Page 23 of Saint

Yejun suddenly rested his arm over the back of Nix’s chair. Did he think Nix was listening to this and interested in taking Hendrix up on the offer?

Did the others?

Nix swept his gaze across the table, taking in Lake and West quickly so as not to give away what he was doing. Whatever they were thinking, however, was carefully concealed behind steely blank masks. Even West, who was typically easier to get a read on, was stoic.

“All I’m saying is it’s scary times,” Hendrix continued. “Everyone knows about the tragedy that befell the last emperor and her consort. Phoenix isn’t even a member, hasn’t lived anywhere near this side of the planet. This is all probably a culture shock to him.”

That was the first legitimate thing he’d said all night.

“My nephew is calculated, and I trust his judgment, however, when it comes to matters of the heart…” Hendrix made a face. “Well. The Zyairs aren’t exactly known for using the head on their shoulders, let’s put it that way.”

“Excuse me?” Lake’s tone took a sharp edge to it.

“Watch your tongue while in my home,” Demitrious chided.

“What’s with this reaction?” Hendrix twirled the cutlery on the table. “It’s not like it’s some big secret that multiple partners are new to the Zyair line. None of us were surprised when word got out that Lake intended to share his mate with West and Yejun for that very reason.”

“Explain,” Lake demanded, but Demitrious shook his head.

“Ignore him.” His gaze hardened on Hendrix. “If you’re only here to stir up trouble, I will politely ask you to leave. And if you do not, I will stop being polite and have you removed. Remember how many club members are currently roaming the halls.”

He was threatening to embarrass him in front of everyone.

Hedrix’s mood soured, but West grunted.

“From what I saw, they’re all too busy fornicating to notice much of anything,” West stated, downing the contents from his glass and ignoring the furious gaze his father sent his way.

Nix caught the Demon’s eye and gave a slight shake of his head. He understood—he wanted to stick it to West’s dad as well—but not if it meant siding with Hendrix. If they started a bonafide fight here, they’d be trapped even longer.

He just wanted to go home and get answers.

“We should just be grateful there were no births out of wedlock,” Hendrix said. “Then there’d be someone to contend with Lake for the throne.”

Was he talking about Lake’s parents having an affair?

Lake was trying his best to keep his composure, but Nix could tell the subject was doing exactly what Hendrix had hoped.It was getting to him. Which meant there must be some truth to this story.

Strike his thought about not fighting.

“Someone else, you mean,” the second Nix spoke up, everyone turned to him almost comically. He continued to cut into the steak on his plate, delicately taking a bite and chewing slowly, as though he hadn’t just jumped into the taboo. Once he was finished, he pretended to be surprised to find them staring. “What? I thought uncomfortable conversation topics were allowed, all things considered. Was I mistaken?”

Yejun was the first to react, grinning broadly. “Not at all.”

“You’re just saying what we were all thinking,” West agreed.

“There shouldn’t be any secrets between family,” Lake nodded, setting his sights back on Hendrix. “You should be pleased my father didn’t have any bastard children. My being the only child is the reason you’re placed as high as you are in the line of succession.”

“One would think that,” Demitrious joined in. “But he searched far and wide for any child that shared your bloodline, Lake.”

Hendrix eyes narrowed, but he didn’t deny it.

“If there was someone out there, he certainly would have discovered them,” Demitrious continued. “Alas.” He shrugged.

Nix figured Hendrix’s hope was to find someone else he could mold and manipulate, turn into a puppet figure that followed his command. That was something Lake would never be, and not just because Demitrious had gotten to him first. Whatever had happened between them, Lake’s parents had clearly raised their son to be strong-willed and independent.

They’d raised him to be an emperor.

He’d always known it was dangerous, that there were people out to stop Lake’s rise, and he’d heard that his uncle wasone of them but…It was different seeing it up close and personal. The glint in Hendrix’s eye was nothing short of malicious, made all the more noticeable by his false smile.

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