Page 80 of Villain

“Yeah, well, a lot’s happened in a short amount of time. I adjusted.” Nix shrugged like it was no big deal. Like he hadn’t just been trying to renege on their agreement less than fifteen minutes ago downstairs.

Something sharp sliced through the center of his chest and Lake clenched his jaw against it. “Tell me.”

“Tell you what?” the frown returned tenfold.

“What you’re hiding,” Lake reiterated. “Tell me now, Songbird, while there’s still time to forgive you.”

He glanced away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re a better liar than that.” Was he trying to hint to Lake that he was on to something out of guilt? Or had that been a mere slip in his armor? Perhaps he really was too unnerved after the day's events.

Meaning it was the best time for Lake to push, to poke at him until he caved and spilled the big secret he’d been hiding from them.

Lake inwardly cursed. “Go take your shower.”

Nix bolted across the room and disappeared into the bathroom, practically slamming the door behind him. This was another mistake he usually wouldn’t have made. He was careless. But why? Whatever the reason, it couldn’t be in Lake’s favor.

As soon as the sound of running water came through the wooden door, Lake lifted his multi-slate and sent a message in the group chat he shared with West and Yejun.

Maestro: One of us has to stay with him all day tomorrow. He can never be left alone. Understood?

West replied first, his response coming in a second before the sound of classical music picked up down the hall.

Hellhound: Why? You worried about him?

Lake moved away from the door to avoid the music and started to undress as their messages kept coming in.

Incubus: I don’t think this person intends to hurt him. They just wanted to shake him up a bit, that’s all. Convince him to ditch us and save himself or whatever. Don’t read too far into it. You’ve got enough on your plate.

Hellhound: June is right. We’ll take care of it and find whoever slipped that in Nixie’s bag. You don’t need to worry. I’m hacking into Foxy U right now. If anyone mentioned it to anyone through posts or DMs, I’ll know.

Foxy U was the university’s private social media. Everyone on campus used it, including professors and alumni.

Lake pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt before pouring a glass of water from the pitcher left by the windowsill. The large bay window looked out to the side of the mountain, so the view was mostly stone and hanging branches from two large oaks growing out of the side. On nights like this, where it poured, water ran like a river down it, reflecting in the lights of his bedroom. It was soothing, and usually he’d stand there and watch it for a while, allow it to help ease the tension in his shoulders and relieve him of whatever had stressed him out that day.

But he could hear Nix moving around in the bathroom and knew he wouldn’t spend too long in there for fear of Lake changing his mind and trying to come in while he was nude.

Lake moved back around the bed and set the glass on the end table built into the wall before responding to his friends.

Maestro: That’s not what I’m worried about. Didn’t you see the way he was acting? He’s thinking about running.

Hellhound: He wouldn’t get very far.

That sounded possessive. Had West formed an attachment to Nix already? When? As far as Lake was aware, the Songbird had spent most of his time with Yejun as of late.

Incubus: I’ll talk to him.

Maestro: I don’t want you to talk to him. We tell him we’re onto him and that’ll just make him want to run more. Just make sure he isn’t left on his own. Got it?

He undid the strap of his device and tossed it onto his desk before he could get a hold of his frustration. Bowing his head, he clenched and unclenched his fists and focused on inhaling and exhaling to the beat of four, like his father had taught him when he was a child.

Emotions were dangerous. They were tricky and controlling. Only a fool would allow something like that to rule over him.

Lake was no fool.

Hellhound: Jealous much?

Incubus: Understood. None of us want him to run.

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