Page 47 of King of Rage

“You’re the woman Cassian called, aren’t you?” she asked, pointing across the room. “That’s my husband, by the way.”

She gestured toward a man standing across the room. Stella's eyes briefly settled on him. Cassian was tall and broad-shouldered, with ruggedly handsome features, thick black hair, and deep black eyes that immediately stood out against his strong features.

Juliet then pointed toward the man beside him.

“And that’s Xavier,” she added. “He’s also one of our friends.”

Stella looked toward him. Xavier was tall, with long black hair brushing his shoulders, high cheekbones, sharp features, and dark arched brows. A thin scar cut through his right eyebrow, giving his otherwise handsome face a distinctive edge.

“Nice to meet you. And thank you for calling me,” Stella said, looking between the men.

Before either of them could respond, Stella turned her attention back to Lucius. She walked toward him and stopped beside the couch.

“Lucius?”

She placed a hand on his shoulder and shook it lightly.

Lucius had been lying back against the couch with his head tilted against the cushions, but the moment he heard her voice, his eyes opened. He turned his head toward her, his heavy-lidded gaze immediately settling on her face.

Behind Stella, Juliet moved closer to her husband, who had shifted to the side to make room for her. She came to stand beside Triston, leaving the four of them watching Stella and Lucius with undisguised interest.

It was as though they had suddenly been handed the most entertaining drama of the evening.

All of them stood with their arms folded, except for Juliet, who had already pulled out her phone. She began texting her friends in their group chat, updating them on what was happening at the club.

She excitedly began sending a series of rapid messages about the history between Stella and Lucius, which Lucius had revealed after getting drunk. She even secretly snapped several photographs of them and shared them in the group chat.

The others were instantly thrilled to discover that there was a woman in Lucius’s life.

Stella stepped forward to help Lucius sit up when another sudden commotion erupted in the room.

The door slammed open.

Every head turned toward the entrance, and Catherine stormed inside.

“What the hell are you doing? Stop touching him!” she shouted as she marched toward Lucius.

She came around to the other side of the couch and glared at Stella, her eyes widening with confusion when she saw Lucius leaning against her.

Before Catherine could reach him, she tried to touch his arm. Lucius immediately grabbed her and shoved her away.

Catherine stumbled backward and collided with one of the couches, barely managing to keep herself from falling to the floor.

The room fell silent.

Catherine’s face flushed with embarrassment, but Lucius had already turned his attention back to Stella. He reached for the hand resting on his shoulder, then slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

Resting his head against her stomach, he let out a weary sigh.

“I’m so tired, Stella,” he mumbled in a long, drawn-out voice.

Stella stared down at him in confusion, unsure what to make of his behavior.

Meanwhile, Catherine quickly regained her composure and stepped toward them.

“Lucius, I’m here. Let’s go. I’ll take care of you,” she said, deliberately softening her voice as she reached for him again. “You can come with me.”

The moment her hand moved toward him, Lucius recoiled.