Chapter 9

Lake flicked through the list, irritation bubbling beneath his skin. He kept a hold on it, his exterior immaculate as he sat in the far corner of the third level at the Club House. It was a rare sunny day, and sunlight pooled in from the window to cast this half of the large room in a golden hue that glinted annoyingly off the screen in his lap.

He was too lazy to move, so he put up with it, eyes scanning the list of information he’d secured from West earlier this morning.

This morning, when he’d arrived back to the Roost to find his bed cold and his room empty.

For a fleeting moment, the sheer panic he’d felt had been all-consuming and unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Fortunately, the feeling had passed. After what he’d done, there was no way West would have allowed Nix to run from them.

He’d stood outside his friend's bedroom door for what had to be ten minutes before he’d changed his mind and walked away without checking. They shared everything, always had, always would, but…Part of Lake had to admit that he wasn’t ready to see Nix alone with one of the others.

Would he be softer with them?

Sweeter?

More willing?

Not that he hadn’t been willing for Lake. Sex wasn’t the issue when it came to his Songbird. Sex was actually the only thing holding them together, in fact, and Lake wasn’t above using that to his advantage.

Using that as a weapon to coerce Nix into doing exactly what he wanted when he wanted him to do it.

Nix didn’t think with his dick, but he could certainly become distracted enough to forget things because of it. At least temporarily.

Maybe Lake should have done that instead.

Maybe he should have impaled him on his cock before sinking his teeth into his neck. If he’d made the experience feel good for him in some ways, would Nix be this upset with him now?

“Brooding?” Yejun appeared suddenly, sinking into the plush navy chair across from him, eyes already on the scenery outside.

“Hardly,” Lake denied, flicking the list on his screen back to the top to start again. He hadn’t actually been paying enough attention to it to recall what he’d already read.

Thrice.

Yejun grunted. “If you were going to worry about him hating you, you shouldn’t have acted on impulse.”

“It wasn’t impulsive.” He felt his best friend’s gaze rest on him and sighed. “All right. It was a little impulsive.”

“Why is that?” Yejun cocked his head. “Something happened.”

“He was attacked.”

“No, there’s more to it than that.”

Lake didn’t like keeping secrets from them, but neither West nor Yejun were ready to hear about Nix’s cousin. They hadn’t developed a strong enough bond with him yet. Until then, until they were both as obsessed with Nix, telling them was out of the question.

Part of that was selfish, because Lake had long since accepted that he needed Nix.

But they did as well.

“Why did you ask West to hand over the King's list?” Yejun must have realized Lake wasn’t going to tell him anything and slumped back into his seat, changing the subject. “What name are you hoping to find?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “But there’s a good chance our hacker is in here.”

Yejun frowned. “What do you mean? The hacker used Iris to get information from the app. If he was already a member, he wouldn’t have needed her.”

“We both know that’s not true.” This wasn’t the place to properly voice what he meant, so Lake merely caught and held Yejun’s gaze with his own.

Swearing, he crossed his arms. “All right, if you want real talk. We already dealt with that list anyway. There’s no way we missed something.”

“Nix seems to believe so.”

“Our Firebird doesn’t have the full story,” Yejun’s brow furrowed. “How did he come to that conclusion? You didn’t tell him—”

“No,” he reassured. “I told him nothing about that.”

“Are you planning to?”

“I’m not sure.”

Yejun exhaled slowly, considering this new angle. “He’s already been claimed. You may as well start treating him like a true mate now, before things get any worse between the two of you and you blow any chance of reconciliation.”

Lake didn’t like how that made him feel. The slight burning knot at the center of his chest throbbing at the idea that Nix even had the option not to forgive him eventually. “I’ll convince him it was in his best interests.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“But you aren’t going to explain to me why?”

“Not yet.”

Yejun made a sound of frustration. “I don’t like this. I don’t like when you keep things from us, Lake. West won’t like it either when he figures it out.”

“You don’t think he hasn’t already?” He gave up on pretending to read the information and clicked the tablet off. “Why do you think he kept Nix all night?” It was his way of getting back at Lake. “He knows, he’s just doing the same thing you’re doing.”

“Yeah, and what’s that?”

“Giving me time.”

“You won’t keep us waiting long.”

“No,” he agreed, even though it hadn’t been a question. Still, his response seemed to satisfy Yejun enough to let it go a second time.

“You really shouldn’t have done that to him,” his best friend stated, somewhat melancholy.

“You like him.” It’s what Lake had hoped for, and yet a spark of jealousy flickered. It died a quick death, but the fact it’d birthed at all annoyed him further. “I won’t give him up, June. Not on the Night of the Nightshade. Not ever.”

“Yes, you made that abundantly clear when you tore through his neck,” he drawled. “Idiot. If you wanted him that badly, you know we would have helped you come up with a way to keep him.”

He shook his head. “The second Nix found out we plan on making him one of us, he would have tried to run. If he couldn’t do it before the ceremony? He’d find a way to do it after, and once he was Essential, our hold over him would be weakened.”

“Our claim as fellow members of the club, maybe,” Yejun corrected, “but as the Imperial Prince next in line for the throne? Hardly. You can have anyone you want, Lake. No one would dare stand in your way.”

“Once I have the crown, sure. But before that? I’m not willing to risk it.”

Yejun hummed. “I’d ask what’s so special about Nix Monroe, but I sort of get it.”

“You’ve slept with him.”

“It’s more than sex,” he said. “There’s something…relaxing about his company. I find myself wanting to overshare things, trusting that he won’t judge me even if he doesn’t always agree with me. That’s rare.”

Yejun was interesting, a person made up of contradictory parts that were constantly at odds. He both loved and despised people. Both loved to be in a crowd and loved being alone. He could charm anyone into doing whatever he pleased with ease, but more often than not left dissatisfied. Sex was a frequent pastime not for the act or the pleasure it brought, but because it was an activity that could be shared with another person without deep conversation. Or, even conversation at all if Yejun chose not to engage in it.

“He’s receptive,” Lake found himself saying. “I noticed that right away about him. He slipped so easily into the role of a submissive, even if he has a snappy mouth.”

“He liked my soft touches,” Yejun grinned, probably remembering it.

“He liked my control.”

“What about West? Do you think he’ll enjoy West’s particular flavor?”

Lake snorted. “Considering how he waltzed into the kitchen this morning without crying? I’d guess he’s already taken to West’s rough style the same way he’s taken to ours. He’s adaptable. A survivor.”

“He’s the perfect fit for the three of us, really.” Yejun grew quiet a moment and then asked, “Can you really share him? A couple of months is one thing. Forever? Think about it. Think about him being pinned down by West and me. Picture him taking our cocks. Can you handle that?”

There was no prickle of jealousy this time, a relief. Instead, the corner of Lake’s mouth tipped up in a partial smile. “If you wanted me to fantasize about you naked, you could have just said as much, June.”

“Maybe you should watch,” he suggested, unaffected by Lake’s teasing comment. “Test the waters, so to speak. This won’t end well for any of us if you realize too late that you’ve overestimated yourself.”

“When have I ever?”

“This is different.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how so, but Lake caught himself. The answer was too obvious.

“Are you going to name him your Royal Consort?”

His lips pursed. “It’s too soon to even consider something like that.”

“Is it?”

“Isn’t it? Let me obtain the crown first. The pieces will fall into place after that.”

“Secure the throne, then secure your Consort?” Yejun clicked his tongue. “He’s yours either way, but knowing what role you want him to play can be helpful in the long run. Now that he’s bound to you for life, you can use him for much more than simply flushing out this hacker—a trick that will no longer work, I hope you realize.”

“I do.” He held up the tablet. “But it’s fine. We’ve already found a lead.”

If Iris had fallen for a King, and this same King who had instructed her to harm them, then it was safe to assume his name would be on this list. The odds that there were two people in her history manipulating her were low.

“This whole time, we assumed this hacker would leap at the chance to take another shot at us,” Lake began. “But what if we were wrong from the start? What if Iris was merely a distraction all along?”

“The attempted frame job even she didn’t know about.” Yejun glanced around them. This time of day, there weren’t many other members on this level, but there were enough they knew better than to speak their secrets aloud. “We should get out of here. Go somewhere more private to finish this discussion.”

“West needs to hear it as well,” Lake agreed.

“Tonight then? At the Roost.”

They collected their things and headed out, quiet until they were secured within the elevator taking them down to the main level.

“I was being serious earlier,” Yejun’s breezy tone cut through the silence, their murky reflections shinning back to them on the metal doors as they waited.

Lake didn’t need him to elaborate. “I know.”

“So, are you going to do it?”

“I watched him give West a blow job, didn’t I?”

“Sure, but that was different. That was a power play for him. This would be for you.”

The doors dinged and Lake stepped out. “I don’t need to be tested.”

“Come on, man.”

“June, if you want to fuck him again, just do it. You don’t need me to bear witness.”

“Except,” he grabbed onto Lake’s arm just as they reached the parking lot, stopping him, “I do. I’ll give him up for you after the ceremony, if that’s what you want. But I need to know now. Otherwise…I can’t promise things won’t change.”

Lake lifted a brow and turned to fully face him. “What’s this? Is the infamous playboy Yejun Sang falling for someone?”

Yejun glanced away and crossed his arms stubbornly. “No. I mean…I don’t know, okay? It’s possible I like him more than either of us intended, and it’s only been a couple of weeks.”

“There’s only another two before the Night of the Nightshade,” he pointed out.

“That’s my point. Stop me before I fall any harder, because if you’re going to tell West and I to backoff eventually, I don’t want there to be any resentment between us.”

“You really think someone could come between us?”

“If it’s Phoenix Monroe?” He nodded solemnly. “Yeah. Yeah I think it’s at least a possibility. Hasn’t he already? You bit him, Lake.”

“Choosing a mate is an individual decision,” he reminded. “You and West both have the same choice. I understand I should have discussed things with you first anyway, but I acted in the moment.”

“How long have you been thinking of keeping him?”

Lake stared.

“That long?” Yejun grunted. “Damn it. You should have just told us from the beginning.”

“Why?”

“Because then—”

“You need me to watch as you take him?” Lake waved a hand in the air. “Fine.”

He wouldn’t betray West or Yejun for anything or anyone, and it wasn’t like Nix would complain about it. For long anyway. It may have been a short period of time, but Yejun wasn’t the only one developing complicated feelings. Lake had noted the way Nix looked at the artist. There was real attachment there.

Finding out that Iris and Branwen were one and the same had affected Nix deeply, and not just because he felt like he’d been lied to by his cousin. He didn’t know who to trust, but he wanted to trust them, Lake could see that clear as day.

Despite all of the warnings and all of the awful things they’d already done to him, Nix wanted to believe they wouldn’t hurt him. So he’d come running to the stables to find Lake without thinking things through. Without stopping to consider what Lake might do once he found out the truth.

Had he shattered that trust completely when he’d chosen violence over comfort? When he’d sunk his teeth and tore through Nix’s throat instead of wrapping him in his arms and cooing at him comfortingly?

Lake didn’t know how to do comfort, but sending him Yejun’s way in that state had been completely out of the question. Even now, he was worried himself over what his best friend might do once the truth was revealed.

“You can have him for as long as you please,” Lake said. “But never forget that he’s mine.”

“You’re talking like you think I’ll kill him or something.” He rolled his eyes. “What about West?”

“What about him?”

“What if he decides to make the same choice you did? If he bites him—”

“You what?” A new voice cut through their conversation and they both spun around to find a tall dirty blond standing there with his mouth gaping open like an idiot.

“Who the hell are you?” Yejun demanded. They were still in the club parking lot, which was also gated in. Not just anyone was allowed on the premises, so he obviously knew the guy had to be a member, yet his gaze swept over him with a flash of displeasure.

“Juri Ferd,” Lake stated, slipping into the role of the icy Imperial he was known for. It was only with West and June that he ever dropped his guard. “It’s good you’re here. Saves me the trouble of having to hunt you down.”

Yejun frowned at them both. “You know him?”

“Nix does.”

“That so?” Even without understanding what was going on, Yejun bristled.

“Did I hear you right?” Juri didn’t cower before them like many others would, standing his ground as he held Lake’s gaze. “You bit him?”

“What’s it to you?” Yejun responded before Lake could get a word out.

“Why would you do that to him?” A flash of anger crossed his features and he didn’t bother to contain it. The Ferds were a Royal family on the planet, ones who didn’t hold much power, but were well respected by their peers and the Club. That must be why he was allowed here despite giving up his rights as a Demon.

Lake had been away for a while, but he got the sense Juri never showed up at the Club House. Which meant…. His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to find you,” Juri said. “I wanted to talk.”

“About my Songbird?”

“About Nix,” he corrected, only to have Yejun snort derisively at him. He ignored him either out of fear, or because he didn’t yet know the sway the others held over the guy he’d come here to advocate for. “I wanted to ask you to let him go. He’s a nice guy. He doesn’t deserve—”

“He’s mine,” Lake cut him off. “And I’m warning you to watch what you say, to me, and to him. In fact, don’t speak with him at all. If I see you two together, you won’t like the consequences.”

“I don’t want to fight.”

“The only reason I haven’t ordered you dragged out of your dorm and beaten in the quad is because Nix referred to you as his friend. I don’t want to do anything unnecessary that’ll upset him.” His look hardened. “But I will.”

“If you bit him, you already have,” Juri argued. “He’s terrified of you, all of you.” He finally acknowledged Yejun, though not for long. “I understand you need a sacrifice. I’m here to volunteer in his place.”

Yejun took a step forward but Lake stopped him by blocking him with his arm.

“You gave up your rights already,” he reminded. “What makes you think the Order would take you back?”

“They want me in the Club,” Juri sounded confident. “They already lost my brother. I’m the last link to my family line. They’ll accept me as the sacrifice, especially if you’re the one who’s telling them to.”

“And why would I agree to that?”

Juri wanted to punch him, it was written plainly on his face, though his voice came out clipped yet even-toned. “He doesn’t want you, but more than that, he doesn’t want this life. If you care about him, even a little, you won’t force it on him. We all know how dangerous the Club is, Lake. Why would you put an innocent person through that? He came here looking for—”

“Quiet.” Lake couldn’t allow him to spill that particular secret to Yejun. “He thinks the Songbird doesn’t want us, June.”

“I heard,” he snorted. “I don’t think the Club is looking to recruit idiots.”

“He told me himself,” Juri insisted.

“You’re going through a lot of trouble for someone you hardly know,” Yejun said.

“He’s—”

“Nice,” he sneered. “Yeah, I heard you say that too.”

Lake noted the possessiveness Yejun was displaying and recalled the direction of their conversation before they’d been so boldly interrupted. There was still a line that he hadn’t crossed because he knew it would most likely be unforgivable. Maybe even more so than giving Nix a claiming mark.

But…perhaps that was just what he needed to soothe the burn between them.

“Care to come to the Roost with us,” Lake suggested, allowing a dark smirk to twist his lips when the others both looked at him questioningly.

“Why?” Juri asked, suspicious.

“So we can settle it once and for all. Let’s go and find out which of us knows Nix best.”

“He won’t tell you the truth,” Juri said. “He’s afraid—”

“You’ve already lost,” Yejun laughed. “And you’re too dumb to realize. Or, is it a hero complex? Is that what this is? Gotta admit, it’s preferable to thinking you’re trying to take what’s ours.”

“Nix isn’t a thing, he’s a person.”

“He’s our person,” Lake stated. “If you’re valiant enough to come with us, I’m more than willing to put it to the test.”

Juri shifted on his feet. “And if it turns out I’m right?”

“Then I’ll come back here immediately and name you our sacrifice.”

When Yejun didn’t argue, Juri’s unease seemed to grow, but there was still too much determination for him to back down. “Fine. You have a deal.”

Lake clicked the button on his multi-slate that would unlock his car one row over. “Get in.”

“I can drive myself.”

“Get in.”

Juri held his gaze for a long moment and then finally gave in, turning for the car.

Yejun leaned in the second he was sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

In a rare show of uncertainty, Lake grunted. “So do I.”

Crossing the line might be too dangerous, but toeing it?

That he should be able to handle.