Page 75 of Villain

“And this guy, Nix,” Demitrious asked, “you trust him to keep his word?”

Lake ground his teeth as he entered the changing rooms and stripped out of his tight riding jacket. “He’s smart enough to know he’d have all of Essential against him if otherwise.”

“Yes, that’s true.” There was a pause, and then, “You like him?”

“We’re partial to him.” There was no way in hell he was going to give Demitrious that sort of power over him. His feelings toward Nix were his own business, no one else’s, and while he’d always been held high on a pedestal by West’s father, he knew better than to expect that to always be the case.

Look how easily he’d tossed his own son aside.

Demitrious was only paternal toward Lake because he had a spot in succession. If they somehow failed to procure his place and he lost the crown? There was very little doubt in his mind that he would be kicked to the curb just as quickly as West had been. Demitrious only kept people around who were useful to him.

Lake would judge, but up until Nix, he’d been the same way. Even after, hadn’t he needed to come up with this plan to convince himself that he wasn’t keeping the Songbird around just because?

“Once he’s sacrificed—”

“That will be something we’ll deal with then,” Lake cut him off. He opened and slammed his metal locker with enough force he knew the sound could make its way through his earpiece.

“Oh, are you getting ready to leave?” Demitrious asked, like he knew he would. “I’ll let you go. Just remember, if you ever need anything I’m here for you.”

Lake hung up without giving a reply. He yanked his shirt off, tossed it into the locker, and was just in the process of reaching for his hanging uniform when his device chimed again. Cursing, he slammed on the button and growled out, “What?”

“Come to the Roost.” West didn’t sound anything like he had only ten or so minutes ago, and that had Lake stiffening. “Now. We’ll meet you there. I’ve called Yejun home as well.”

“Nix?” He grabbed his uniform shirt off the hanger, sending the metal pinging around, but he was already turning for the door, not even bothering to close his locker in his haste.

“He’s fine, but…” West blew out a breath. “Some freak put a dead thing in his backpack.”

“What?” Lake slammed a palm on the door leading out and stormed across the parking lot toward his car. “Forget it, I’ll see for myself. I’m on my way.”

Some freak was about to become a dead thing if Lake had any say in the matter.

And as the Imperial soon-to-be prince?

He had a say in everything on this planet.

Chapter 21:

Nix clasped his hands and stared down at the muddied tips of his boots as they waited in the Roost. West had dragged him there—though, to be honest, it hadn’t taken much effort on the Demon's part. He’d been too in shock to really argue, and the thought of returning to his dorm and acting like nothing had happened…

His stomach tightened and he swallowed the bile that threatened to climb up the back of his throat. He was in the leather lounge chair, the one West had been in when Nix had been forced to blow him. Yejun had already come and gone, taking the mysterious—and disgusting—package with him.

The front door clattered and a moment later Lake entered, gaze instantly seeking out Nix. He was halfway to him before he seemed to compose himself, coming to a complete stop. “Where is it?”

West, who was seated on the couch nearest Nix opened his mouth to reply, but Yejun gracefully dropped down the winding wooden steps that led to the second level, interrupting them.

“Here.” He walked over and then chucked the wrapped item onto the center of the coffee table.

Both Nix and West shot back in their seats, the latter cursing.

“Relax,” Yejun reassured. “It’s fake.”

“Huh?” West pointed at the item. “It looks fucking real to me.”

“Well, it isn’t.” He turned to Lake, crossing his arms. “It’s a believable fake. They even added fur. Whoever did this, they’ve got some art skills.”

“What is it?” Lake peered down at the item.

“A dead luk,” Nix said, staring at the item as well. Part of the back legs of the small rodent-like creature poked out from the paper that was wrapped around its tiny body. “And a note warning me to stay the hell away from you guys.”

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