Page 7 of Saint (Demons of Foxglove Grove #3)

Awkward was an understatement.

Nix tried to recall the last time he felt like he was walking on this many eggshells and couldn’t. Even all the shit that’d gone down with the Demons hadn’t made him as uncomfortable as this horrendous dinner. And it wasn’t just because he’d somehow been seated next to Yejun.

He was getting firsthand experience of the neglect West had mentioned.

And he wasn’t a fan.

“I knew you could do it.” Demitrious toasted Lake for what had to be the sixth time in less than twenty minutes. He was at the head of the table, with Lake on his left and West next to Lake.

Nix was directly across from Lake with Yejun at his side, a seating arrangement made by Demitrious absently as they waited for the appetizer course to be brought out.

That was two courses ago now, and all West’s father had done was praise Lake and ignore the rest of them. So much for being interested in meeting Nix.

Guy wasn’t even interested in his own son less than five feet away.

“You really must tell me all about how you managed it.” Demitrious ignored the waitstaff as they came around the table to collect course number two, some weird gelatinous thing that no one at the table aside from him had really touched.

“It wasn’t that difficult,” Lake said. “We wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.”

“No, no, I insist.”

The corner of Lake’s mouth turned up ever so slightly. “It was West, really. He was able to trace everything back to Dew’s computer.”

“Was that before, or after that little mix up at the gallery?” Hendrix appeared in the doorway, letting himself in without an invite. He smiled when it became apparent that he wasn’t welcome and no one greeted him, undeterred. “Set another place at the table,” he ordered one of the waitstaff as he passed toward the chair opposite Demitrious.

The poor girl turned to Demitrious wide-eyed, waiting for him to either confirm or deny the order, heaving a noticeable sigh of relief when he eventually nodded his head for her to do it.

“This is a celebration,” he reminded Hendrix as the other man settled into his chair. “There’s no reason to bring up unpleasant topics.”

“From the sounds of it, it wasn’t all that bad. Handled rather quickly, is the buzz I’ve heard,” Hendrix disagreed, eyes landing on Nix’s. “You have to have thick skin to be a part of this family. I was impressed to hear you got past being publicly ridiculed.”

“He wasn’t ridiculed,” Yejun said.

“I know you’re talented, you’re a Sang after all, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s tastes are as…” he gave Nix a rather mocking once over, “unique as yours. Seeing your boyfriend naked? Well, that’s the type of thing we use to threaten members with, isn’t that right, Demi?”

Nix didn’t know exactly what he meant by that but he recalled Yejun telling him about how sex was used as a weapon in the club. The Essentials used it to trade and boost their statuses. He’d only partially understood at the time of that conversation, and now his curiosity was piqued.

Still, he bit his tongue and shelved any questions he had for later. He’d ask the Demons once they were home at the Roost where there was no chance of him saying the wrong thing or them being overheard.

“There was something else though, wasn’t there?” Hendrix—very obviously—pretended to recall something, even going so far as to snap his fingers. “Yes! There was a rumor about an affair. Seeing the four of you together here, I suppose it’s safe to assume the rumor was false.”

“A misunderstanding, uncle,” Lake replied icily.

“I should hope so. If it’s discovered later on that the soon-to-be emperor’s mate is unfaithful?” He clicked his tongue. “What a scandal that would be. It would look terrible on us all. That’s why I’ve always told you to make careful decisions and look at the bigger picture. Of course,” he gave another distasteful look toward Nix, “I wish you all the best, even if I must point out, as your elder and only surviving relative, that choosing a mate was a hasty decision. One that there is still time to reverse.”

He didn’t mean to, but Nix stiffened at that, and even though Hendrix had been turned toward Lake, the bastard noticed immediately.

“Is that appealing?” Hendrix pounced on him like bleeding prey. “The paperwork has yet to be filed, and since another was used as the sacrifice, there’s still time to remove yourself from this whole messy business before—”

“Whatever are you going on about?” Demitrious interrupted, barking out a laugh. “The boy has a claiming mark on his neck already, not to mention, there’s not a single reason to be seen for Lake to discard the person he’s selected as his life partner.” He leaned toward Nix, giving him attention for the first time since the start of the meal, and patted his hand on the table. “This isn’t something the Order involves themselves in, fret not.”

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 was one 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.

Everything here was fake. This wasn’t a family dinner, it was a warzone. When he thought about how these were only two members of the Order and there were others supposedly out there who sided with Hendrix, the picture got a bit clearer.

Nothing that had been done to him was excusable, but Nix could maybe understand a bit better where Lake’s urgency had truly come from. Here they were, already bound, and yet his uncle felt the need to comment about Nix breaking the bond. There was little doubt in his mind, if he didn’t bear the mark, Hendrix would have corned him separately and tried to sway him to his side.

Was he potentially overthinking things?

Yes.

Did that mean that theory was impossible?

No.

Demons Passing was only five days away, not very much time at all. If they could make it until then, Lake would be named the official next in line. They wouldn’t have to enter the palace right away due to the mourning period, but with the throne secured, that’d be one less burden on their chests.

Because Nix felt the weight of it now as well. He’d been dragged into this and had been enduring, but now, seated at this table, watching how hard the three Demon’s struggled to keep their chins up as veiled insult after veiled insult was lobbed their way…

It was crazy, but Nix wanted to be a part of that. A real part of it. He wanted that kind of loyalty and connection.

He wanted to belong.

The others were still talking, but he’d tuned them out, only snapping out of it when he realized Lake was watching him closely from the other side of the table.

Lake’s expression barely wavered, but Nix could tell he was silently asking him if he was okay.

He nodded his head, only half meaning it, and considered his options.

He’d already decided he was all in. That meant patching things up with both Lake and Yejun, even if the latter man was proving to be more difficult to handle. Nix was still averse to intimacy with him—to talking with him, even, honestly—but he’d solve that problem once he’d handled the first.

Which was his supposed mate.

Who he hadn’t slept with yet.

Lake had poured a lot of his energy into trying to make things up to him, as he should. But Nix was realizing that energy was better spent elsewhere at the moment. They were too close to Demons Passing to let their guards down, especially since the poisoner who’d taken out the Emperor and Royal Consort was still out there. There was no telling when they’d try again, and with Dew gone, they were out of leads.

Nix couldn’t pretend not to still be upset about what Lake had done, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help them both by setting aside the petty hold he’d been keeping on their sex life. Even though he’d wanted Lake since the second he saw him, he’d been withholding as a sort of punishment, and they both knew it.

He knew it, and yet Lake let him get away with it. If nothing else, that should prove he really was trying to be better and less controlling.

They needed to be a united front to get through this, which meant no distractions.

Nix was going to have to sleep with him.

A thrill raced down his spine straight to his groin, and he picked up his glass to hide the way his cheeks heated.

He was going to fuck the Demon, and despite all of his former resistance, he was excited.