Page 19 of Saint

“Dude, it’s not like he isn’t already aware if you’re awake you’re most likely horny.” West rolled his eyes and then took Nix’s hand, linking their fingers loosely. “Come on. The ceremony has technically already begun, Lake sent us here to get you before it’s our turn.”

West had explained what was going to happen as soon as they’d run into Lake and found out what was really going on, though Nix was still somewhat confused by it all.

He’d always believed the Night of the Nightshade was exclusively an Enigma event, but apparently, that wasn’t true. He’d been warned to avert his gaze or pretend not to notice altogether if he caught someone in a sexual act—that the reason many of the Club members even bothered attending the ceremony at all was so they could take part in the festivities that happened after.

According to West, some years there were even multiple orgies.

Not high on Nix’s list. He already mentioned that if any of them tried anything funny with him in front of anyone he wouldn’t stand still. West had assured him none of them planned that and they’d respect him.

Respect him.

He’d almost laughed in the Demon’s face.

Nix spun on his heels and headed back the way they’d come, not wanting to give anyone a chance to keep the conversation going. Mostly, he was over how uncomfortable and uncertain Yejun made him. While there was a comfort with West, and he trusted that West would come to his defense even against Yejun, that didn’t help assuage his discomfort any more or less.

It wasn’t hard to figure out where to go. Pretty much everyone else was already congregating in the main living area at the center of the home, their backs turned toward Nix when he arrived on the edge.

West stepped up to his side when he slowed, taking his hand and tugging him through, pushing people out of the way before they seemed to realize who he was. The crowd startedshifting on their own shortly after, moving aside for them. Some even went as far as bowing their heads slightly.

The living area had a high ceiling and a skylight, the clear night sky shining down upon them as dozens of light orbs drifted above. It created a mixed ambiance, one with a twinge of mystery and a dash of romance, as odd as that was. There was a hush in the room, and the closer they got to the front of the horde, the quieter it became, as though everyone was holding their breath in anticipation.

Nix frowned slightly when they finally pushed to the head of the crowd and he spotted Lake standing at the side of another stairwell, this one narrow and leading straight up. He briefly met Nix’s gaze, but gave nothing away with his stoic expression.

At the other side, a man Nix didn’t recognize stood, holding a halo-pad resting on both of his splayed palms. He was older than them, probably even older than West’s father, with silver hair and eyes that gleamed like tumbled onyx stones. His suit was the same dark shade, but he had on a blood red sash as well, something that made him stand out from the rest.

A bell chimed somewhere as Yejun and West settled at either side of Nix, and as Nix shifted closer to the latter, the single door at the top of the steps opened.

A young man stepped out and slowly made his way down the stairs, the gold of his mask glittering in the orb light. It wasn’t until he was halfway there that Nix registered his gaze on him and placed his identity.

Juri Ferd.

The Demons sacrifice.

When they’d first met, Juri had been quiet and Nix hadn’t been able to get a good read on him. He’d seemed nice, the kind of dependable person he didn’t know he needed in his life. Back then, Nix had still foolishly believed he could go it alone. Now heknew better. It was crazy what a few months could do. How they could change you.

He knew the Demons still didn’t fully trust Juri’s loyalty, and he couldn’t blame them. After what they’d gone through recently with Branwen, Nix couldn’t fault them for their trust issues. But Juri had proven himself to Nix in more ways than one, had been there for him when he’d felt all alone. Hell, he’d even volunteered to be here tonight, to take on the role of sacrifice just so Nix wouldn’t have to enter Club Essential without any allies.

Yejun thought that was too good to be true, that no one would self-sacrifice for a person they hardly knew. Nix would have agreed if not for the fact he’d heard Juri’s story. Juri had lost people to this club too, a club he’d been born into and had once been a part of.

If things had gone the way of tradition, Juri would be living in the Roost right now as well. He’d be another Demon, though Nix doubted the two of them would have shared anything more than a friendly relationship even with that altered status. The only reason Lake and the others were all right sharing him was because it was solely between the three of them. Their friendship was unlike any other Nix had heard of or witnessed.

They’d sooner murder Juri than allow him to touch Nix.

That knowledge would have scared him before.

Now it sent a thrill shooting down his spine all the way to his toes, a reaction he tried to hide as Juri made it the bottom of the landing and bowed first to Lake before turning to face the older man.

“He needs to swear a new oath,” West leaned in then and whispered into Nix’s ear, so quietly he almost couldn’t make the words out even with his lips pressed against his lobe. “When he refused to be a Demon, he turned his back on the club and wasstricken from the records. He returns as a new member, which means he has to go through all of the steps a new member would need to.”

Nix twisted his head and asked in the same low tone, “Will I need to?”

They’d already discussed how he couldn’t escape becoming a member of the club. Being an Essential meant an extra layer of protection, and it meant the Demons could keep him close even when they entered the Club House. As things were, they were forced to leave him at the Roost unattended every time there was an official event, summons, or meeting, and none of them were comfortable with that.

Not even Nix. Not after everything.

Grady had placed a fake dead animal in his bag to try and scare him.

Dew had shoved him into a waif stall and left him there locked up. Then he’d switched Yejun’s paintings at the gallery showing in order to humiliate him.

---