Chapter 7

Nix was alone, wrapped in West’s thick gray comforter like a burrito when he woke. The spot next to him was still slightly warm to the touch, but the bathroom was empty when he got up to check.

Unlike the last time he’d shared a bed with this particular Demon, there weren’t many noticeable marks on his body to give away what they’d done last night.

What they’d done…

And what West had promised not to tell Lake about.

It was petty—especially since, if he was being one hundred percent honest with himself, Nix really did want to sleep with him—but after what Lake had put him through yesterday, Nix agreed with West about making him wait for it. And why not? What exactly had Lake done to deserve this twisting need in Nix’s gut whenever he thought about him?

Absolutely nothing.

On the other hand, he’d done a lot of things that should make Nix hate him.

Tricked him.

Lied to him.

Manipulated him.

Shared him with his friends.

Although…Nix stared at himself in the mirror, as though daring himself to deny what he was thinking.

That maybe being shared around between the three of them wasn’t such a bad thing after all…At least as far as the sex went. Nothing more. Yes, Yejun had been kind to him, and West…Well, last night he hadn’t been all that bad either. But Nix wasn’t deluding himself. He knew this wasn’t some fairytale and he was no prince waiting to be swept off his feet.

Hell, if this were a story, the Demons were more likely to be the monsters slain by the knights, as opposed to being the knights themselves.

Shaking his head at himself, Nix stepped out of the bathroom and paused when his eyes landed on the large setup practically in the center of West’s room. He hadn’t checked when he’d gotten up, what were the odds that they’d been left on?

There was no way West could be that sloppy, right?

Slowly, he made his way toward them, glancing over his shoulder at the closed bedroom door. A part of him was worried he’d be walked in on, but the other was screaming this was his chance. Maybe his one and only chance at that.

He couldn’t trust Lake to keep his word, which meant he needed to find answers himself. Starting with granting himself access to Branwen’s old Enigma account. If he could just find out who’d influenced her, he was certain he could finally take a step in the right direction. After, after that tiny bit of progress, he could reevaluate and decide if it was worth sticking around.

If he really wanted to drag himself through the mud for a cousin who probably didn’t deserve it.

Sure, there was no proof that Branwen had sent him that letter knowing full well what he’d do after reading it, but his gut was telling him she had. From what little bit he was still positive he knew of her, she had to have known. Which meant this was all a ploy to get him to do one of two things.

Either finish what she started.

Or find the King who’d betrayed her like she’d claimed in the letter.

The likelihood of anyone using their dying wish to mislead a person seemed low, so for now, Nix was going to operate under the assumption that it was the latter. That at the end of the day, no matter how she’d gotten him here, the reason was still the same as it had always been.

Someone had hurt Branwen, had pushed her so close to the edge her only option left had been to jump. Nix might be angry and bitter right now, but that was because the betrayal was still fresh. Making a rash decision like leaving would be a mistake.

He’d continue to look into things for now, starting with her account, and then he’d go about his day as per usual. After, once he’d had more time to sit on things, then he’d make a choice, and if running ended up being the right choice for him after all…Well, then he’d figure out the best way to do it without getting caught by Lake or the other Demons.

Nix rounded the setup and exhaled.

The on light for the center screen was still flashing. They’d gone to bed so quickly last night, perhaps that was a mere oversight by West. Willing to take the risk, he slipped into the comfy chair and ran his fingers over the keys of the holo-pad, gaze darting between the screen and the door on and off as he waited for it to wake up.

There was no password protection, and that momentarily had him faltering, but then he figured he was overreacting. This was West’s private room, after all, in the Roost, a building no one other than the Demons had access to. Why would he bother with extra steps if they weren’t necessary. Still…

It could be a waste of time, but Nix reached over and flicked on the screen to the left, which was attached to a different system. Sure enough, as soon as that one came on, there was a prompt for a retina scan and a keyed in passcode. That was either a really good thing, or a bad thing.

He shut it back off.

Either West didn’t bother protecting the middle system because there was nothing of importance on it, or he simply kept the highly classified stuff separate. Hoping for the latter, Nix typed away, running a quick search for keywords like King and Chat.

A separate hidden folder popped up and a list of names and mini photo icons flashed in rows. Some of them had red X’s by them, others were completely crossed off. The green ones appeared to be active members, and the small icons helped Nix identify who was in which tier. He clicked on one at random, nibbling on his lower lip when a new window opened and a slew of seemingly random information filled the screen.

Including a link for chat logs.

“He can spy on all of us,” Nix mumbled to himself, noting that he had to be more careful if he ever said anything in the King chat, or chats on the Enigma app in general.

Fortunately, he’d mostly spoken with Lake, and he doubted West would bother reading through his logs. They might not have any respect for others, but the three of them respected one another, and he didn’t see West crossing that line.

Nix undid his multi-slate from his wrist and opened up the program he’d secretly installed himself, setting it next to the system as he ran a search for Iris Cherith. When it appeared, it was tempting to sit there and read through it, but he knew his time was limited. West could return at any minute, and if he was caught…He already had to worry about Yejun and Lake. West was still vicious, but right now he was the least troublesome of the three. Nix didn’t want to alienate himself further.

If he didn’t have at least one ally in his corner at any given moment, he wouldn’t survive this.

He wouldn’t survive them.

He shuddered as he started the mirroring program, downloading the information directly to his device. It took longer than he would have liked since there was so much data, and his nerves started to fray, sweat droplets sliding down the back of his neck uncomfortably.

His neck that already had teeth marks on one side of it.

If West caught him, would he make good on that threat he’d alluded to last night? He’d posed it as a joke, even seemed annoyed when he thought perhaps Lake had really said he’d do it, but Nix hadn’t missed the flash of interest in his eyes. The competition between West and Lake was no joke.

Nix wouldn’t put it past him to make a claiming mark just for the sake of staying on even ground with his bestie.

The second the file finished copying, he snatched his multi-slate away and shut down all of the programs he’d opened, taking extra care to leave everything exactly as it’d been before he’d sat down. He even adjusted the chair, so it was facing the same angle, just in case.

The relief he felt when he stepped out into the hallway to find it empty was palpable and grew with every step he took further away from the bedroom.

He hadn’t been caught.

All he wanted to do was find a corner somewhere he could go through his findings, but there were no safe spaces in the Roost. His belongings had been brought to Lake’s room last night, so he stopped there first to get changed for classes but he hesitated when reaching for his backpack.

What were the chances Lake would agree to allowing him to stay home for the day?

Nix scowled at himself in mild disgust.

Allowing.

As though he were a pet or a belonging.

His hand wandered to the bandage over his neck and he winced. They were going to have to have a more indepth conversation about this. About what Lake thought it meant and what Nix was willing to put up with within the confines of that definition. At this point, he didn’t give a shit what was actually written in that NDA/contract Lake had forced him to sign.

If he needed to run, he needed to do it soon. Planning his escape would have to be the next thing on his list, right after he checked Branwen’s chat logs.

Grabbing his bag, he swung it over his shoulder and adjusted the stiff collar of his black dress shirt as high around his throat as he could get it. It’d be better if the bandage were black at least; the white stood out too much. Not that he was stupid enough to think for even a second that word hadn’t already spread throughout campus like wildfire.

Exactly as Lake had intended when he’d paraded Nix through the halls, still bleeding and with tears in his eyes.

Bastard.

He made his way down toward the stairs and was just about to descend the first step when something shattered below, causing him to jolt and then freeze in place.

“You’re a fucking bastard, you know that, Lake!” it was West’s voice, coming from the left of the stairs, so most likely the kitchen. Had he just broken a glass? It’d sounded like glass.

“Calm down,” Yejun’s voice came next, sounding as worn out as Nix still felt. “Or, at least keep it down, would you? My head is killing me.”

“I’m about to kill you,” West snarled. “The both of you! Are you two idiots? Have you forgotten the plan? Am I the only one here who still gives a damn about getting Lake on the throne? Because if so, tell me now so I can walk out before—”

“Stop being so melodramatic,” Lake spoke finally, voice low and clipped, so that Nix had to lean forward a little to catch all of the words. “Admit it, you’re pleased I did it. You’re just upset you didn’t get to do it first.”

“Bullshit,” West disagreed, though his tone wavered.

“Just do it now and get it over with,” Yejun said. “We all know you’re going to.”

“Whose side are you on, June?”

“Rich coming from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“And where exactly is our little Firebird at the moment, hmm?”

“Not my room,” Lake clipped, clearly displeased by that fact.

Nix stuck out his tongue, glad none of them could see him or his childish reaction.

“Whatever.” The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor came and then a huff as West no doubt dropped into it. “After what you did, you’ll be lucky if he ever sleeps with you again.”

“Like I’d give him a choice,” Lake said and Nix bristled from his hiding place.

“You already took that away when you bit him. First the sacrifice, now this,” Yejun stated. “Seriously? Can we stop the pissing contest now? You guys are both killing me here.”

Sacrifice? What sacrifice? Were they talking about the hacker they were after? Were they planning on sacrificing him to appease the Club? Nix held his breath in an attempt to hear more clearly, but of course the subject changed before he could appease his curiosity where that was concerned.

“What’s with you?” West grumbled, but it was obvious he was actually at least a little bit concerned.

All that blood loss from yesterday must have messed with him in more ways than one, because Nix found himself wondering what that might be like. What having someone who cared for you enough to even worry when they were clearly angry would be like.

He’d thought he’d found that in Branwen, but that was before. Now he knew better.

Even if she’d cared for him, it hadn’t been enough.

It hadn’t been to the extent that he’d always believed.

To the extent he’d cared for her.

“I don’t know,” Yejun replied. “I woke up like this.”

“Bad dream?” Lake asked.

“Yeah.”

“You always get a migraine after a nightmare,” West said. “Here. Take some meds and go sleep it off.”

“Can’t, I have to escort Nix to class.”

“I can do it.”

“It’s on the way for me,” Yejun pointed out. “You’re headed in the opposite direction. It’s too late anyway, even if you left to bring him now, you’d be late for training. I’ll go.”

“Why don’t we just ask him which of you he prefers?” Lake drawled.

“I’ll—” the chair moved again as West spoke, but he didn’t get to finish.

“There’s no need,” Lake cut him off. “He’s standing at the top of the stairs. Done lurking, Songbird? If so, why don’t you come down and join us before your coffee gets cold.”

Nix hesitated but, realizing he was caught, ended up descending the steps, making sure to take his time with it so it didn’t appear as though he was coming when called.

The first level of the Roost was mostly an open floorplan with the steps and the kitchen to the left of the living space. Like with the rest of the building, everything was decorated in warm tones of deep brown, with flashes of gray metal here and there. Wide windows took up part of the far wall and looked out over the back of the mountain, so there was only stone and vines for the view.

The guys were all in the kitchen when Nix got to the landing and turned, Yejun and West both seated at the long granite island, with Lake standing behind it.

The second Nix and the Imperial locked eyes, he held out a navy mug and waited.

He could either ignore Lake or follow the silent command and go get it…Nix clenched his jaw and walked over, choosing to round the side of the island the Demons weren’t occupying. He grabbed the mug, not caring when some of the contents sloshed over the rim and spilled onto his fingers, and immediately retreated to the end to keep the table between them.

“Don’t be like that, Nixie,” West cooed, but the grin on his face gave away what he really felt. He was happy to see Nix treat Lake poorly. Probably thought of it as karma.

Ironic, coming from someone like him.

Nix sipped at the coffee, pausing when it tasted exactly how he’d make it if he’d fixed it himself. His eyes found Lake’s, narrowing when he caught the Imperial’s mouth quirking in a self-satisfied smile he almost instantly corrected before his friends could catch it.

“Chances of letting me skip out today?” Nix asked, figuring he may as well ask.

“Low,” Lake clipped, but Nix was better at reading between the lines now.

“Which means there’s still a chance.” He cradled the mug in both hands, relishing in the tiny bit of comfort the warmth from it gave him before taking the risk to ask, “What would I have to do to get you to agree?”

“To agree,” he drawled, “or let you?”

Ah. So he wanted Nix to admit to the claiming mark. He could. It would be easy. Just a few words and then he could maybe go back upstairs and sleep off the embarrassment and dejection from yesterday.

Instead, Nix set the mug down on the counter and turned to Yejun. “When are we leaving?”

West snorted but tried to cover it up with a fake cough.

“Let me grab my stuff.” Yejun stood and moved to the living room.

Lake took the opportunity to get closer to Nix, shifting on his feet to block West from his line of sight before leaning in to whisper directly into his ear. “Think he’d still be this nice to you if he knew the truth, Songbird?”

Nix stiffened.

“He wouldn’t be walking you to class if he did,” Lake continued. “He’d more likely tie you to his hovercar and drive there, with you dragged behind. If you died in the process? He wouldn’t shed a single tear. That’s who you’re trusting right now.”

“I’m not trusting him,” Nix admitted, keeping his voice just as hushed so as not to be overheard. He glared up at Lake, angry that he was going to admit it, but knowing he had to. “You wouldn’t let him kill me.”

Lake’s expression was unreadable, but he tipped his head slightly. “You think?”

“It was a fucking shitty ass excuse of a reason,” Nix said, “but that on its own says something.”

He lifted a pale brow.

“Whether you bit me to protect me, or you did simply because you wanted to, there’s one factor that’s always part of the equation.”

“What’s that?”

“You want me.” Nix was sure of that, if nothing else. It surprised him and was hard to wrap his head around, but all signs pointed to that single truth.

“Are you admitting it after all?” Something sparked in Lake’s green eyes.

“I’m admitting you want me,” Nix stated. “That doesn’t mean you have me. This?” He motioned to his neck. “Cosmetic surgery exists, you know.”

Lake captured Nix’s wrist, fingers tightening around him almost to the point of pain. “Think you can escape me long enough to find a doctor willing to remove the claim mark of an Imperial?”

“That a challenge?”

Lake’s mouth thinned, giving away his annoyance, but before he could reply, Yejun returned and nodded toward Nix.

“Let’s go, Firebird. Don’t want to be late.”

“Yeah,” Nix pulled away from Lake and drawled sarcastically, “wouldn’t want that.”