Page 80 of Saint

“Someone sent a photo to him,” Lake began. “It’s of Nix and Juri kissing.”

West swore. “Is that why the two of them are leaving the dorms together?”

His spine stiffened. “They’re leaving together?”

Demitrious gave him a look that silently screamed I told you so.

“It’s not true, Lake,” Yejun insisted, clapping a hand on his back. “The Firebird would never do us dirty like that.”

“I agree,” West stated.

“Honestly this is pathetic,” Demitrious said. “I didn’t raise you to be this gullible, any of you! Allowing this nobody to lead you by the balls is a disgrace!”

“You’re just mad that Lake chose a Royal Consort without consulting you first,” West accused his father. “I know all about the underhanded promises you’ve been making with Royal Andrej regarding his son and the trade deals. You’ve assured him a dozen times over that he could make his heir the Royal Consort so long as they partnered with you.”

“Did he now?” Lake would have to ask later why West had never brought that up to him before, for now, he fixed hisirritated gaze on the elder Corleone. “How did Royal Andrej take it when he found out I’m already spoken for?”

Yejun snorted. “Demitrious probably reassured him that until the title was given, there was still a chance to make his precious Melor consort.” Anger flashed over his face suddenly. “Hold up. How do we know you’re not the one who put Juri up to this in the first place?”

“How dare you!” Demitrious violently took his multi-slate from Lake’s hand. “I will not stand here and be insulted by you three simply because you’re too mesmerized by a tight hole to see reason!”

“Don’t.” Lake tossed out an arm to hold Yejun back when Demitrious had said his piece and spun on his heels. “Let him go. He isn’t important right now.”

“Let me guess, my dad just walked off in a huff,” West drawled through the line. “Good riddance. Now, can we get back to the matter at hand?”

“You said Nix and Juri were leaving together,” Lake said. “Do you know where they’re headed?”

“No. They got into Juri’s car and left campus. I’m on my way up to my room to check the traffic cams, but I’m not there yet.”

West was mostly healed but still moving a little bit slower than usual thanks to the meds the doctor had prescribed. They were necessary to fuel the nanites still hard at work mending his body, and would need to be taken for another three days at least.

“Is my cousin still with you?” Lake asked.

“Yeah, Beck is here helping me get up the stairs. Why?”

“Just checking.” The last thing they needed was for something to happen to West too. Worrying about Nix was already stressful enough.

“Why aren’t you freaking out about the picture?” Yejun seemed to realize how calm their friend was. “Aren’t you concerned?”

“No way,” came the instant reply. “Nixie would never, especially not with Juri Ferd. Our man has a type, and Juri doesn’t fit the bill. But also, Nix signaled to me on his way out of Juri’s room. I didn’t understand why before, but after talking to you two, it’s pretty obvious.”

“He signaled you how?” Lake questioned.

“He stepped out of the room first and then turned and ran his right hand through his hair, holding it there for a second longer than necessary.”

“…Okay…” What?

West made a sound of exasperation.

“Sorry, we can’t all be geniuses,” Yejun growled. “Give it to us straight.”

“Technically,” Lake couldn’t help but correct, “I am also a genius.”

“Nix knew where the security camera in the hallway was located,” West jumped in with an explanation before the two of them could lose sight of the topic, “and he knew I was watching. He did it on purpose so I’d see that his multi-slate was missing.”

“There’s only one reason he’d leave his device in Juri’s room,” Lake surmised.

“Yeah,” West agreed, “and that’s if he was made to.”

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