Chapter 11

The Roost, where the Demons of Foxglove traditionally lived during their four to five years at the university, was built at the base of Munin Mountain. A river flowed beneath the front porch, and a wooden bridge led to it from the sidewalk. The building itself was three stories high with tall glass windows set in metal frames—large enough to house more than the three occupants currently residing within its walls.

The second level had a wraparound balcony, and Nix spotted Lake peering down at them from it when West pulled his car into the small lot to the left. By the time they’d made it to the front door, Lake was already waiting for them there.

“We need to talk,” Lake stopped Nix when he went to pass him, then he turned to West. “Yejun is waiting inside with a guest.”

Nix bristled, but West merely shrugged and then abandoned him without so much as a second glance.

Lake waited until they were alone on the porch, his expression enigmatic. For a brief moment, his gaze lingered on the synthetic skin on Nix’s neck, but he didn’t comment on it.

“I know,” Nix broke the silence first, unwilling to do this quiet showdown. It was still early afternoon, but the air was chilly and it looked like it was about to rain at any moment, no signs of the sunshine that’d been out only an hour ago.

“Know what?”

“You’ve got that look,” he said. “The one that means whatever you’re about to tell me to do, I’m not going to like it. So, just spill already. What obscene form of torture have you come up with now?”

“You’re wrong.”

Nix lifted a brow, not buying that for a second. “Am I?”

Lake glanced away then turned back with renewed determination. “I’ll give you a choice, Songbird.”

“A choice?” he practically sneered the words, but inside, he felt a spark of interest. That was incredibly out of character for the Imperial. “Is this your way of apologizing? Because I can think of a better way.”

“If you finish that statement with some form of my letting you go, I’ll stop you right here. Don’t bother wasting your breath.”

“Weird way of telling me you’re sorry.”

“I am not sorry.” Lake took a threatening step forward but then caught himself in the act and exhaled, as though to calm himself. “I could have gone about it differently. For that…I’ll apologize.”

Nix blinked, a bit shocked he’d actually said the words, and in that moment, Lake must have taken his silence as acceptance, because he moved on almost immediately after.

“Juri is inside,” Lake told him.

“What?!” Nix tried to step around him only for Lake to move into his way.

He recalled how angry the Imperial had seemed when he’d discovered Nix had spoken with the other guy, and worry flooded his system. The last thing he wanted was to be responsible for someone else losing a family member the way he’d lost Branwen, and after all of the horror stories told about the Demons, he could already picture a hundred and one ways they could be torturing Juri right now.

“Lake,” it was a struggle not to overreact, but Nix somehow managed to even out his tone, “none of this is his fault. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re wrong again,” he replied. “That’s not why I brought him here.”

Nix frowned. “Are you saying you aren’t going to hurt him?”

“I’m saying that depends entirely on you.”

He deflated some. “So, you are going to force me to do something I don’t want to.”

“No.” Lake reached out, about to touch the rise of Nix’s cheek, but something stopped him and he ended up dropping his hand before making contact. “Juri insists that we’re holding you against your will.”

“Oh, does he,” Nix drawled, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice that time.

His eyes narrowed. “Did you tell him something to make him believe that?”

“Clearly he just knows you guys better than you think.”

Lake didn’t argue there. “He made the bold statement that you’re not attracted to us.”

He could feel his stomach dropping, unease prickling over his skin. Nix could see where this was going, and he didn’t like it. “No.”

“I haven’t even explained things yet.”

“No,” he repeated.

“Okay.” Lake reached for the door.

“Wait.” That had been too easy.

“You said no.”

“When has that ever mattered to you?” At Lake’s blank expression, Nix backtracked. “That’s not what I mean. I want you to listen to me when I say no, but…” He blew out a breath. “You want me to do something intimate with you in front of him, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“What happens if I stick with no?”

“Juri becomes our sacrifice.”

The range of emotions he was feeling during this one conversation was absolutely insane. “What?”

“It’s—”

“I know what it is.”

Lake’s brow furrowed. “How?”

“Your timing is impeccable. West just told me all about it. I wanted to know what your cousin meant when he called me your fourth the other day, remember? You weren’t going to tell me so—”

“I would have,” he disagreed. “Eventually.”

“I’m tired of waiting to be told things I have a right to know, Lake.”

“That’s why I’m telling you this now, doesn’t that amount to anything?”

Nix snorted before he could help it. “Are you seriously asking me to appreciate you giving me a choice for the first time since meeting?”

“I’ve always given you a choice.”

“Yeah?” He pointed to his neck.

Lake grew quiet.

“So that’s it? If I refuse to hook up with you in front of an audience, you kick me to the curb and select someone else?” Nix didn’t like how he felt about that. Didn’t like that his first reaction was to get angry and affronted. He should be pleased. Relieved even. This could be a way out, wasn’t that what he’d always wanted?

“How can someone be wrong so many times in the span of ten minutes?” Lake asked, then he grabbed Nix by the nape and pulled him until their foreheads were close. “Listen closely, Songbird, because you clearly didn’t hear me before, despite this attitude of yours showing you believe otherwise. You. Are. Mine. This,” he used his thumb to tilt Nix’s head to the side, exposing the bandage, “solidified that.”

“But you just said—”

“I don’t need you to be our sacrifice to keep you,” he stated. “In fact, Juri might be doing us a favor by volunteering to take on the role.”

It took Nix a second to understand, but as soon as the meaning clicked, another rush of anger consumed him. He shoved Lake away. “You think preventing me from becoming a club member will help you control me better.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, but the Imperial contained his humor. “There, you’re back to being your usual intelligent self.”

It didn’t take a genius to realize Lake was backing him into yet another corner, all under the guise of giving him a choice. When the choices were damned if he did, damned if he didn’t, there was no real freedom involved.

Nix could either agree to putting on a show in front of Juri—something he wasn’t interested at all in doing—to keep his place as their sacrifice, or he could refuse and effectively give that title up. If he went with the latter, then he’d also be kissing any modicum of freedom for his future self goodbye.

“What if West hadn’t explained any of this to me,” Nix accused. “Were you just going to let me decide blindly?”

“I admit I could have gone about the claiming mark differently,” Lake drawled, “but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed overnight. Don’t expect me to have, Songbird. I’ll only disappoint you, and…I don’t want to do that.”

“This whole conversation is disappointing.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Sorry, but it wouldn’t change anything.

Nix hung his head. “Paint me a picture of what your imagined future looks like for us if I refuse.”

“I’m not Yejun.”

“Lake.”

“All right. How do you see it? Don’t—” he held up a hand, “—say away from me. If I’m going to play along, you have to as well.”

“Fine.” Nix took a moment to think about it, his conversation with West still rattling around in his mind. Maybe this could work in his favor after all. It was rare to find Lake even remotely apologetic over anything. He could take advantage of this opportunity. But in order to do that, he’d have to be willing to concede a few things himself. “I want my own life.”

“And what does that entail?”

“I want to work. I always planned on getting a job straight out of school.”

“All right,” Lake didn’t hesitate to respond.

“And I want my own place.”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“I don’t want to live in the palace.” Where they’d be eyes everywhere and a million people to report back to Lake? No, thanks. It’d been less than a month, and already Lake had moved him into his home and placed a physical claim on his body. How much more controlling would he be if they lived in the palace and he had a full staff he could use against Nix?

“Think about what you’re suggesting,” Lake said. “You want me to allow you to live separately. Do you envision yourself as a mistress in this scenario?”

He scowled.

“I didn’t think so,” Lake continued. “You don’t want me,” he took a step forward, advancing when Nix instinctually retreated, “but you don’t want me to have anyone else either, is that it?”

“I…” Hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Nix’s back came against the wooden railing of the porch, blocking his way, and he threw his hands up, pushing against Lake’s chest when he caged him in. The warmth from the Imperial’s body and the feel of his exhales fanning against his cheeks had Nix’s heart rate kicking up a beat.

“You’re blushing,” Lake whispered.

“I’m not.” He forced himself to focus.

“Is it my turn now?” At Nix’s frown, he chuckled. “We haven’t discussed what I expect from you now that our dynamic has shifted. I was trying to give you space, but your friend Juri and my friend West have bulldozed right through that plan. Let me paint that picture you wanted. It starts,” he tipped Nix’s chin up so that their eyes met, “with you accepting your fate. I have you, Songbird, and I won’t give you up. As for the rest, it can be negotiated as long as you’re willing to bring something worthy to the table.”

It seemed Lake had the same thoughts as Nix earlier when he’d decided to try his luck. That wasn’t a bad thing though. If they were already on the same page, all the better.

“What are the benefits of me being a member of the club?” Nix found himself asking. If he was going to do this, Lake was right. It was far past time he took this seriously. Running? Running was never going to happen.

It hurt his ego and momentarily left him melancholy to have to come face to face with that truth, but it didn’t change anything. The Emperor owned this planet, and pretty soon, Lake would be the Emperor. Even if Nix wanted to flee to another part of the galaxy, it would be easy enough for Lake to add his name to the No Fly list and prevent him from doing so.

He was trapped?

Okay.

Time to make the most of it.

“You’ll have access to the Club House,” Lake said. “And you’ll be read into all of the rules and regulations. But, you’ll also be expected to attend certain events and keep your composure in front of nefarious people.”

“But I’ll be guaranteed a job at Star Eye Holding?” Nix was desperately clinging to that one silver lining, and he knew it, but he had to come away from all of this with something. Some tiny piece of the dream he’d harbored for most of his adult life.

He’d already lost his dignity and Branwen.

He couldn’t lose his future as a game developer, too.

Maybe Lake sensed that because he took pity on him. “You’ll have that job even if you don’t become a member of the club. Actually, let me rephrase.” He rested his hands on the railing at either side of Nix. “You’ll be a member of the club even if you give up the role of sacrifice.”

“I can’t afford those fees.” Being the sacrifice meant a free ride.

“I can,” Lake reminded. “I’ll pay your way. It’ll be my responsibility.”

“How so?”

“Taking care of you will be my responsibility, Nix.”

“Is this how you do that?” He held his gaze. “Biting me and cornering me into agreeing to allow someone else into the bedroom?”

Lake’s eyes glinted. “Correction. He will not be in the bedroom. We’ll do it in the living room and he will remain at a respectable distance at all times.”

“He doesn’t get to see me naked.”

“Is that your answer?”

“I’m not done. Let me talk to him first.”

“No.”

“Lake.”

“No.”

Nix wasn’t going to get him to budge. Shit. He wanted to ask Juri how he felt about being forced back into the club after all the trouble he’d gone to to leave it. How could Nix complain about being made to do something he didn’t want, and then turn around and do that same thing to someone else?

“He doesn’t get to see me naked,” Nix repeated, “and he can’t watch any of you fuck me. But,” he took a deep breath and forced the rest of the sentence out before he could give in to selfishness and change his mind, “you can…touch me…in front of him.”

“Touch you, not the other way around?” It was impossible to tell what Lake was thinking now based solely on the sound of his voice, and Nix couldn’t meet his gaze, too embarrassed about this whole thing and the words coming out of his own mouth.

“You said you needed him to see that I’m willing,” Nix reminded. “If he hears me…” He couldn’t finish.

“Open your eyes, Songbird.” Lake brushed a strand of his hair off his forehead. “I agree to your terms.”

“Really?” He lifted his head, needing to see for himself that he meant it. “If you’re lying, I’ll literally die, Lake. I have to see him on campus, and I can’t do that if—”

Lake shushed him. “I’m not lying. Why would I? You’re willing to give me what I want. There’s no reason for me to make it harder on you than need be.” He moved away, clearly considering the discussion settled and over.

Nix grabbed onto his wrist before he could get very far, not even caring that his nerves were showing.

“There’s more?” Lake tipped his head. “What is it?”

“Maestro,” he said, voice low and almost inaudible. “It has to be you. Don’t let…I want it to be you.”

When he’d known the other man only as Maestro, Lake had been gentle with him. Patient. This was so far out of Nix’s comfort zone, if he was going to step out of it, then he at least wanted the small comfort of knowing Lake would talk him through it, the same way he’d done with all those Favors in the past.

“If you’ll alter your terms slightly, I’ll grant you that.”

“Alter them how?”

“You said no fucking,” Lake said, but before Nix could freak out, added, “Take my fingers. If you’ll do that, I’ll play with you and walk away afterward.”

As opposed to what Yejun and West would expect of him, he meant. Lake didn’t have to say it for that point to be made. They’d wait until Juri left, because Lake would make them, but there was little doubt they’d screw Nix as soon as the coast was clear.

Lake was offering him an out. More than that. He was offering him an orgasm, and the only strings attached were that he had to do it in front of a man Nix didn’t want to be sexually involved with.

But Juri also wasn’t just anyone. He’d grown up with Essential parents. Sex used to make a point, and used as a weapon, were common enough in his world, this probably wouldn’t faze him the same ways it would someone like Nix, who’d grown up far enough from the capital city to still maintain some level of prudence.

How badly would he judge him for doing something he’d no doubt seen done to others a million times before?

Was Nix maybe kidding himself to make him feel better? Sure. But whatever worked.

He was going to go through with this either way, may as well give himself a false sense of security.

“Okay.” He licked his lips. “You have a deal.”