Page 61 of Saint

“Yes,” Yejun cracked his knuckles, “I’ve been dreaming about that for years.”

Since they were doing this, might as well go all in.

West’s father sputtered at them and actually took a step back. “What on Tulniri has gotten into you boys?” His gaze turned, homing in on Nix once more. “You. It’s you, isn’t it. You’re why—”

“Slap me.” Nix advanced closer and turned his head, presenting his cheek. “Go for it. Worked out real well for the last guy.”

The smirk he gave Demitrious was positively evil.

Yejun felt his cock twitch at the sight.

“You should run along and warn the Order,” Lake stated, “that if you don’t find Hendrix and ensure he’s properly punished for what he’s done, we will, and we won’t just stop with him. It’s time the Imperial family regains control and teaches the club members who truly owns this planet.”

“Spoiler alert,” Yejun chimed in, “it’s not you.”

“Are you threatening me right now?Me?” Demitrious sputtered. “After all that I’ve done for you? You ungrateful—”

“You insult my mate,” Lake forced the older man back until he hit the wall, “and I can do a hell of a lot worse than simply threaten you. Spread the word about that as well. My future Royal Consort is off limits.”

“You aren’t emperor yet.”

Lake snorted. “What? Going to try and side with Hendrix now that your pride has been dented? Go ahead. Try it. I’d say it’s fairly safe to assume the entire planet is on my side after they’ve witnessed him shoot a college student in cold blood. West was unarmed.”

“He’s a professional fighter! That makes him a weapon!”

“Aw, so you are aware of how talented your son is,” Nix drawled, heavy on the sarcasm. “Never would have guessed it.”

Lake slapped a hand down onto Demitrious’s shoulder, the corner of his mouth curving in a mocking partial grin as he pretended to wipe lint off of the older man’s jacket. “Despite this unpleasant talk, nothing has to change between us. You help ensure I get the throne, and once I do, I approve your company’s requested trade routes. The Speck Belt, correct?”

Demitrious swallowed and then gave a curt nod, clearly trying to regain some composure to save face. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Consider it a done deal.” Lake patted him and then took a pointed step backward. “But only if Hendrix is found. He hurt one of us. He doesn’t get to walk away from that.”

“He doesn’t get to walk at all,” Yejun added, settling his gaze on Demitrious’s knees for a lengthy pause that had the older man stiffening all over again. “For every pint of blood West spilled, I’ll make sure Hendrix gives two.”

“Taking the hand that fired the gun should suffice,” Nix surprised them all by suggesting instead.

“You hear that?” Lake nodded toward Nix. “My mate wants Hendrix’s hand on a platter. What’s your response to that, Demitrious?”

He adjusted his dress shirt and cleared his throat. “When it comes to Hendrix needing to be punished, we’re on the same page. I’ll go now and ensure all of the club's resources are being utilized in the hunt. It’s only been forty or so minutes since the shooting. He couldn’t have gotten far.”

It wasn’t lost on them that Demitrious didn’t plan on sticking around to ensure West was safe, but none of them stopped him as he started for the other end of the hall with clipped steps and his head held far too high.

“Are you all right?” Lake reached for Nix, taking his chin to tip his head to the side. The red mark across his cheek where Hendrix had slapped him had long since faded, but the black eye from where his goon of a guard had gotten in a cheap shot was glaringly obvious. “I’ll kill them all.”

“It’s fine.” Nix pushed his arm away.

“What happened?” Yejun asked. “Grady found me at Café Soul and yelled something about needing to find you at the library due to some emergency before running out.”

“That must have been when he went to get West,” Nix supposed.

So Grady must know that things between Nix and him were strained, and for the comfort of his friend, kept searching until he found another Demon he could send to Nix for help. Yejun was going to have to reevaluate the way he viewed theFirebird’s friends. Clearly, there were some good ones worth noting.

“We came out of the library and Hendrix was waiting for me with two of his guards,” Nix began, launching into a recount of the events leading up to when Yejun had arrived swinging.

“Basically, you’re telling us you managed to insult not one, but two high-standing members of the club,” Lake stated.

“Who also happen to be on the Order,” Yejun added, letting out a low whistle. “Gotta say, I’m impressed, baby. I’ve been wanting to tell those two off forever, and you actually did it.”

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