The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 73

It wasn't sold to the public—it was given. A gift for important people. Holders of the Amethyst Card could walk into any Chamber-affiliated mall, hotel, or restaurant and spend nothing. Everything was free.

Which meant every single person holding one of these cards was someone who mattered. Someone with real weight.

Britton knew this because his father had told him. In the entire Marevia Consortium, there were barely a dozen cardholders. Even his father—a Chamber board member—didn't qualify for one.

His father's warning had been clear. "If you ever see someone use this card in the mall, you drop everything. You personally attend to them. You suck up. And under no circumstances do you offend them."

Britton had memorized that lesson.

But he'd never actually seen one. Until today. Until now. Until he'd already made an enemy of the man holding it.

It took him a long moment to find his voice. "How—" His throat was dry. "How do you have that?"

Stefan's expression didn't change. "Doesn't matter. Answer the question. Does this card work here? And does it cover the cost of slapping you twice?"

He knew exactly what the card meant. He hadn't wanted to flash it around—but Britton had pushed. Threatened Eliza. Talked about sending him back to prison. Fine. If Britton wanted to play the power game, Stefan would show him what real power looked like.

Britton's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

Nothing came out.

In front of an Amethyst cardholder, even his father would bow and scrape. Would hold his breath and choose his words carefully. Britton? He was nothing.

Christy saw the shift. She edged closer, squinting at the card. "Is that—" Her voice came out small. "Is that the card you told me about? The Amethyst one?"

She'd never seen one. Her position was too low. But Britton had mentioned it—told her to keep an eye out, to call him immediately if anyone used it in her store.

Britton nodded weakly. The card was real. It had to be. One couldn't fake these.

Christy's face went pale. But she forced herself to speak.

"Britton... didn't you say he was an ex-con? Just out of prison? How does someone like that get an Amethyst Card?"

Britton's eyes lit up.

She was right.

Britton hung up. Touched his swollen cheek. The rage in his eyes promised something ugly.

"My dad's coming. Then we'll see exactly where that card came from. And when we do—" He let the threat hang. "You're done."

Stefan didn't react. "I'll wait. Let's see what kind of show your father puts on."

Minutes later, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit strode into the store. Britton rushed to meet him. "Dad. This is the ex-con. He's got an Amethyst Card. No way it's real."

Jorge's eyes narrowed as he studied Stefan. "Stefan Bryant. Out of prison a few days. Suddenly engaged to a Stewart girl." His voice was flat, clinical. "That still doesn't put you in Amethyst Card territory. Hand it over. I'll verify it."

Stefan's lips curved into a cold smile. "Quick to judge. Fine. Check it."

He handed over the card.

Every Amethyst Card had a unique ID. As a board member of the Marevia Consortium, Jorge had the authority to look it up.

He did. The results came back fast.