Page 3 of Unmatched Devil

Concern etched Sean’s features. “Is everything okay there?”

Kylian took a breath. He had stayed silent for so long because he didn’t want to disappoint anyone, but Kylian needed to talk to someone. “No. Not really, but I feel like a selfish little kid saying it aloud.”

“You’re none of those things. You can tell me anything. I won’t judge because I know you’re an amazing person with a huge heart. It’s not in you to be selfish.”

But this was. Kylian chewed his bottom lip. There were so many people with less in the world. Yet Kylian’s dad had already paid for Kylian’s education and bought him a fucking house right off campus. Kylian knew he was being ungrateful.

“I’m just not happy. Things aren’t what I’d thought they would be.” Once Kylian said the words, it was too late to go back, so he kept going. “Despite being raised in the same wealth as everyone else there, I don’t fit in, and I feel it every second of every day. I don’t know what I want to do with my life. Everyone there seems so set on a path already. The pressure to know what you want is crippling there. They expect the best of the best to have a plan, but I don’t. There isn’t a single thing I want to do.”

Sean leaned in close. “Do you want to know a secret?”

Kylian nodded. He was certain Sean knew everything.

“No one knows what they want to do with their life. We’re all just wandering around, killing time and wondering if this is it. Is this all? Was I meant to just exist in some position that fits like a bad suit? Either people are born with a dream they keep fighting to achieve, or their parents pressure them into a dream that isn’t theirs. Or they just fall into something they’re oddly good at doing. But for the most part, we all just want to do nothing at all.”

That made him feel somewhat better. He definitely felt less heavy while talking to Sean. “What would you do if you could do anything at all?”

Sean held his stare with an unreadable expression and Kylian knew—if Sean answered—it wouldn’t be the truth. He blinked, as if coming back to himself. A smile exploded across his lips. It looked fake. His gaze moved down Kylian’s body. “You’re dressed for bed. I should let you get back to it. It’s been great talking to you.”

Disappointment washed over Kylian. “Yeah. I guess I should let you get back to patrol before I get you in trouble.”

“You have no idea.”

Sean’s cryptic words didn’t make sense to Kylian, but he still waved him away and pulled the window closed. After turning off the light, Kylian sat on the floor in the darkness for much longer than necessary, staring at nothing and lost in thought. He honestly didn’t know what to do next, but it seemed he had all summer to figure that out.

Settled back against his pillows in bed, Rian held his phone close to his face while he had hung on every word exchanged between Sean and Kylian. Now that Sean had gone back to work, he couldn’t stop watching Kylian staring into the dark. Cameras had been hidden in Kylian’s room since just after Rian kidnapped him. At first, it had only been Bryson’s office he kept under surveillance, hoping for info on Archer. He had fully expected Archer to turn up at Bryson’s for business, but the guy never showed his face. After taking Kylian, Rian had developed a different sickness. Rian had never encountered someone like Kylian. He was tiny and had been raised to be soft and spoiled. Yet he was fierce and defied Rian at every turn. An evil smile tugged at Rian’s lips. Kylian had poisoned him. Rian was fascinated.

His smile fell. Kylian didn’t want to go back to school. That was an issue. Kylian’s school was two hours away. Much closer than Massachusetts. Rian liked knowing Kylian was close, and he could strike at any time. But Rian hadn’t known Kylian was unhappy, and that was unacceptable. Rian would have to plot ways to fix that. Maybe that was another reason Rian was invested. Kylian kept him on his toes. Kylian was never boring, to say the least. Rian needed more. He pulled up his contacts and dialed a number he had been saving for a rainy day. When it started ringing, he went back to watching the video feed of Kylian. A wicked smile pulled at his lips as he watched Kylian grab his phone. He visibly waffled on answering. Rian bit back a chuckle. Finally, Kylian put the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Hello, my little devil.” Rian fully expected Kylian to hang up and was more than a little surprised when he didn’t.

“Who is this?”

Rian couldn’t stop smiling. “You know damn well who this is, or do you poison people every day?”

Kylian bit his lip, visibly fighting a smile. A dangerous hunger grew inside Rian. “I didn’t poison you. Your brute stole my coffee. Apparently, he likes stealing things that aren’t his.”

“Mhmm. Is that what happened?”

“Yep.” Kylian chewed his thumbnail.

“What are you wearing right now?”

A laugh burst from Kylian. “Are you a masochist?”

“Maybe.”

Kylian blew out a sigh. He looked down at himself. “A bunny onesie.”

It surprised Rian that Kylian was honest. “Are you a Little?”

“I don’t know what that is.”

Damn. He was such an innocent. “I’ll let you search it online.”

“What are you wearing?”

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