Page 99 of Martyr

Nix covered a chuckle with a cough and then stood, effectively forcing Lake to remove his hand in the process. “I’ve got to get to class. I’ll catch you guys later.”

Lake trailed behind him when he dumped his tray and then out onto the steps. He didn’t speak when Nix started walking toward the science building, and didn’t point out how Nix was taking the long way to avoid the art department.

He lasted almost ten minutes before the silence got too much for him, and Nix moved off the path, glaring at Lake when he stood before him.

“What?” he demanded.

“You didn’t tell me about your plan to risk yourself like this,” Lake said in a steady tone that belied the hesitance shown clearly in his eyes.

It’d been two days since the event in the living room, and while he’d come by West’s room once, he’d left with little fight when his best friend had turned him away. Nix figured that was his way of giving him space, that he really did feel guilty for his part in what transpired.

“West told you,” Nix reminded. He and West had made a deal. He’d put the plan in motion while the Demon dealt with reading the other two in.

Lake cocked his head, quiet again for another moment before, “You finally came out of his room.”

“I wasn’t hiding.” He was. One hundred percent.

“Were you that injured?” Lake’s gaze swept over him from head to toe.

Nix sighed. “If you were going to be this worried, why’d you let it happen in the first place?”

He wished he could pretend not to see it, that he could lie to himself and say Lake was faking it in an attempt to sway him, but he knew better. Lake so rarely emoted, when he did let his guard down, it was impossible not to notice.

“You seemed so calm,” Lake explained. “I thought you wanted it.”

“Did you?” He crossed his arms.

“Want is a strong word.”

“You think?”

Lake cursed low and glanced away, inhaled, and tried again. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Apologize.” He stared at him. “Beg for forgiveness.”

“You could start by getting on your knees.”

Lake’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t push your luck, Songbird.”

“You aren’t willing?” He took a deliberate step back. “Fine. Then—”

Lake grabbed onto his arm and then began to lower to the ground.

“Wait!” Nix caught him and pulled him back up, looking around to see if anyone had noticed. There were a couple of lingering students in the distance, but no one close enough. “Not here.”

“Didn’t you want to embarrass me?” Lake asked.

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind. I just told the whole school we’re on good terms, remember? I can’t have you kneeling in the dirt less than fifteen minutes after that.”

“If you were going to be this worried,” he parroted, “why’d you ask for it in the first place?”

“That isn’t funny.”

“I’m not trying to be. I’m merely pointing out that even if you’re angry with me, you still care.”

“I care about catching this asshole so we can finally put an end to this chapter,” he corrected. “It’s going to take more than an apology to get me to forgive how you just sat there and did nothing.”

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