Page 85 of Devil May Lie

“We’re pretty sure whoever killed Jem’s sister has already left the planet,” Flix stated. “Baikal sent Saint after them to find out. He’ll report back as soon as he has answers. There’s no way to know if we have any involvement or if Jem’s family was targeted for something they’ve done.”

It could have just been their bad luck that the murder had taken place during a business discussion between them and Jem. He was in control of an important galactic trade route the Brumal needed in order to maintain supply and demand. He’d been visiting with his sisters, and the circumstances around the death of one of them were strange.

“And there’s no chance that it’s—”

“It isn’t the Shepards,” Flix cut Berga off with a warning glare that had him sighing.

“Fine.” His best friend had returned from vacation tangled up with the leader of the Shepards and Berga didn’t like it. But then…

As if reading his mind, Flix crossed his arms and said, “If we’re going to talk about sleeping with the enemy, I think you’re the one who should be getting the lecture. I can’t leave you alone for a handful of weeks without you getting yourself into trouble. What were you thinking?”

Berga shrugged and bent over the body, pretending to find interest in the massive hole in the center of the dead man’s skull. He was covered in a protective layer of plastic and goggles even though there wasn’t any blood splatter, given the cadaver had been dead a while already. Still, better safe than sorry.

And he did want to be safe. He might be okay with come on his person now, but it seemed blood was still a step too far out of his comfort zone.

“I like his dick,” he ended up saying.

“What were you thinking before you saw it then?”

“It was the logical solution,” Berga said.

“Right, because you accidentally took Impression and needed to fuck somebody.”

“Madden was the best available option.”

“Berga.”

“What?”

Flix held his gaze, but when he didn’t back down, he sighed. “This obsession with his hair has got to stop.”

“I told you, I—”

“Yeah, yeah. You like his dick.” He shook his head. “Was it soft, at least?”

“His dick? No.”

“No, not his—” Flix lifted his gaze to the ceiling as if asking for divine intervention. “Fine. You were drugged? That’s the story? Okay. That doesn’t explain how you keep ending up in his bed.”

“It was my bed, actually,” Berga corrected, blinking when Flix’s eyes narrowed. “Is this one of those times where the facts aren’t really important?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” He set the scalpel down on the metal tray next to him. “There’s no reason to be so concerned. We’re exploring things between us at the moment, but we’ve both already agreed it’s just an experiment. Every experiment, good or bad, must come to an end eventually. You’re worrying over nothing.”

“Am I?” Flix didn’t sound convinced. “He called Yuze and sent him to an important event in his place. He risked pissing off the Emperor even, just so he could stay by your side.”

“I wasn’t well.” It wasn’t like he’d done it to spend time with Berga or go on a frivolous date or something. There’d been a good reason.

“Neither of you is the type to grow attached, okay, sure. But while Madden hasn’t hesitated to call in favors to people before, he’s never shirked his duties as an Odell either. You’re both acting out of character. How much worse will this get if you spend more time with one another?”

“You make it sound as if we’re falling in love or some such nonsense.” When Flix merely stared pointedly, Berga snorted. “Love? I’m not even capable of that emotion.” Unless… “Am I?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“If you agree to be in a relationship with someone, does that mean—”

“Whoa,” he held up a hand. “Relationship? You can’t be serious. This is the righthand to Kelevra Diar we’re talking about here. Madden can’t be trusted. He isn’t one of us.”

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