Page 7 of Saint

…Talking had never been their strong suit, unless of course it was banter in the bedroom. That’s how all of this had started in the first place, how Nix had found himself ensnared by the Demon lying next to him and his two best friends. His attempts to discover the truth for Branwan had led him down the rabbit hole that was the Enigma app. That was where he met Maestro, who he later found out was Lake.

Maestro had a way about him, a way of distracting Nix and making things…more simple. He gave instructions and Nix automatically wanted to follow them. Weirdly, he’d always made him feel a bit safe.

But Maestro wasn’t Lake, not really. Maestro was a mask, a version of the other guy that he sometimes slipped into, but not the whole person in the slightest. Nix might not be able to have one without the other, but he needed to constantly remind himself that Lake wasn’t as straightforward as the man he’d met on the app.

Lake could be every bit as tricky as West. As selfish as Yejun.

And cold. He could be so cold.

Nix shivered and then wet his lips. “About what?”

“Anything,” he suggested, “but we could start with your cousin. I’m sure what you witnessed today brought back painful memories. Do you want to share them? West says sometimes talking about the bad stuff can help make it better.”

“Taking pointers from West now?”

Lake grimaced and then rolled onto his back, settling more comfortably at Nix’s side so that their arms were pressed together. “He’s pointed out more than once that you like him more than me.”

“Ah, so it’s a competition?”

“Nix.”

“What? If you’re waiting for me to stroke your ego, don’t hold your breath. We’re nowhere near good enough for that yet.”

“Yet,” Lake rolled the word off his tongue, and the tension in his body seemed to ease. “That means you think we can get there. Okay. I can wait. Now, back to the topic at hand. Talk to me. Tell me how you’re feeling.”

“Numb, mostly.” He wanted to cry and scream and rant, but couldn’t seem to find it in him. Ever since he saw Dew fall, everything inside of him seemed to lock into place. It felt like he was being dragged into a deep, dark ocean and held underwater. Like he was screaming, but there was no sound. “Like I’ve completely lost control and none of this is real.”

“Because of your cousin?”

“Because of the things she did when she was still alive,” he said. “Because of the way she chose to spend her final days.” He grew silent for a moment and then rolled onto his side so he could face Lake. “She wouldn’t have dated Dew. He can’t be the person she wrote me about.”

“I agree.”

“Which means he’s still out there.”

“Yes.” Lake reached out and brushed a strand of Nix’s blond hair off his forehead, hand wrapping around to the base of his skull afterward. The touch was warm and comforting, lacking any sort of threat or sexual tension.

If anything, that only made Nix’s confusion grow.

“Why aren’t you trying to sleep with me?” This was the first time the two of them were alone in a room together since the incident with Yejun. They’d kissed once, but that was as far as things had gone.

“Do you think I only want you for sex, Songbird?”

“I think that’s a big part of it, yeah.”

Lake’s nose scrunched in displeasure. “I could fuck anyone I want whenever I feel like it.”

“No,” Nix warned, “you can’t.”

He chuckled. “That’s not what I meant. Though, I can’t say I don’t find your jealousy comforting.”

“I’m not…” Shit. He glanced away, but Lake’s hand tightened until he looked back.

“I don’t want anyone else. I meant it before. Before I made you my mate, it’s not like I didn’t have options. I could have chosen anyone.”

“Then why me?”

“Because you’re the one I want.”

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