Page 41 of Martyr

Lake clicked the button on his multi-slate that would unlock his car one row over. “Get in.”

“I can drive myself.”

“Get in.”

Juri held his gaze for a long moment and then finally gave in, turning for the car.

Yejun leaned in the second he was sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

In a rare show of uncertainty, Lake grunted. “So do I.”

Crossing the line might be too dangerous, but toeing it?

That he should be able to handle.

Chapter 10:

“You’ve been quiet.” West was collecting items from a metal storage locker in the gym. They were in the east building, and he’d left Nix standing in front of a large square shaped boxing ring.

Nix didn’t bother responding, mind still reeling from the information bomb he’d received outside. At least the two of them were alone so he didn’t have to play pretend boyfriends to an audience.

There was workout equipment to the left and a wall of mirrors. In them, Nix saw his own reflection, the rest of the gym to his right seeming too normal of a setting for him to currently be in. The bandage at his neck was stained red, and his pallor was off, though he was pretty sure that had little to do with the light bleeding and more to do with West’s revelation.

Nix had been so close to freedom. All he’d had to do was keep his head down another couple of weeks and he would have been in the clear. Lake had told him to stick around until Demons Passing, but the second Nix was made an Essential, he could have refused. Or, at least tried to. He’d have a modicum of power.

He snickered. Power. That was something he’d never wanted, and unlike his sudden longing for friendship, power stillseemed undesirable, at least if it meant tying himself tighter to the Demons and their vicious ways.

Typically, Club members had to pay annually for their membership, which was no big deal to the rich and elite, but for Nix’s family it would have been next to impossible. Becoming a member had never even been a remote possibility, for either him or Branwen. Maybe his cousin had wanted it, though she’d never said as much to him before, but Nix hadn’t.

“Why so serious, babe?” West returned to his side and motioned for him to sit down on the edge of the boxing ring.

Nix did so, not seeing a point in fighting with the other guy. He felt…defeated. More so even than when he’d realized what Lake intended yesterday when he’d unhinged his jaw and pressed his searing mouth against his throat.

West angled Nix’s head for him, gently, and then set out the items he’d collected. “Yejun might be fantastic with a brush, but the guy sucks at tending to injuries. We don’t have the proper stuff at the Roost either.”

“Is that why you brought me here?” How…odd. “Don’t take this the wrong way—”

“But I’m not the caring type?” West chuckled and shook a metal can. It was a bit smaller than the one he’d used on Nix last night, and when he caught Nix staring at it he laughed some more. “Don’t worry. This isn’t going anywhere it shouldn’t. Tell you what, be good for me and let me take care of this, and I’ll let you pick out some ass-appropriate toys later, yeah?”

Nix scrunched up his nose. “Did you just try to use a dildo as an incentive?”

West quirked a dark brow. “Would you rather I continue to stretch you out with office supplies? I can probably borrow one of Yejun’s paint cannisters.”

“No.” Nix shook his head and licked his lips before tilting his chin back into position so West could get to his neck. “No, I’ll take option one.”

“Thought so.” West peeled the bandage off and placed it inside a plastic bag, then sprayed a wet gust from the can in his hand. He leaned in and blew on the spot when Nix tensed up. “It’ll only sting for a second, promise.”

It didn’t really sting at all, it was more cold than anything, but Nix didn’t correct him. If he thought it hurt, maybe he’d go easier on him. Then again…Since this was West, maybe not.

“I don’t want to have sex,” Nix said, holding his breath as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

“I didn’t bring you here for that,” West replied. “We wouldn’t have enough time anyway. Quickies aren’t really my style. I like to take my time with my meals.”

“I’m aware.”

“Acting like that annoys you is cute.” He wiped at the wound with a clean towelette and then tossed that into the bag as well before picking up another metal can. “Have you ever used synthetic skin before?”

“No. Is it weird?”

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