hid her face in her hands. After a few deep breaths, she said:

“I’m… Leanne. Leanne Keiser. Daughter of Captain Gorram Keiser.”

She kept her hands over her eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Leanne. I'm Colden."

“I’m sorry…” she whimpered. “I don’t think I can control it…”

“I might be able to help.”

Her hands came down, finally, almost fearfully. She glanced at your open trousers.

“You're a mage, right? Can you… cure me?”

“I can’t remove the curse," you said, and she sagged, "that’ll take someone with a direct connection to the divine. But I think… I might be able to neutralize the demon. Or, prevent it from taking over your will. At least for a time, while we make our way to a temple.”

She nodded feverishly. Her sigh turned into a moan that seemed to surprise her. One of her hands dipped under her skirt. She yanked it away and stared wide-eyed at you.

“Please…”