Their answers.

Will watched as Cynthia stood up from her seat and walked over to a cupboard. She opened it and revealed several bottles of liquor inside, along with sets of glasses of different sizes.

“Want anything?” she offered. “I still have some good whiskey that Amelia and I opened last night.”

“Okay. Just a bit, though.”

“Ice?”

“Yes.”

Cynthia prepared a couple of wide glasses. Hers had about as much whiskey as his, which was not much.

“I find it easier to embarrass myself when I’ve had a bit to drink,” she said, setting a glass in front of him before she returned to her seat.

“It’s not a good habit,” he told her, shaking his head with a smile.

“I know, but I’m stuck in my ways. Besides, the last time I got really drunk was when I was 20 years old, so don’t go thinking I’m an addict.”

“Didn’t even cross my mind.”

They drank at the same time, but Cynthia’s lasted longer. She sighed and looked Will in the eyes. “Do you remember that time we went to a hotel together? It was about a month ago already.”

Will swallowed and squeezed his glass. “I remember it well.”

“Do you remember what I said?”

“You didn’t know everything,” he told her.

“I didn’t, but at the time, I meant it. Being with you felt good, in more ways than one. The sex was one of those, of course, but simply feeling wanted was… more fulfilling than I believed it could be.” She swirled the liquid in her glass and took another sip. “I asked Belphegor about how mind control works. He told me that Jack brute-**** the spell on me, and that… you having sex with me and using your own power weakened its effect. He says it also made me build up magic resistance.”

Will nodded. “It wasn’t on purpose, but yes. Reina and another girl, Ruth, awakened some of their own magic, too.”

“If it weren’t for you, I’d still be under Jack’s control. I’m not blind to that.”

“Forget about it. He was threatening me, too.”

“I won’t forget about it. I’ve been too paranoid to remember all you’ve done for me.”

“I caused you more trouble. You don’t owe me anything.”

Cynthia chuckled. “Such a stubborn brat. You can’t accept things unless you get them your way, can you?”

‘Hah! She’s got you!’

Will grumbled.

“I always liked that about you,” she continued. "We’re alike in that regard.”

Will smiled. “Yeah. I’ve always admired that about you, too.”

Will sipped his drink again and Cynthia drank with him. “Regardless of what you do, I already have my feet in this dark side of the world. I’ve been learning about magic, about what it’s capable of. I had that woman, Aoi, explain to me everything that happened after we last talked at my office. I got some more info out of her. I know about the black market, about the things being sold there, and I’m not risking lagging behind in a world that won’t be afraid to use all that against me.”

With one last swig, Cynthia emptied her glass and looked firmly at Will. “I need someone I can trust. I need someone reliable who can get things done. I need… a partner who’ll protect me.” She smiled, her cheeks pink. “I’d like to continue working with you, William. I’d like us to continue where we left off. Remember? I’m your woman, and you said you take good care of your things?”

Will’s chest tightened and the hairs of his body stood up. He covered his face with one hand and groaned in embarrassment. “That’s…! Sorry, I get possessive when I’m horny.”

Cynthia chuckled. “I know, and did you ever hear me say I hated it?”

“I thought you didn’t want to be used.”

“I’m not giving up my free will, and you won’t take it away from me, right?”

“I’d never.”

“Then I’m free to give you anything I want. My heart and my body already belong to you.”

A smile slowly began to creep up Will’s face. He felt ashamed and rubbed the back of his neck. “How do I keep getting away with it?”

“It helps that you’re handsome,” Cynthia told him jokingly.

“Are you sure about this? I’m not giving up on the other girls.”

“I know that. And I know you’ll find yourself more lovers as time goes on. Par for the course for the host of the strongest Spirit of Lust, right?”

‘Okay, I see what she’s doing. Tell her to keep the flattery going, please.’

Will chuckled. “Ishtar likes you.”

“I’m glad. I hope that she and I can have a fruitful relationship, too.”

“Be warned. She’s troublesome.”

‘Hey.’

Cynthia shrugged. “I don’t mind troublesome people so long as they have the power to carry their weight and get things done when they need to.”

‘Oh yeah, I love her.’

Will shook his head in defeat. “You two will get along great.”

Cynthia smiled. “Is that a yes, then? Will you let me be with you again?”

Will swallowed. He didn’t feel sure about what he was about to do. It felt a little awkward, but if they were truly going to resume from where they left off, then…

“Come here,” He told her, patting his lap.

Cynthia grinned. She stood up, letting her cardigan slip off her in the process to reveal more of her loose, short-sleeved white shirt underneath. She walked around the coffee table and sat on Will’s lap with her legs to the side, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Like this?” she asked innocently.

“Perfect.”

He met her lips in a tender kiss that lasted ten seconds at best before Cynthia herself deepened it, shoving her tongue inside Will’s mouth and pulling him closer by the back of his neck.

He answered by letting his power seep into her with enough intensity that she’d notice him doing it. Cynthia shivered and tensed up, pressing her thighs tightly together.

She pulled away with a big smirk. “You’ve gotten even better.”

“Want to take full advantage of it?” he asked her.

“Every moment of every day.”

They made out again, not like nothing had ever happened, but with a renewed and strengthened sense of care and trust.

This time, nothing was getting between them.