Page 87 of Villain

Nix: What does that even mean?

Planets Best Cousin: You wouldn’t understand, you aren’t a Foxglove student. Things operate differently here.

Nix: You mean because you’re so close to Club Essential’s base of operations?

Planets Best Cousin: Something like that.

Nix: He’s not like, a member, is he? Do you have classes together?

Planets Best Cousin: We met on an app! It sounds strange, but everyone here is doing it.

The rest of that particular conversation was just more of Nix trying to pry answers out of her and her mostly deflecting or divulging snippets. It was pretty apparent that she was hiding something, and considering how smart Nix was, there was no way he’d missed that.

Lake moved on to another lengthy chat.

Planets Best Cousin: Do you ever wonder what you’d do if you found your soulmate, but it was the wrong place and the wrong time? I didn’t believe in that type of thing before, but now…Nix. It sucks. Should I give up?

Nix: What’s wrong? What happened?

Planets Best Cousin: I just feel like I constantly have to prove myself. Why can’t he just accept me as I am? Am I not good enough?

Nix: You’re literally the best person I know. If this guy can’t see that, he isn’t worthy of you. Dump him and move on.

Planets Best Cousin: You wouldn’t understand. Thanks for saying that anyway, though.

There was a span of about two weeks between that and the final conversation, where the feed was filled with one-sided messages sent by Nix that had all gone ignored.

Nix: Are you feeling any better? How are things going with the guy?

Nix: We missed you this weekend. I know you said you were busy, but the festivities just aren’t as fun without you. Call me later, yeah?

Nix: Hey, your mom mentioned yesterday she hadn’t heard from you in a bit. You aren’t getting back to me either. Can you just text me so I know you’re okay?

Nix: Seriously, Tulniri to the world’s best cousin?

Nix: Where the hell are you?

Nix: That’s it. I’m hoping on the first plane to you.

That last one seemed to have done the trick, because afterward his cousin had finally responded.

Planets Best Cousin: Don’t come. You were right. This place is hell. And even if you do, I won’t be here when you arrive. I’m sorry, Nix. I’m really, really sorry.

He’d sent a slew of text messages after that begging her to explain, but she never replied again. Lake assumed she must have taken her life shortly after this. There was no mention of the Enigma app by name or anything about a King, but he recalled Nix talking about a letter he’d received early on. Was that where he’d gotten the rest of those details?

If that were true, then all of this checked out. He really was here in search of the man who’d hurt his cousin’s feelings badly enough to make her want to end it all.

Lake watched as Nix burrowed deeper into the pillow and sighed. This whole thing had clearly hurt him deeply, enough that he’d upended his life to come here for justice. If Lake were a better person, he’d probably feel bad for the cousin and all that she’d gone through. As it were…

Since her death had been the driving force that had brought him and his Songbird together, Lake’s time would be better served visiting her grave and thanking her cold, decaying corpse.

“You’d probably say that makes me a villain,” he murmured to the sleeping man in his bed.

In his bed.

In his clothes.

In his home.

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