Page 65 of Martyr

“She became kind of rude after that. She’d walk into people and would leave without apologizing, wouldn’t do her half of the work for group projects…Or, at least that’s what I heard. You know how much the student body here likes to gossip. Last year, Iris was the person they whispered about. This year, you’re the lucky winner. Although, she never got far enough with either Yejun or West to be called their lover.”

“It wasn’t like that between her and Yejun.”

“Maybe she wanted it to be?” Grady shrugged. “Anyway, she makes a good suspect. I’d start there.”

“I’d just be wasting my time.”

“What do you mean?”

He held his roommate’s gaze steadily. “She’s dead.”

“What the fuck? How? When?”

Nix wasn’t here to talk about his cousin, so he waved the questions off and asked, “Can you think of anyone else who it might be?”

“I’ll ask around for you,” Grady offered.

“Discreetly.”

“Duh, I don’t want to get on the Demons’ radar.”

“So…” Nix shifted on his feet. “We’re still friends, right?”

Grady grunted. “I hate that you’re dating the Demons, but yeah. I’m not the type to abandon someone, especially not when they’ve gotten themselves mixed up with trouble.” He sobered some. “Now that you’ve got a claim mark…”

“I know.” Nix was coming to terms with that on his own time, and it wasn’t something he was ready to discuss with someone outside of him and the Demons. They were going to have to figure out how this thing between them all was going to work long term, that was a given. The choice had been made for him, and he could either waste time bemoaning that fact or accept it and make the most of his situation. “Let me know if you find anything.”

His multi-slate dinged.

“That another message from the unknown number?” Grady asked, but Nix shook his head.

“It’s Juri. He’s outside.”

“Why?”

“Says he wants to talk to me.” Nix played it off like it was no big deal, though inside his stomach was tightening into knots. Even though Juri had been the one to volunteer to become the sacrifice, that didn’t make Nix feel less guilty. A selfish part of him even hoped the guy had ulterior motives just so he didn’t have to take all the blame.

“He’s been acting strange all week. You know anything about that?”

Nix wasn’t sure how much to say, so he ended up shrugging instead. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, but not when you’re with one of them.”

One day he was going to have to find out more from Grady about this person they’d hurt and how. Since it wasn’t Branwen, it didn’t feel right to pry when it was obvious his roommate wasn’t in the mood to share.

Nix made his way out of the building, finding Juri already there, standing beneath one of the tall wecfred tree. Bright red leaves with sparkling gold edges twirled down, caught by the breeze, and the scene might have been pretty if not for the deep frow marring Juri’s brow.

“Nix.” He moved toward him as soon as he spotted him, pulling him under the shade of the tree as though that might some how give them cover from wandering eyes.

It wouldn’t, but it was a valiant effort.

“How are you?” Juri gave him a look so filled with pity that Nix had to glance away. “I’m sorry if I made things worse for you. I thought I could convince them. I just wanted to help. I never imagined they’d make you—”

“I enjoyed it,” Nix reminded. “You were there. You know I did.”

Juri let go of his arm, frown in place.

“Why’d you do that anyway?” Grady wasn’t the only one who had to be keeping a secret.

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