You’re deep in sleep, drifting in a dreamless void, when a faint pressure on your chest starts pulling you back to the waking world. The warmth spreads across your torso, and something soft and impossibly comfortable settles against you. Your arms, instinctively wrapped around your pillow, are now pressed against… not your pillow. You crack one eye open groggily, blinking in the dim light of your bedroom. At first, your mind refuses to process what you’re seeing. There, nestled on top of you like a sleepy cat, is a figure with long black hair cascading over your shoulders. Her amber eyes are shut, and her full lips are slightly parted as she breathes softly against your neck. It takes you a moment to connect the dots. That’s Lyra. Your neighbor Lyra. The one who’s always teasing you, acting like an airhead. The same Lyra who should be in her own apartment. You blink again, heart racing, trying to convince yourself this is some bizarre dream. But no, the warmth of her body pressing against yours, the faint scent of vanilla mixed with something exotic and intoxicating, and the way her fingers are lightly curled against your chest all feel too real. “Lyra?” you mumble groggily, your voice a mix of confusion and alarm. Her eyes flutter open slowly, like she’s savoring the last remnants of a perfect nap. When she finally focuses on you, her expression shifts from dreamy contentment to wide-eyed shock. “Oh! Uh… hi?” she says, her voice an octave higher than usual. She props herself up slightly, her hands still on your chest, her hair tickling your chin. “What are you doing here?” Lyra freezes, her cheeks flushing a deep pink against her tanned skin. “Oh, um… you know, just… checking on you? Making sure you’re okay?” she says, her words tumbling out in a way that screams guilty. “By sneaking into my apartment and—what, lying on top of me while I sleep?” you ask, incredulous. She winces, biting her lip as if debating how much trouble she’s in. Then, as if deciding honesty is her best option, she blurts, “Okay, fine! I was hungry!” You stare at her, “Hungry?” “Yeah! You know how I’m a succubus and all? We, uh… need to absorb energy, and cuddling is just so much easier than the whole seduction thing. And you’re so warm and comfy, it’s like… impossible to resist!” She grins sheepishly, but there’s a flicker of nervousness in her amber eyes. Your brain scrambles to process what she just said. “So… you’ve been sneaking in here regularly to, what, feed on me?” Lyra sits up fully, straddling your hips now as she waves her hands defensively. “No, no, not feed-feed! It’s not like I’m draining your life or anything! Just… a little energy. It’s harmless, I swear! You probably didn’t even notice until now!”

She freezes, her expression shifting from defiant to concerned in the span of a heartbeat. Then, carefully but quickly, she slides off you and onto the bed beside you, propping herself up on one elbow so she can peer down at your face. "No, no! You should go back to sleep!" Her hand reaches out, gently cupping your cheek as her thumb strokes your skin in a way that feels impossibly soothing. It's the same gesture she'd used earlier when she thought you were too warm, and it tugs at something deep inside you, making you feel like everything is going to be okay despite the bizarre situation you find yourself in.

"Seriously," *she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can leave if that's what you want. I just... really shouldn't stay here too long. It's not

Her smile lights up the room, and she flops back down on her side, resting her head on your shoulder. "Are you sure? Because I could always just cuddle with my stuffed animals or something..." She pauses, then giggles. "...but that's kinda lame when there's a warm, cozy human around."

Her arm wraps around your waist, pulling you close in a loose hug as she nestles her face against your neck, her breath tickling the sensitive skin beneath your ear. "Thanks," she murmurs softly, and for a moment it sounds like her voice is a little rougher than usual. "You're really nice to let me stay."

The longer she stays like this, the more you feel yourself relaxing into the embrace. Her skin feels impossibly warm against yours, and her scent is intoxicating, making it impossible for you

Her eyes close again, and she sighs contentedly, pressing herself even closer against you. "You're the best, you know that? Not many people would be this understanding." She takes a deep breath in through her nose, savoring your unique scent before exhaling slowly, the warm air tickling your neck.

"So," she begins hesitantly, her voice barely audible above the sound of your heartbeat and the faint rustle of sheets as you adjust positions in your sleep, "you never told me what your major is. I've been meaning to ask you for ages, but..." She trails off, shrugging awkwardly.

"That's so cool!" Lyra squeals, sounding genuinely excited. "I bet you draw the most amazing things! Can I see?" She wriggles in your grip until she's in a comfortable position to reach over and grab your sketchbook from where it lies abandoned on your nightstand. Carefully flipping through the pages, her eyes widen as she takes in your artwork. "Oh my gosh! These are amazing!"

She pauses for a moment before looking up at you with wide, sincere eyes. "You really should enter some contests with this stuff. You could win awards or get scholarships or even have your work displayed somewhere!" There's an almost desperate intensity in her voice that makes it clear how much she means what she's saying.

"I'll help you, if you want," she continues, a mischievous glint

Well, you're certainly better than I am," she says with a snicker, trying and failing to hide her modesty. "But seriously, if there's anything I can do to help push you forward, just let me know. I'm here for ya, buddy!"