Page 71 of Martyr

“Why would I?” he shot back. “Do I seriously need to give you a list of every single person I speak with on a daily basis?”

“Yes.”

“You’re smothering me.” Nix ran a hand through his hair. “I’m trying my best here. I’m trying my best to adjust to your stupid world and your stupid rules. Can’t you at leastattemptto do the same and give me some breathing room?”

“Do you chide the others the same way you chide me?”

“No.” He mostly said it because he was annoyed, but when Lake broke out in a satisfied smirk, he gaped. “Why are you happy about that?”

“Because it’s proof you still show me a side of yourself that’s just for me.” In a better mood all of a sudden, Lake brushed past him. “Let’s see what West made for lunch.”

“He’s a fucking lunatic,” Nix muttered under his breath.

Between Yejun and Lake’s jealousy, he wasn’t sure how he was going to make it long-term with them. Unfortunately, West was right about Nix being too smart to still think running was an option.

Cursing under his breath, Nix went after them.

Because he was hungry, and it wasn’t like there was anything else for him to do.

Chapter 17:

“Blocked again.” Dew, one of Grady’s friends, pouted and dropped his arm with his multi-slate on it. He turned to Nix. “Seriously, I’m begging. Teach me your tricks.”

They’d just left lunch at the small cafeteria where Nix had found Grady and the others already eating. Typically, he was forced to eat at Café Soul with one of the Demons, but they were all supposedly busy today, so he’d gotten approval to do whatever he pleased.

It irked him how excited he’d gotten when Lake had told him this morning. How he’d almost feltgratefuleven. The more time he spent trapped with them, the more he seemed to lose himself, and the worst part was that being aware of it meant nothing. Nix couldn’t change it, couldn’t stop it from happening, no matter how conscious he was about it.

His ability to adapt wasn’t something he had any control over, and he was learning there were downsides to it, mainly that his emotions and his head didn’t seem to coincide. Logically, he knew he was being kept as a prisoner, that he was involved in a toxic situation. But rationality didn’t matter. Being rational wasn’t going to help him escape.

Wanting to escape wasn’t going to help him to escape, and knowing that, his subconscious was also adjusting his mindset to better fit the situation.

“Leave him alone,” Khloe rolled her eyes and leaned into Nix as their group headed down the steps and onto one of the stone paths. “Feel free to tell him to fuck off any time.”

“For real though,” Grady agreed. “He’s getting on my last nerve.”

“Just because you two aren’t interested in bettering your future doesn’t mean I also have to be averse to it.” Dew stuck out his tongue. He was the most outspoken and boisterous of the group, and also the most Demon obsessed.

The fact that Grady was still close friends with him had given Nix hope in the beginning, and fortunately, even after their talk in their dorm room, things between him and his roommate were still okay.

Or, ex roommate, really, since Nix no longer lived there. His move to the Roost had begun with the excuse it was to protect him, but it was obvious he was never going to be given the choice of moving back. They hadn’t spoken of it yet, but eventually, Grady was probably going to bring it up. It wasn’t fair to him that Nix was still registered with the school as his roommate when he wasn’t ever there.

“Are you still trying to climb ranks on the app?” Khloe asked Dew. “We’re graduating this year. Why even bother? Just use it to hook up, have a good time, and stop stressing over it.”

“She’s right,” Grady said. “Considering Nix here already bagged all the important Kings anyway, why are you still trying?”

“There are other Kings,” Nix reminded, mostly because he felt weird about this topic and his place within it.

Both Khloe and Dew had Enigma accounts and actively used them. They weren’t shy about that fact either, even thoughDew was the one who was constantly talking about it. Neither had made it up to the Kings tier, and it didn’t really seem like Khloe cared to.

If she knew what the app was really for, created as a means to vet potential future members of Club Essential, would she change her mind?

“Well sure, but it’s not like we can guess who any of the others are,” Dew pointed out. “What if they’re, like, ugly or something?”

Grady snorted. “You’re pathetic.”

“I’ve got taste,” he corrected. “Sue me.”

“I will if you keep bringing this up.”

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