Page 18 of Saint

When he’d made statements like that before, Yejun had admittedly been hurt by them. At first, he didn’t understand why. Sleeping around and not being tied down had been what he’d wanted—or, what he’d thought he’d wanted. Hearing straight from the source that there was no jealousy, that Nix didn’t feel even the slightest bit possessive of him, had sucked.

He’d spent weeks tormented, not understanding his own feelings, only to then discover Nix’s betrayal. Pinning him down, hurting him…it hadn’t just been about Iris or Nix’s relationship to her.

Yejun had been punishing him for making him feel confusion and need. For making him want the attention of a single person badly enough he considered giving up sexual relations with others.

Had given up, actually.

“It’s not what it looks like,” he finally managed to blurt, getting to his feet, though he didn’t dare approach.

Nix was dressed in one of West’s old suits, a rose gold tux with a crisp white shirt. Flowers done in the same pink shade decorated the jacket. They might have looked ridiculous on someone else—had the one and only time West had tried the garment on and refused to wear it—but Nix pulled it off.

Especially when he tucked his hands into his front pockets, lifted his chin ever so slightly, and said in an emotionless tone, “We’ve discussed this before. Fuck whoever you want. I don’t care.”

The two girls gasped and shied away when Nix set that icy look their way.

Was he taking pointers from Lake?

Damn. Yejun would be impressed if not for the fact the whole chameleon act was being used againsthim.

“Are you dumb?” West, who was standing directly behind Nix, said to the girls. “Get lost.”

Yejun didn’t glance at them as they practically ran off, hoping that might earn him points and prove he’d never been interested in the first place.

Judging by the still unwavering expression on Nix’s face, it didn’t.

Chapter 6:

“Juri has arrived,” Nix kept his tone even and his spine straight, not wanting to give away how unconflicted he currently was.

On the one hand, he didn’t give a shit who Yejun hooked up with, even more so now that they were on the outs.

But on the other…

Everyone kept telling him Yejun was sorry. That he felt horrible for what transpired between them and wanted to make amends. Maybe a secret part of Nix had really bought into that, had even been hoping there’d be real, tangible change. Something he could see with his own eyes that would help him get rid of this discomfort and mild fear he felt whenever in the Demon’s presence.

Yet here they were. Less than half an hour into the party, Yejun was already acting on his old playboy ways.

Maybe it was time for Nix to admit to himself that the Yejun he’d thought he knew, the one who’d treated him tenderly in his studio and helped ease him into things in the beginning, wasn’t real.

Whatever.

He didn’t want to forgive him anyway. Not really.

…Not much.

The panic attack he’d had in the car earlier came to mind and hardened his stance on the matter. Yeah, this was actually a good thing. Let Yejun clear any misunderstandings that Nix might have about how sorry he supposedly felt. The sooner those hopes were dashed, the better. He didn’t want to be tricked into trusting the other man again.

Why was he so fucking conflicted?

Why didn’t he know his own heart anymore?

West rested a hand on his shoulder, offering silent comfort, and then said to Yejun, “Let’s go. The ceremony has already begun. There was only one person who managed to make it into the King tier this year, and that’s Nix.”

“So the ceremony will be relatively short,” Yejun caught on. “At least there’s that.”

“Curb your excitement. It’s unclear if my father still intends for us to stay for dinner. But my guess is he won’t let us get off that easily.”

“We’re going to have to sit through a boring meal while everyone else scurries off and gets laid, that’s what you’re implying?” Yejun glanced at Nix and then cleared his throat. “That’s not what I meant…”

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