Chapter 888 – Worse Than a Beast

Mira’s mouth curved.

"We needed something good for this party."

Naomi added, "And Lux is it."

Yue tilted her head slightly, studying Fiera now.

"You seem worried for him."

Fiera stiffened.

Was she that obvious?

Yue’s smile grew faintly. "Don’t worry. Lux is a beast." Yue continued, unbothered. "Worse than a beast."

Fiera’s ears went fully upright.

"In bed," Yue said calmly. "In battlefield."

Sira snapped her fan open.

"Also in meeting rooms. You should see how he shuts down lords during board meetings despite his age." Her eyes half-lidded, lips curling. "Ah~ I feel horny just thinking about it."

Naomi raised her glass. "She’s not wrong."

Rava hummed. "Dominance through economic policy. Very niche. Very effective."

Fiera looked between them all, completely lost for a second.

Because this was insane.

All of this.

The lingerie. The jokes. The openly affectionate teasing.

And yet...

There was warmth here.

Ely touched Fiera’s shoulder gently.

"Anyway," she said. "Do you want to match the theme or not?"

Fiera looked at Lux.

Then at the girls.

Then down at herself.

Plain shirt.

Pants.

Her fingers tightened briefly.

She thought of all the times she had stayed at the edge of rooms. Watching. Wanting. Not daring. Telling herself she didn’t belong because everyone else already knew how to shine.

Then she looked at Lux again.

He wasn’t pushing her.

Wasn’t teasing her.

Wasn’t expecting anything.

That made the choice easier.

"I’m in," Fiera said.

The girls blinked.

Sira’s grin sharpened.

"Oh?"

Fiera’s face warmed again, but she didn’t back down. "I know you guys want to play with Lux." Her voice came softer. "I’ll join."

"I want to know about him too," Fiera admitted.

Yue’s gaze sharpened with interest.

"You’re curious?"

Fiera nodded.

"Yes."

A pause.

Her eyes drifted back to Lux. "One time, he looks confident. Another time," Fiera continued quietly, "he looks... lonely."

The room softened.

Just like that.

The laughter paused.

The teasing stilled.

Fiera immediately wondered if she had said too much.

Yue’s eyes rested on Lux now, unreadable and warm all at once.

"She is right."

Lux looked away first.

Only slightly.

But the girls saw it.

Fiera saw it too.

And suddenly she understood something.

Lux was confident. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Powerful.

Beautiful in a way that made rooms lose balance.

But there were spaces inside him he didn’t show unless someone accidentally opened the door.

And maybe... Maybe tonight wasn’t only about dressing up.

Maybe it was about getting close enough to see what he hid behind the smirk.

Sira clapped her hands.

"Well then," she said brightly, saving everyone from drowning in sincerity. "Fox girl makeover."

Fiera’s eyes widened.

"Wait—now?"

Naomi grabbed her hand. "Absolutely now."

Mira stood. "Don’t worry. We bought options."

Fiera turned helplessly toward Lux.

Lux gave her a gentle smile. "You don’t have to do anything you don’t want."

That sentence settled in her chest like a warm blanket.

Fiera breathed in.

Then nodded.

"I want to."

Sira’s grin turned feral.

"Excellent."

Lux watched as the girls dragged Fiera upstairs, her tails flicking nervously but her smile real.

And he stayed there in the living room, half naked, wine in hand, silently processing the fact that Fiera had seen through him better than expected.

Lonely.

Yeah.

That one hit.

Lux hid it well.

He was Lux Vaelthorn. Hell’s golden heir. The smiling monster of Greed. The incubus who could walk into negotiations half asleep and still leave with three contracts, five allies, and someone questioning their sexuality.

But Fiera’s words lingered anyway.

Like fingers pressing gently against bruises he pretended weren’t there.

The intercom dinged again.

Another guest.

Lux straightened slightly.

And a few seconds later, the front doors opened.

Ariel stepped inside.

The little mermaid paused almost immediately after crossing the doorway.

Because nobody prepared her for this.

The mansion already felt warm and luxurious before, but now with the dim lights, bass-heavy music, expensive perfume floating through the air, and Lux standing there dressed like temptation lost a bet.

Her brain short-circuited instantly.

Ariel wore a satin night dress.

Simple compared to the others.

Soft sea-blue fabric that shimmered slightly under the lights, thin straps over her shoulders, the skirt ending around mid-thigh. Elegant enough to pass as "cute evening wear" if her parents asked questions later.

Which they absolutely would.

And absolutely would kill her if they knew this party looked one bad decision away from becoming legendary gossip material.

Her cheeks turned pink immediately the moment her eyes landed on Lux.

Oh no.

The outfit was worse in person.

Those pants.

That chest.

That unfair waistline.

And the fact he stood there relaxed about it somehow made everything infinitely more dangerous.

"G-Good evening," Ariel managed softly.

Lux smiled immediately.

Warm.

Smooth.

Dangerously welcoming.

"Good evening."

His voice was unfair too.

"Come in."

Ariel obeyed before her brain fully approved the decision.

Her eyes darted around the room.

"No one else came yet?"

Lux shook his head lightly.

"No. The girls dragged Fiera upstairs."

Ariel blinked.

"Why?"

"To match the theme."

Ariel’s gaze slowly returned to Lux’s outfit again.

Then immediately away again.

Lux noticed everything.

But instead of teasing her immediately, he walked toward the couch and gestured casually.

"Sit."

Ariel sat carefully beside him.

Not too close.

Not too far.

Close enough to smell his cologne though.

That was a mistake.

Warm spice. Dark wine. Expensive soap. Something masculine underneath that made her chest feel tight in ways she did not appreciate.

Lux leaned back comfortably.

"Want something to eat?"

Ariel shook her head quickly.

"A drink maybe?"

She hesitated.

"Wine?"

Lux lifted a brow.

"Wine?"

Ariel nodded with suspicious seriousness.

"It’s preparation."

Lux turned slightly toward her.

"Preparation for what?"

Ariel froze.

Because she absolutely almost said too much.

The girls upstairs had been whispering things.

Dangerous things.

Things involving matching themes and "making Lux suffer emotionally."

Ariel still didn’t fully understand the plan.

But somehow, she already knew Lux would end the night either deeply loved or completely bullied.

Probably both.

"...Nothing," she said quickly.

Lux narrowed his eyes slightly.

Dangerous.

Amused.

"You’re a terrible liar."

Ariel’s ears heated.

"I-I’m not lying."

"You stuttered twice."

"That’s just my personality."