Chapter 865 – It’s Not Free

Lux got up.

Slow.

Not in a rush, not scrambling like someone late for an appointment, just... deliberate. His body still carried that quiet weight from earlier, muscles loose, but not lazy. There was a difference. The kind of loose that came after something intense, something satisfying, something that left a trace behind even after it ended.

He rolled his shoulders once, letting the stiffness ease out, gaze flicking briefly toward the bathroom door.

Still closed.

Still occupied.

He could feel her.

That faint connection humming somewhere under his skin, subtle but persistent, like a thread he hadn’t cut, and didn’t really want to.

"Yeah," he muttered under his breath.

Not dwelling on it.

Not now.

"Well," he said aloud, more for himself than anything, "I need to get ready."

He stretched once more, then moved toward the wardrobe, pulling it open without hesitation. His fingers skimmed over fabrics, clean, sharp lines, tailored cuts, materials chosen not just for appearance but presence.

He picked one.

A suit that didn’t just fit, it commanded.

Dark, structured, precise. The kind of thing that told people exactly who he was before he even spoke. He grabbed the shirt, the jacket, the accessories, and yeah, pants.

"Let’s not start a war before breakfast," he muttered.

Without another step, he teleported to Mira’s room.

Lux appeared right behind her.

Mid-motion.

Mid-thought.

"Morning," he said casually.

Mira froze.

Just for a second.

Then turned her head slowly.

Deadpan.

Completely.

"Don’t ’morning’ me."

Lux grinned.

Wide.

Unapologetic.

"Morning," he repeated anyway.

Mira’s eyes dragged up and down his body.

And paused.

Because yeah.

He was still half naked.

Still marked.

Still looking like the aftermath of something she didn’t even want to visualize too clearly, though part of her absolutely was visualizing it, whether she liked it or not.

Her gaze lingered for half a second longer than necessary.

Then snapped back up.

"Why are you still here?" she asked.

A beat.

"And still naked."

Lux shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Yue’s using my shower," he said.

Then lifted the suit slightly in his hand like it was evidence.

"So I’m using yours."

Silence.

Mira stared at him.

Then at the suit.

Then back at him.

"Of course you are."

Her eyes flicked down again.

Just briefly.

Because...

Yeah.

The marks.

Still there.

Faint.

But visible.

And annoyingly...

They looked... good on him.

Which was a problem.

A personal one.

She stepped closer.

Slow.

Measured.

Her fingers brushed lightly against his shoulder, not quite touching the marks, but close enough to acknowledge them.

"Busy night," she muttered.

Lux smirked. "You could say that."

Her gaze lingered again.

Then she exhaled quietly.

"Fine," she said.

A beat.

"You can use my bathroom."

Lux’s grin softened just slightly.

Then she added, "But it’s not free."

There it was.

He knew that tone.

That shift.

That subtle edge.

Lux’s smirk came right back.

Slow.

Knowing.

"Of course it’s not," he said.

He tilted his head slightly, watching her, reading the micro-expressions she didn’t bother hiding from him.

"Tell me," he added, voice dropping just enough to tease, "what does this naughty dragon want?"

Mira’s lips curved faintly.

Not fully.

Just enough.

"Oh, you know what I want."

Lux chuckled under his breath.

"I always do."

She didn’t respond.

Instead, she stepped in closer.

Close enough that the air shifted again.

Different from before.

Not the same intensity as Yue.

But still... dangerous in its own way.

Her fingers reached out.

Not for him.

For the suit.

She took it from his hand.

Casual.

Smooth.

Without warning, tossed it onto the bed.

Lux blinked once.

Then laughed.

"Bold move."

Mira crossed her arms.

"You’re not going anywhere yet."

A pause.

Her eyes locked onto his again.

"Not without paying."

Lux leaned back slightly, resting one hand against the dresser behind him, completely at ease. "Is that so?"

She stepped closer again.

Matching his space.

Matching his energy.

"You barged into my room," she said.

"Technically I teleported."

"Still counts."

He shrugged.

"Fair."

Silence settled.

But it wasn’t empty.

Not even close.

Lux’s gaze softened just slightly, not losing its edge, just... shifting.

Because this dynamic, it wasn’t forced.

It wasn’t calculated.

It was... natural.

And that was rare.

"You’re enjoying this," he muttered.

Mira tilted her head.

"Maybe."

A beat.

"Are you?"

Lux’s lips curved.

"Always."

Mira held his gaze for a second longer.

Then...

Something in her expression shifted.

Not playful.

Not teasing.

Decided.

Her fingers moved to the edge of her cheongsam.

Lux noticed.

Slow.

Deliberate.

She didn’t rush it.

Didn’t turn away.

Didn’t hide.

The fabric slid from her shoulders, pooling at her feet with a soft sound that felt louder than it should’ve in the quiet room.

They were even.

No layers.

No distractions.

Just presence.

Lux’s eyes flicked over her once, not greedy, not rushed, just... aware.

Appreciative.

"Confident," he muttered under his breath.

Mira stepped closer.

Close enough that the heat between them returned instantly.

"You started it," she replied.

Then...

She kissed him.

Not soft.

Not hesitant.

Direct.

Her hand slid behind his neck, pulling him just enough to control the angle, not letting him take the lead this time.

Lux let her.

For a second.

Then matched her.

Not overpowering.

Not retreating.

Meeting.

Always meeting.

Her grip tightened slightly.

"Bathroom," she murmured against his lips.

A beat.

"Let’s settle this there."

Lux huffed a quiet laugh.

"Of course we are."

She didn’t wait.

Didn’t give him time to comment further.

Her hand caught his wrist and pulled, not forcefully, just certain, as she turned toward the bathroom.

Lux followed.

Because of course he did.

Because at this point?

Saying no wasn’t even part of the conversation.

The door closed behind them.

Soft.

Definitive.

Lux leaned slightly against the counter, watching her, that same smirk lingering.

"You’re all about timing, aren’t you?"

Mira glanced back at him.

Eyes sharp.

"Efficiency," she said.

Lux chuckled under his breath.

"Yeah..."

A pause.

"...I like that."