Chapter 761 – Conspirators
Lux nodded once. "Historically."
She shot him a look. "Don’t get technical."
"I enjoy technical."
"Not tonight."
Fair.
She placed the glass down with more force than necessary.
"My father found spies in our house," she continued.
The table stilled.
"In Pride House?" Ely asked quietly.
"Yes."
Her voice carried sothing sharp under it.
Not fear.
Offense.
Lux leaned back slightly. "Internal staff?"
Sira shook her head. "No. Embedded through trade agreents. Gift envoys. Decorative diplomats."
Naomi frowned. "So... disguised as neutral parties."
"Exactly."
Sira’s fingers curled lightly around the stem of the wine glass. "My father let them stay."
That got Lux’s attention.
"Intentionally," she clarified. "He didn’t purge them. He flipped them." Sira’s lips twitched faintly. "Pride doesn’t panic either."
Lux exhaled softly through his nose.
"Smart."
"He fed them curated information," Sira continued. "Controlled leaks. Minor false leads."
Mira tilted her head. "To asure the king’s response."
"Yes."
Lux’s gaze sharpened slightly.
"And what did he learn?"
Sira leaned back in her chair. "That the king is not moving alone."
The air thinned.
Naomi swallowed. "aning?"
"There are factions inside Infernal Court backing him quietly."
Rava muttered under her breath. "Of course there are."
Sira’s gaze slid back to Lux. "And here’s the problem."
He waited.
"You are not just a political threat anymore."
His brow lifted slightly.
"You’re a destabilizer."
He almost laughed. Yeah, he knew that.
Her eyes didn’t soften.
"You move capital across realms. You bind celestial contracts. You restructure infernal debt chains."
She leaned forward slightly.
"You don’t just grow. You shift balance."
Lux tilted his head. "I thought that was the point."
"Not when the throne feels threatened."
"I don’t want his throne."
"But he still think you want it."
Silence stretched.
Lullaby shifted lightly in his lap, but didn’t speak.
Mira’s tail flicked slowly.
"So Pride House is being watched," Ely said carefully. "And Greed House."
"And probably Lust."
Sira gave Lux a pointed look.
"And Sloth."
Lullaby yawned softly. "Sloth is always watched. We just don’t care."
That got a faint smirk from Lux.
Sira leaned back again. "My father believes the king is testing who will react aggressively."
Lux nodded slowly. "So if we retaliate openly..."
"He paints us as conspirators."
Naomi exhaled. "And if you don’t?"
Sira’s jaw tightened. "He escalates quietly."
Lux humd softly. "Classic squeeze."
Rava leaned in slightly.
"What did your father advise?"
Sira hesitated.
That was rare.
"He said... don’t move emotionally."
Her eyes flicked to Lux.
"He said you wouldn’t."
Lux’s lips curved faintly.
"I won’t."
She narrowed her eyes.
"But you’re planning sothing."
"Always."
"Careful," she warned. "If you overplay this, you’ll force him to strike first."
Lux’s gaze didn’t waver.
"I want him to strike first."
The table went still again.
Naomi stared at him. "You’re insane."
"No."
His voice was calm.
"If he strikes first without airtight justification, he fractures his support."
Sira’s expression darkened slightly.
"You’re gambling on his pride."
"Yes."
She almost laughed despite herself.
"That’s reckless."
"It’s calculated."
She studied him for a long mont.
"You’re not afraid of burning Infernal politics."
"I’m afraid of being cornered without leverage."
Mira spoke softly. "So you’re building leverage."
"Yes."
Rava’s smile returned slowly.
"He’s going to bait the king."
Lux shrugged lightly.
"I’m going to survive."
Sira leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"Be honest with ."
He t her gaze.
"You’re enjoying this."
A slow smirk ford.
"A little."
She scoffed.
"You’re twisted."
"Strategic."
"Twisted."
"Both can coexist."
A faint, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
But it didn’t reach her eyes.
"He’s not underestimating you anymore," she said quietly. "That’s the real problem."
Lux nodded.
"I know."
Sira’s voice softened slightly. "If this escalates, Pride won’t abandon Greed."
That wasn’t a political statent.
That was personal.
Lux held her gaze for a second longer than usual.
"I know."
Sira reached for the wine again.
"If we’re going to play this ga," she muttered, "we play it perfectly."
Lux’s eyes glead faintly. "We will."
The candlelight caught that look.
Not playful.
Not entirely.
Sothing darker curled underneath it. Sothing warm and dangerous and very aware of the people sitting around him.
Dinner continued, but the energy shifted again.
Lux leaned back slightly in his chair, one arm still loosely around Lullaby’s waist as she sat sideways on his lap. His thumb absentmindedly traced slow circles against her hip through the fabric of her dress. Not inappropriate. Not yet.
Just enough.
"Well," he said casually, lifting his wine, "for tonight. Everyone who wants to join... could co to my room."
The table went still.
Naomi blinked.
Rava’s lips curved slowly.
Mira’s tail gave one lazy flick.
Ely didn’t look shocked. Just thoughtful.
Sira narrowed her eyes slightly. "You’re serious."
"I’m always serious."
"That’s not reassuring."
He smirked.
The air felt heavier. Thicker. The kind of silence that hums instead of rests.
Lullaby shifted slightly on his lap, her soft voice cutting through it. "But... you could go into feral state."
That got a few glances.
Lux didn’t deny it.
"Maybe."
The word hung there.
Maybe ant yes.
Maybe ant he had felt it already. The pressure. The instinct. The ancient pull under his skin that whispered take, claim, devour.
He leaned his head back slightly, exposing the line of his throat in lazy confidence.
"I might."
Naomi’s fingers tightened around her glass.
"And that doesn’t concern you?"
"It does."
His gaze slid down slowly to Lullaby.
"So I need an anchor."
The word landed softer than the rest.
Anchor.
Not leash.
Not restraint.
Anchor.
He brushed Lullaby’s hair back gently again, his touch deliberate this ti. Intimate. Slow.
Her eyes lifted to et his.
"Can you help , Lullaby?"
Her breath caught faintly.
"If I lose my mind... bring back."
His voice lowered just enough to make the others lean in.
"Ta ."
The room went quiet.
Not awkward.
Charged.
Lullaby swallowed.
"You’re asking to control you?"
"I’m asking you to pull back."
That was different.
Sira watched that exchange carefully.
Rava leaned her chin on her hand, eyes half-lidded. "Feral Lux is... intense. But sexy."
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