Page 85 of Saint

Discussion took off amongst them, members turning to whisper amongst each other, as though those who were the topic of discussion weren’t standing in the room with them.

All at once, they seemed to forget they didn’t actually have the final say in who took the throne. The High Council did. This was a talk about who the Order might suggest. Not a done deal.

He didn’t bother concealing his disgust as he watched them all turn on the candidate they’d backed all this time, treating Lake as though he didn’t exist and wasn’t within earshot as they debated whether or not it’d be wise to try someone fresh and new.

“You see?” Juri leaned in and said, ignoring how Nix bristled at his nearness. “This is the corruption I’m fighting to put an end to. This is why it needs to be me, Nix.”

“Back off,” Lake’s low growl from across the room was no louder than any of the whispers, and yet everyone went instantly still, as though a large predator had entered and any sudden movements would result in their violent and bloody end.

Nix took a pointed step away from Juri, showing Lake that he had no intentions of being that close to the other guy.

“He treats you like property.” Juri’s boldness rose up to meet Lake head-on. Which was stupid of him.

But Nix wasn’t going to be the one to tell him that.

“He treats me like I’m his mate,” he corrected instead. “Because I am.”

“You’ll never be happy,” he tried again. “I can help you, Nix.”

“He doesn’t need your help, asshole,” Yejun interjected.

“Yeah,” West chimed in, “he’s got enough guys taking care of him. Isn’t that right, Nixie?”

“Yes,” he agreed. “I do.”

They weren’t mad at him about the photo. What a relief.

But also…

He turned to glare at Demitrious. “You said they were pissed at me. They look angry, sure, but it’s not directed my way.”

“Did he say that?” Lake set that cold stare on Demitrious. “I wonder why. It couldn’t be that you were trying to sow animosity between us and my future Royal Consort, could it?”

“My father would never do that,” West said, the sarcasm in his tone unmistakable. “He’s always been your biggest advocate, Lake.” He came over to the table and leaned over Sif, scanning the medical document that was still on the screen in front of her. “No shit. According to this, Juri is your little brother, man. Congrats.”

“How tedious,” Lake drawled, back in total control of himself, so if the news actually shocked him, no one could tell.

“Is this what the fuss is about?” West let out a low whistle and straightened. “I thought this was going to be interesting, but this is it? A secret bastard baby comes crawling out of the woodwork the day before Demons Passing, and you’re all just going to lap it up like gospel?”

Yejun laughed demeaningly at them. “No way, man. Don’t insult their intelligence like that. They’re not completeidiots. Anyone with two brain cells would see what’s really going on here.”

Nix watched in awe as with a few sentences, the Demons had the older members of the Order collectively squirming in their seats. They shared awkward glances with one another, and the embarrassment that had been lacking on Sif’s face earlier was now there in spades.

“What are you implying?” Juri demanded, only for West to snort.

“I’m saying you made it all up,” he stated. “Give me a computer and five minutes and I can create a dozen false test results that match this one to the T.”

“I didn’t fake it!”

“Sure you didn’t.”

“It’s easy enough to prove,” Demitrious broke his silence. “We’ll have a test run right now. None of us will leave this room until the results are brought back. How does that sound?” He stared at Lake. “Will that satisfy you?”

“You’re taking this too far,” Nix said.

“You have no business being in here,” Demitrious waved dismissively at him. “You can see yourself out.”

“He stays,” Lake ordered, but Demitrious merely smirked.

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