Page 37 of Martyr

“Our Firebird doesn’t have the full story,” Yejun’s brow furrowed. “How did he come to that conclusion? You didn’t tell him—”

“No,” he reassured. “I told him nothing about that.”

“Are you planning to?”

“I’m not sure.”

Yejun exhaled slowly, considering this new angle. “He’s already been claimed. You may as well start treating him like a true mate now, before things get any worse between the two of you and you blow any chance of reconciliation.”

Lake didn’t like how that made him feel. The slight burning knot at the center of his chest throbbing at the idea that Nix even had the option not to forgive him eventually. “I’ll convince him it was in his best interests.”

“Was it?”

“Yes.”

“But you aren’t going to explain to me why?”

“Not yet.”

Yejun made a sound of frustration. “I don’t like this. I don’t like when you keep things from us, Lake. West won’t like it either when he figures it out.”

“You don’t think he hasn’t already?” He gave up on pretending to read the information and clicked the tablet off. “Why do you think he kept Nix all night?” It was his way of getting back at Lake. “He knows, he’s just doing the same thing you’re doing.”

“Yeah, and what’s that?”

“Giving me time.”

“You won’t keep us waiting long.”

“No,” he agreed, even though it hadn’t been a question. Still, his response seemed to satisfy Yejun enough to let it go a second time.

“You really shouldn’t have done that to him,” his best friend stated, somewhat melancholy.

“You like him.” It’s what Lake had hoped for, and yet a spark of jealousy flickered. It died a quick death, but the fact it’d birthed at all annoyed him further. “I won’t give him up, June. Not on the Night of the Nightshade. Not ever.”

“Yes, you made that abundantly clear when you tore through his neck,” he drawled. “Idiot. If you wanted him that badly, you know we would have helped you come up with a way to keep him.”

He shook his head. “The second Nix found out we plan on making him one of us, he would have tried to run. If he couldn’t do it before the ceremony? He’d find a way to do it after, and once he was Essential, our hold over him would be weakened.”

“Our claim as fellow members of the club, maybe,” Yejun corrected, “but as the Imperial Prince next in line for the throne? Hardly. You can have anyone you want, Lake. No one would dare stand in your way.”

“Once I have the crown, sure. But before that? I’m not willing to risk it.”

Yejun hummed. “I’d ask what’s so special about Nix Monroe, but I sort of get it.”

“You’ve slept with him.”

“It’s more than sex,” he said. “There’s something…relaxing about his company. I find myself wanting to overshare things, trusting that he won’t judge me even if he doesn’t always agree with me. That’s rare.”

Yejun was interesting, a person made up of contradictory parts that were constantly at odds. He both loved and despised people. Both loved to be in a crowd and loved being alone. He could charm anyone into doing whatever he pleased with ease, but more often than not left dissatisfied. Sex was a frequent pastime not for the act or the pleasure it brought, but because it was an activity that could be shared with another person without deep conversation. Or, even conversation at all if Yejun chose not to engage in it.

“He’s receptive,” Lake found himself saying. “I noticed that right away about him. He slipped so easily into the role of a submissive, even if he has a snappy mouth.”

“He liked my soft touches,” Yejun grinned, probably remembering it.

“He liked my control.”

“What about West? Do you think he’ll enjoy West’s particular flavor?”

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