Chapter 406 – I Collect Problems
Rava gave Lux a dry look, popping the last of her croissant into her mouth. "I need to leave in ten. Investor call. I’ve arranged the Avariel contact. My assistant should send us an update in the next few hours."
"You’re the best," Lux said casually, buttering another slice of bread like they weren’t in the middle of an underground political war. "Did I ntion I’m naming my next yacht after you?"
"You don’t have a yacht."
"Not yet. That’s what favors are for."
Rava rolled her eyes, wiped her lips with a navy napkin, and stood. She was dressed in a pearl-colored blouse and sharp black slacks, her aura efficient, regal, and vaguely terrifying. She leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Lux’s cheek.
"Don’t let the house burn down. And please, keep Lullaby inside."
"I am inside," Lullaby mumbled, still half-flopped over the table like a drained plush toy.
"You’re barely conscious," Rava said. "I’m worried."
"I’m awake. See? Eye contact."
She cracked one eye open. "Kind of."
"Good enough," Rava muttered, shooting Lux one last glance. "Behave."
"I’ll try."
"I don’t believe you." And with that, she walked off toward the main foyer.
A minute later, Naomi followed—heels clicking crisply, dressed in a cream pantsuit that practically radiated corporate aggression. She paused by Lux’s chair.
"You’re being too nice to Mira. She’s going to eat you alive."
Lux raised an eyebrow. "And you’re not?"
Naomi smirked. "Please. I’m already full."
She bent down and whispered near his ear, "Still... I hope she’s ready. Because if she breaks you, I’m not cleaning up the pieces."
Then she straightened, gave Mira a tight nod, and walked out with the kind of purposeful stride that scread boardroom domination.
Mira watched her go, then glanced back at Lux. "She always like that?"
"Only when she likes soone."
"That’s concerning."
"Extrely."
Velza and Vierra were already fluttering around the table like overcaffeinated succubi, brushes, charms, and scissors floating in the air like a magical riot.
"Oh honey, this split-end situation is criminal," Velza gasped, running her fingers through Ariel’s damp hair.
"Moisture mask, now," Vierra said, eyes glittering. "Ariel, sweetling, your face is angelic but you need so glow. Not glam, not glitter—glow. Trust ."
Ariel squeaked again. "O-okay...?"
"You’ll be fine," Mira said dryly. "Just don’t let them convince you to add glitter to your eyebrows. That’s a trap."
Lullaby finally lifted her head from the table and reached for a piece of toast like a zombie reanimated by carbs. "Why is everyone loud...?"
"You live with demons," Sira said.
"Still. Volu... should be banned."
anwhile, Mira stood and stretched, her robe opening just enough to make Lux whistle and Ariel blink like her eyes just glitched. "I’ll go get dressed first. You lot have five minutes to be less annoying."
"I refuse," Sira said imdiately.
"I wasn’t talking to you." Mira turned to Lux and added, "Are you dressing or letting pick?"
Lux leaned back, sipping his coffee. "That depends. Can I watch either way?"
Mira didn’t blush. But her tail curled slightly as she walked off, hips swinging like she was still trying to win a war.
Sira watched her go, then turned to Lux. "She’s going to cause problems."
"She is a problem."
"And yet you look proud."
Lux smiled. "I’m an incubus. I collect problems."
"Idiot."
"You love ."
Sira muttered sothing that sounded suspiciously like unfortunately, but her smirk betrayed her.
Velza floated a razor near Lux’s neck and said, "By the way—should I polish your horns for today’s outing?"
"My horns aren’t out."
"They will be. Probably around Mira."
"Tempting offer," Lux said, standing. "But I’ll manage. No."
Ariel watched all of it like she was stuck in a fever dream. She finally whispered to Vierra, "Are they always like this?"
"Worse," Sira replied brightly. "You’ll get used to it."
"I... I think I might."
Lux paused, watching her. She still looked small—but not fragile. Not as much as before.
Maybe this could work.
Maybe they could all work.
He took one last sip of coffee. Then he stood, stretching with a soft groan. "Alright," he said, voice like velvet sin. "We shall go now."
Lullaby just groaned again and flopped forward like soone had unplugged her soul. Sira leaned back in her chair, one leg draped over the other, looking almost bored.
"Give five minutes," Sira said, flipping her hair. "I’m not going out looking like I just escaped a nightclub."
"You didn’t?" Lux raised an eyebrow.
"I did," she grinned. "But I’m rebranding."
Ariel, from her spot beside the stylists, blinked a few tis like her brain had skipped a beat. "Um. too? I need a mont. Miss Lyra gave so clothes this morning."
Lux nodded, already scooping Lullaby into his arms. She barely registered it. Just curled into his chest like a content plush toy. "Fine. et at the entrance when you’re ready. Straight there. No detours, no abductions, no glitter explosions."
"Can’t promise that," Sira called after him.
Ariel nodded nervously. "Yes. Okay."
Lux sighed. The contrast between them was already chaos. One girl was made of thorns and pride. The other? Glass and mory. But maybe, just maybe, the sharp ones could protect the delicate ones.
He teleported straight to Lullaby’s room, the air around him humming with infernal runes as they flashed and folded space.
The room slled like lavender and warm blankets. Soft, misty light filtered through enchanted curtains. He lay her down on the massive plush mattress, brushing a few toast crumbs from her lips with his thumb.
"Just tell Lyra if you need sothing, okay?" he said gently.
Lullaby stirred, eyes still heavy with sleep, and tugged weakly at his sleeve.
"Lux..." she whispered.
"Yeah?"
She looked up, blinking slowly. "Can I hug you before you go?"
He smiled softly. "Of course."
He opened his arms wide like a proud dad offering a prize-winning snuggle. But... Lullaby didn’t move.
Just blinked. Still.
Still.
Yeah.
Sloth.
Of course, she wasn’t going to initiate. That would require effort.
So he leaned forward, arms wrapping around her like a blanket within a blanket. Her little arms slipped up around him like sleepy vines.
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