The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 86

"Understood, sir."

*****

Back at the Stewart Mansion's West Compound Villa, Stefan walked through the door to find the first floor dark and empty—Chuck and Audrey must have turned in already.

He headed upstairs.

Halfway up, Sara's door opened. A wave of fragrance hit him—subtle, clean, intoxicating.

She stood there in a black silk nightgown. Conservative cut, unfortunately. Didn't show much. Still more than enough.

Fresh from a shower, she radiated that clean, warm scent that made a man want to step closer. Her hair fell in soft waves around a face—flawless, cold, beautiful.

The skin at her collarbone gleamed smooth. Touchable. Tempting.

The hem stopped at her knees. Below it, bare legs that went on forever. The kind of legs that made a man think thoughts—thoughts about what it might be like to have them wrapped around him.

Stefan reeled his imagination back in. Focus, man. Focus.

"Where have you been?"

Sara's eyes fixed on him.

Stefan blinked. Is my ice queen fiancée actually... asking about my whereabouts?

"You worried about me?" he smiled, stepping closer.

The night had been active. Jogging around the lake. Cultivating in the park. Fighting for his life against Robert. His clothes were soaked through with sweat.

As he approached, that sweat—mixed with whatever it was that made him him—rolled off him in waves.

Sara's brow twitched. She didn't step back, but her nose wrinkled slightly. "There's something going on in River City." Her voice was cool, detached. "Some forces might be targeting the Stewart family. Stay inside. Don't wander off and get yourself killed."

Stefan's eyes sharpened.

Targeting the Stewart family? She wasn't wrong. The Veilscale Society was already here. One of the nine factions born from the Shadow Dragon Hall's collapse. They moved in shadows, kept low profiles. No one really knew how deep their power ran.

Compared to the Dragon Sea Chamber of Commerce? The Veilscale Society might have less money, less visible influence. But in terms of danger? They were worse. Much worse.

Does Sara know about the formation under the lake? About someone trying to steal the family's vein?

Stefan filed that away. Did Hank get into a fight at the Dynasty Club? Whoever did this isn't scared of the Stewarts. Interesting.

Sara looked him up and down. She parted her lips like she was about to say something, then thought better of it.

"I'm going to shower." Stefan gestured at his sweat-soaked clothes. "But before I go, Sara, remember something. Danger doesn't always come from outside. Sometimes it's closer than you think."

He walked into his room.

Sara stood there, frozen, watching the door close.

What did he mean by that?

Did he know something? Or was it just random advice?

Either way... for the first time, she was genuinely curious about the man she'd agreed to marry.

*****

Hank lay in a hospital bed, his face a swollen mess of purple and black. Bandages wrapped his arms, his legs, various other parts. He looked like he'd gone three rounds with a truck and lost.