Page 25 of Devil May Lie

Damn it.

Madden had always loved sex. He’d sleep with groupies of the Devils of Vitality, bed fans from the Docks, pick up a stray fling in a bar or club when he felt any inkling of interest in doing so…He wasn’t a stranger to one-night stands or waking up in the morning having forgotten the name of the person he was just balls deep inside of. And, unlike all of those other occasions, he hadn’t chosen Berga.

If anything, he should want to destroy the Butcher for setting them on this path in the first place. Instead, he felt like there was something sticking to his insides, junking him up, and no matter how many times he tried to sort through it and pull that knotted mess apart, it snapped back into place, heavy in his gut.

“Yo,” he tapped Kelevra’s arm even though he already had the Imperial’s attention, “you and Rin got together after you drugged him, right?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Kelevra stated dryly, “but I’m curious where you’re going with this, so yeah. Why?”

Rin Varun was Kelevra’s Royal Consort, his betrothed. He was also a cadet at the Academy, but a sophomore, so they didn’t have any classes together and rarely saw each other on campus.

“Why’d you pursue him after that?” Madden asked. “What was so special about him you wanted to fuck him again?”

“It was more than wanting to sleep with him,” Kelevra corrected. “I just…wanted him.”

“Right.” That wasn’t helpful at all.

“Who are you thinking about?” Kelevra smirked. “I should have realized it was a person. Rumors are going around that you were discovered getting it on at the boathouse last week. Is that who’s got you questioning things?”

“Maybe.”

“Then go for it.”

Madden shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”

“I don’t see how that can be true. You’re a Devil and a member of my Retinue. If you want someone, take them. Sounds pretty simple to me.”

Yes, well, it wasn’t when Berga’s status as a Devil and a member of the Satellite were factored in. It could be argued that even with Madden’s Royal title, he and Berga stood on a level playing field in terms of positions within the organizations that kept this planet running.

He could possibly complain that Berga had broken the rules first and taken him against his will, but it would be a weak argument. Most of the night was fuzzy, but those first couple of times were crystal clear. He’d fucked Berga brutally, almost cruelly. If it’d been anyone else, there was little doubt in Madden’s mind he’d be dealing with a lawsuit and hush money.

But because it’d been Berga, the Butcher had merely flipped him over and returned tit for tat.

Madden wasn’t opposed to bottoming for someone, but he definitely preferred top, and topping Berga had been…His cock twitched in his black military pants and he bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to settle it back down.

He’d been surprised that Berga had allowed him to do it again in his lab. Had thought for sure he was going to have to threaten him with more than just the video to get back inside of him, but nope. The Butcher hadn’t even argued against their positions, had taken it like a champ.

All that amicability had come to an end the second he’d raced from the room it seemed.

“He’s refusing to take my calls,” Madden growled. “And all of my texts have gone unanswered.” Because, like an idiot, he’d contacted Berga. All of the members of the Retinue had the contact details for those in the Satellite, but he’d never reached out to the Butcher before.

The first day, he’d wondered if perhaps Berga hadn’t bothered to save his info, so he’d shot off a text letting him know who it was and telling him to pick up the next time he rang or to call him back.

Berga had done neither.

It’d weirdly pissed Madden off.

He’d never been rejected by anyone before, and he chalked it up to that. To ego and pride. But really…

“I don’t think I’m willing to give up just yet,” he said.

“So don’t.” Kelevra shrugged and then tipped his head, catching sight of something down the long hallway. “I forgot that was today.”

“What?” Madden asked, checking himself and almost missing a step when he spotted fellow Retinue member Zane Solace entering the nurse's wing.

With Berga at his side.

“Vail sent over some of their senior med students as part of their training,” Kelevra answered, either not having noticed Madden’s slip or not caring enough to point it out. “They’re supposed to provide medical services to any injured cadets for the rest of the week and will be graded on their skills.”

---