Page 74 of Saint

Juri really was insane.

Chapter 21:

“Here.” Juri held out his holo-pad. “So you know I’m not lying to you.”

Nix snatched the device and peered down at the screen, watching a live feed of his cousin moving about a room that looked like it belonged in a rundown hotel somewhere. It certainly wasn’t a location nearby campus, or on campus for that matter. It didn’t look anything like Juri’s apartment either, which made sense.

That would be the first place Nix went looking, after all. Juri wasn’t stupid. He would have thought this through. He’d had plenty of time to plot against them, and right up close and personal thanks to Nix and his blind trust in the guy.

His own cousin had betrayed him.

Clearly he hadn’t learned his lesson.

Knowing Juri wasn’t going to tell him where this was, Nix didn’t bother asking. Instead, he tossed the device onto the bed and met his gaze head-on. “How exactly do you see this going down?”

“You mean how do I intend to take the throne?”

“Stealthe throne,” he corrected.

“I suppose that’s a fair assessment. Lake is older than me, and therefore would be first in the line of succession.”

“You need to get him out of the way to stand a chance.” As long as he could prove he shared the same father with Lake, he’d have a blood claim. That was much stronger than any claim Hendrix or Beck had. Juri would skip right over them and be next in line.

But how?

“I won’t hurt them.” Nix wasn’t sure how he’d pull it off, since he obviously wouldn’t let anything happen to Briant either, but he wouldn’t do it. “If your plan involves me getting close to them and sticking a knife in Lake’s back or something, that’s never going to happen.” He paused and then cocked his head. “And if you’re hoping I’ll slip something into their drinks—”

“I don’t need you to harm them physically,” Juri stated. “But you will need to do a few things for me. Think of Briant. He’s your cousin.”

“And they’remine,” Nix growled. “Lake, West, and Yejun. The three of them. They’re mine. You’re going to regret this.” He was going to make sure he regretted it if it was the last thing he did.

“I know.” Juri sighed. “I didn’t mean for it to go this way. I was counting on Hendrix to stop Lake for me, but then he had to go and shoot West like an idiot. Now that Demons Passing is here, and the only one who stood a chance at stalling Lake’s claim is missing…I have no choice.”

“You’re working with Hendrix?”

“Gods no. Everyone knows he’s been trying to kick Lake out, that’s no big secret. Why would I get my hands dirty if I didn’t have to? Why would I risk our friendship unless it was absolutely necessary? Friendship like yours is rare, Nix. Most people aren’t as genuine as you are. Sincerity is hard to come by.”

“Tell me about it,” he stated pointedly.

“I swear, at the start of all this, I only meant to get back at them for what they did to Joel and my family. I just wanted to give the Demons a taste of their own medicine.”

He claimed he wasn’t in cahoots with Hendrix but…

“Did you do it?” Nix asked. “Did you try and poison West? Did you use Branwen as a pawn?”

“Yes and no,” he divulged. “I never meant for things to end up with her the way they did.”

Nix dropped down onto the bed and hung his head, processing that information. This whole time, had he been befriending his cousin’s tormenter after all? Was Juri the King he’d been after this whole time?

“Why’d you do it?” he whispered, needing to know but also wishing he could pretend not to.

“You know why. The same reason I’m doing this.”

If West died and Yejun was framed for it, Lake would lose his backing and become an easier target. Juri wanted him weakened.

“You were willing to commit murder to get what you want.” That was scary because it didn’t align at all with the person he’d believed Juri to be. It was one thing to learn he’d been lied to and manipulated by a guy with a chip on his shoulder.

But another entirely to discover that guy was also prepared to become a killer to achieve his goals.

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