Page 39 of Martyr

“There’s only another two before the Night of the Nightshade,” he pointed out.

“That’s my point. Stop me before I fall any harder, because if you’re going to tell West and I to backoff eventually, I don’t want there to be any resentment between us.”

“You really think someone could come between us?”

“If it’s Phoenix Monroe?” He nodded solemnly. “Yeah. Yeah I think it’s at least a possibility. Hasn’t he already? You bit him, Lake.”

“Choosing a mate is an individual decision,” he reminded. “You and West both have the same choice. I understand I should have discussed things with you first anyway, but I acted in the moment.”

“How long have you been thinking of keeping him?”

Lake stared.

“That long?” Yejun grunted. “Damn it. You should have just told us from the beginning.”

“Why?”

“Because then—”

“You need me to watch as you take him?” Lake waved a hand in the air. “Fine.”

He wouldn’t betray West or Yejun for anything or anyone, and it wasn’t like Nix would complain about it. For long anyway. It may have been a short period of time, but Yejun wasn’t the only one developing complicated feelings. Lake had noted the way Nix looked at the artist. There was real attachment there.

Finding out that Iris and Branwen were one and the same had affected Nix deeply, and not just because he felt like he’d been lied to by his cousin. He didn’t know who to trust, but he wanted to trust them, Lake could see that clear as day.

Despite all of the warnings and all of the awful things they’d already done to him, Nix wanted to believe they wouldn’t hurt him. So he’d come running to the stables to find Lake without thinking things through. Without stopping to consider what Lake might do once he found out the truth.

Had he shattered that trust completely when he’d chosen violence over comfort? When he’d sunk his teeth and tore through Nix’s throat instead of wrapping him in his arms and cooing at him comfortingly?

Lake didn’t know how to do comfort, but sending him Yejun’s way in that state had been completely out of the question. Even now, he was worried himself over what his best friend might do once the truth was revealed.

“You can have him for as long as you please,” Lake said. “But never forget that he’s mine.”

“You’re talking like you think I’ll kill him or something.” He rolled his eyes. “What about West?”

“What about him?”

“What if he decides to make the same choice you did? If he bites him—”

“You what?” A new voice cut through their conversation and they both spun around to find a tall dirty blond standing there with his mouth gaping open like an idiot.

“Who the hell are you?” Yejun demanded. They were still in the club parking lot, which was also gated in. Not just anyone was allowed on the premises, so he obviously knew the guy had to be a member, yet his gaze swept over him with a flash of displeasure.

“Juri Ferd,” Lake stated, slipping into the role of the icy Imperial he was known for. It was only with West and June that he ever dropped his guard. “It’s good you’re here. Saves me the trouble of having to hunt you down.”

Yejun frowned at them both. “You know him?”

“Nix does.”

“That so?” Even without understanding what was going on, Yejun bristled.

“Did I hear you right?” Juri didn’t cower before them like many others would, standing his ground as he held Lake’s gaze. “You bit him?”

“What’s it to you?” Yejun responded before Lake could get a word out.

“Why would you do that to him?” A flash of anger crossed his features and he didn’t bother to contain it. The Ferds were a Royal family on the planet, ones who didn’t hold much power, but were well respected by their peers and the Club. That must be why he was allowed here despite giving up his rights as a Demon.

Lake had been away for a while, but he got the sense Juri never showed up at the Club House. Which meant…. His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

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