Chapter 862: Not Like a Contract Stamped on Flesh

Chapter 862 – Not Like a Contract Stamped on Flesh

Yue’s fingers curled slightly under the blanket.

Because she knew what that feeling was.

She opened her eyes.

Slow.

Quiet.

"One question, Lux."

Her voice wasn’t loud.

Didn’t need to be.

He heard her immediately.

"Yeah?" he replied, tone casual, like he had expected this.

She turned her head slightly, eyes landing on him.

Still naked.

Still completely unbothered.

She frowned faintly.

"Why did you help me this far?"

There it was.

Direct.

Clean.

No decoration.

"Why did you do this?" she continued, gaze sharpening just slightly. "You said you hate Kaelmor."

A pause.

"But hating him doesn’t mean you should move like this."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You should stay low."

Another beat.

"You’re still not as strong as him."

Silence.

Lux scratched the back of his head.

Casual.

Unbothered.

Like she had just asked him why he chose tea over coffee.

"I could ask you the same thing," he said.

Yue blinked once.

Not expecting that.

He leaned slightly toward her, resting his forearm on his knee, gaze steady.

"Why did you agree to do it with me?"

Ah.

There it was.

Her expression didn’t change.

Didn’t soften.

Didn’t react.

But inside?

A flicker.

Sharp.

Annoying.

She looked away for a second.

Just a second.

Then back.

"You looked like someone who could be trusted."

The answer came out clean.

Simple.

Logical.

Safe.

Lux snorted lightly.

"Yeah?"

He leaned back again, stretching slightly, completely relaxed.

"Then same answer."

Yue frowned.

"That’s not an answer."

"It is."

He exhaled slowly.

"Like I said, I need your cooperation."

His tone shifted slightly, not joking, not teasing.

Honest.

"I need allies."

Her eyes sharpened again.

That part?

That she understood.

"I’m Greed," he continued, tapping his chest lightly, "and I handle most of the economic structure..."

A faint smirk.

"I know it’s always better to have allies than enemies."

Yue stared at him.

Silent.

Processing.

"Just like that?" she asked.

Too simple.

Too clean.

Too convenient.

Lux didn’t answer immediately.

And that...

That caught her attention.

Because he always had an answer.

Always something ready.

But this time?

He hesitated.

Just a fraction.

Then...

"Well..."

He exhaled.

"...Not really."

Her brows drew together slightly.

There it was.

Something else.

Something under the surface.

Lux rubbed the back of his neck again, gaze drifting slightly, not avoiding her, just... thinking.

"I prefer this kind of intimacy not just something transactional," Lux added, his voice quieter now. "Not like a contract stamped on flesh."

His gaze lifted.

Met hers.

"You know what I mean."

And the worst part?

She did.

She understood exactly what he meant.

And that was the problem.

Because she had lived with contracts.

Chains.

Power bindings.

Ownership disguised as protection.

Everything demanded something in return.

But this?

This wasn’t that.

And she didn’t know what to do with it.

"You’re strange," she said quietly.

Lux smirked.

"I get that a lot."

She studied him.

Really studied him.

The way he sat there, completely exposed, completely relaxed, like nothing about last night had shifted him at all.

But she could feel it.

That connection.

And that unsettled her more than anything.

"You’re taking a risk," she said.

His shoulders lifted slightly.

"I know."

"Kaelmor will come. He will kill you."

Lux tilted his head.

"Maybe."

She frowned.

"That doesn’t concern you?"

He smiled.

"It does."

A beat.

"I just don’t stop because of it."

"You’re really insane," she muttered.

Lux chuckled softly.

"Efficient," he corrected.

She almost rolled her eyes.

Almost.

Her gaze drifted slightly, then back to him.

"And what if I become your enemy?" she asked.

Testing.

Probing.

His reaction.

Lux didn’t hesitate.

"You can’t..."

The answer came out too easily.

Too certain.

Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You assume too much," she said, tone sharpening just a fraction.

Lux didn’t argue.

Didn’t explain.

He just smiled.

That same infuriating, calm, knowing smile that made it feel like he had already calculated every outcome and chosen the one he liked best.

"You’re mine," he added lightly.

The words landed.

Soft.

Casual.

And yet, heavy.

Yue’s breath paused for a fraction of a second.

Not visible.

But real.

Her fingers tightened against the blanket unconsciously.

"Excuse me?" she said.

Lux leaned closer.

Not aggressive.

Not dominating.

Just... close.

"You literally bear my sigil," he murmured.

His gaze dropped briefly, just enough to remind her.

Her chest tightened.

Not from fear.

From something far more annoying.

Something she didn’t want to name.

Before she could respond, he kissed her.

Quick.

Not deep.

Not claiming.

But deliberate.

Interrupting.

Cutting her off.

"Don’t talk like that," he said softly when he pulled back. "I don’t like it."

Yue blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Her thoughts, usually sharp, immediate, precise, stumbled for just a second trying to catch up.

That was unfair.

He wasn’t supposed to move like that.

Not in the middle of a serious conversation.

Not when she was testing him.

Not when she was supposed to be the one controlling the pace.

"You—"

"Now," Lux cut in smoothly, already pulling back, already shifting the moment like nothing had happened, "take a shower."

He gestured vaguely toward the bathroom.

"And eat something."

A beat.

"Before we go."

Yue stared at him.

Suspicious.

"Or?" she asked.

His smirk returned.

Slow.

Dangerous.

"Or I help you take a bath."

Silence.

Her face heated.

Fast.

Sharp.

A rare, unmistakable flush spreading across her cheeks before she could suppress it.

Annoying.

Embarrassing.

Infuriating.

"No," she said quickly.

Too quickly.

"I will take a bath myself."

Lux’s grin widened slightly.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t need to.

Which made it worse.

Yue pushed the blanket aside and stood up in one smooth motion, far more composed than she felt, and immediately regretted nothing about the fact that she wasn’t covering herself.

If he wasn’t embarrassed...

Why should she be?

Still...

Her pace was faster than usual.

Controlled.

But fast.

She turned and walked straight toward the bathroom.

Not rushed.

Not fleeing.

Just... decisive.

The moment the door closed behind her.

She leaned against it.

Exhaled.

Long.

"Ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.

Her hand rose unconsciously to her collar.

To that mark.

Still warm.

Still present.

Still... responding.