Page 31 of Sinner
“All right, it’s the last time I’ll ask it, I promise.” Briant stepped forward and inspected the suit Nix was trying on. “I like this one more than the last.”
“And what color was the last one again?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Okay, you caught me.”
“You haven’t paid attention to anything since we walked in the door.” Nix and his cousin had gone with Yejun to a tailor in the city to shop for outfits for Demons Passing, mostly as a distraction, and mostly for Briant, since June had apparently already put their wardrobes together.
Nix had been roped into trying things on for the coronation, with the excuse that since he was already here, he may as well. He was starting to get the impression that the real reason they were in this place was to get him out of the house.
The public announcement stating Lake was taking the throne had gone live. Technically, Nix would also gain his title that day, but he was trying not to think about it.
Not that Briant was of the same mindset in that regard. He wouldn’t shut up about it, switching from excitement that he was gaining a title, to concern that they were moving too fast. While he claimed not to believe the story Juri had painted, of a fragile, coerced Nix who was too drunk on good dick to make an informed decision, he still felt like it would be wiser for Nix to give it time to be sure this was lasting affection.
But Nix wasn’t being forced into anything, and he didn’t see a point in waiting. This, being with them, becoming a part of them, that was all him. His choice.
It was what he wanted.
Coming to that decision, accepting it, that this was who he was, that maybe he’d been waiting for them all this while to help unlock who he was meant to be…It’d been cathartic.
Nix wasn’t going to let Juri take that from him.
“My little cousin is about to get—”
Nix held up a finger, silencing Briant. “I know you’re not about to say married.”
“Eventually.” He tugged lightly on Nix’s sleeves to straighten them. “It’s in every other sense of the word except for the paperwork, isn’t it? Surely a mating mark and being titled Royal Consort hold more weight than simply being called someone’s husband?”
“Intelligence runs in the family, I see.” Lake appeared in the doorway of the dressing room, strolling in as though he owned the place. He came right up to Nix’s side and planteda hand on his shoulder, turning his body this way and that so he could take in the suit to his satisfaction. A tiny V formed between his brow, and he called over the employee tucked into the corner. “Find me something in white and gold.”
“Yejun picked this,” Nix said, but Lake shrugged like it was no big deal, even though they both knew June was going to be annoyed when he found out Lake was rejecting his color palette. “Does it really look that bad?”
“Not at all. You look good in everything.” He leaned in close, his lips brushing against the curve of Nix’s right ear. “Even better in nothing.”
“Seriously?” Nix narrowed his eyes and pulled away, but Lake merely chuckled.
“My outfit was just sent to me for approval.”
“Let me guess, it’s white and gold?” He wouldn’t admit he was pleased that Lake’s first instinct was to make sure the two of them matched, but internally he was. He liked the idea of belonging to him, and of them openly belonging to each other. Interestingly enough, the Demons weren’t the only possessive ones here.
“Where is June?”Lake asked.
“He’s in the next room trying on his own clothes and picking something up for West. I guess his meeting with his dad went quickly, so he stopped somewhere to have lunch with Beck.” Nix had gotten the message an hour before they were set to leave for the tailors, so he had no idea if West was still there, but since he hadn’t heard anything else…
Lake’s expression lost some of its mirth suddenly, his stare turning a little too intense, cluing Nix into what his next topic would be before he’d even spoken a word.
“I’m fine,” he stated firmly, not giving the future emperor a chance to voice his concerns. “I’m trying to keep distracted. Don’t ruin it for me. Play along.”
“Of course.” Lake gave him a smile that was only partially real, then turned as the employee stepped back up holding three more suits. “This one.” He selected one of the options. “I’ll help you.”
“I can do it.”
“I’ll help you,” he repeated, already easing Nix toward the changing room. As soon as he had Nix secured inside the stall, he glanced over his shoulder and instructed the employee, “Take Briant to find something suitable in another room.”
“Hey, wait!” Nix was ignored, and a second later, the door was shut, trapping the two of them in the small space together. He glared, but Lake pretended not to notice, hanging the new suit on the hook before reaching for Nix’s shirt. He slapped Lake’s hands away.
And promptly found himself shoved against the wall, the wind completely knocked out of him.
“Does this really seem like the time?” Nix hissed, only for Lake to chuckle.
