Page 25 of Nidev and Lyric

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Nidev moved through the halls leading to Lyric’s apartment, his fingers already unlocking his phone. He thumbed open her chat and texted:

Nidev:I’m on my way.

He lowered his phone, anticipation coiling like a trigger inside him, sharpening every thought into a blade. The morning had been a parade of useless distractions.

His phone vibrated against his palm. He lifted it, reading the message.

Lyric:King Skul is here! Sorry! I had no idea. Come interrupt!

His steps faltered as he read it again.

Skul.

Inside her apartment.

With her.

His feet were already moving again, faster than before, his fingers curling around his phone.

He wasinsideher apartment.

Insidehis fucking obsession.

A breath left him slow, controlled, but the damage was done. He didn’t text back. He didn’t warn her. And at her door, he only knocked once.

He stepped inside, getting a huge gasping smile from Lyric. “Oh, crap! I forgot about our meeting! Let me run and get my backpack.”

Nidev eyed Skul on her couch. Relaxed, sprawled the fuck out. Breathing her air.

Halfway across the room, she called over her shoulder. “I’ll think about what you asked and get back to you. Thank you for thinking of me!”

She disappeared into her bedroom as Skul stood and Nidev’s mind ground to a full stop. Not a slow, dragging halt. Not a stumble. More like a fracture. And yet it wasn’t an empty silence. His thoughts didn’t spiral, they realigned. Shifted like gears clicking into place, locking in astructure.

He went over everything he knew he still wanted:

Dirty, psychotic games.

Breaking Lyric into a million pieces.

Ruining her completely.

And then… it appeared. The missing pieces of the long game.

Time limits.

They existed.

And he wantedzeroof that, zero limits.Especiallyin time.

Healwayswanted to play his psychotic games.

Healwayswanted to keep her broken.

Healwayswanted to keep her ruined.

Always, completelyandpermanently.

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