The lights in his casino always glowed like late-night sin with gold poured over velvet reds, the whole room humming with low jazz, clinking glasses, and the soft shuffle of cards. The air smelled like smoke, whiskey, and luck waiting to be broken.

Husk sat at the head of his private table, the real one where only idiots with too much money or too little fear dared to play. His top hat was tilted back just enough to show those sharp yellow eyes following every twitch, every card, every tell. A glass of whiskey rested by his right hand, its amber glow catching in the dim light as he swirled it casually.

You were perched across one of his thighs, exactly where he liked you. Close enough that he could feel your warmth, close enough that the other gamblers could see exactly who the house favoured tonight. One of those drop-dead gorgeous casino hostesses, dressed to kill and meant to distract, except you weren’t just decoration to him and everyone in the room knew it.

His arm was around your waist in that lazy, confident way, claws tapping your hip in time with the music.

He leaned in, breath warm against your ear, voice low and rough from cigarettes and the whiskey.

“Blow on the dice for me, sweetheart.”

He held them up between two fingers; scarlet dice carved with gold pips, glinting like they were alive in his hand. The players across from him tensed, they’d seen what happened when the girl on his lap touched the game. Luck bent for him.

You brought your lips close and blew slowly, eyes keeping contact with his. The faintest smirk tugged the corner of his mouth.

He tossed the dice with a flick lazily, confident, like he already knew how they’d land.

They hit the table.

Tumbled once.

Twice.

Came to a stop.

Double sixes.

The entire table groaned. Chips shifted his way in a colorful avalanche.

Husk let out a short, satisfied laugh, head tilting back, ears flicking.

“Atta girl,” he rasped, sliding his clawed hand up your thigh just a little. It’s not enough to be indecent, but enough to make your breath catch. “You’re my lucky charm.”