Page 5 of The Devil’s Bargain (A Devil to Die for #3)

“I want my own room.” Calix stood in the center of the hallway, in front of the door to the room he used to hate with a passion. Vesper had already darted inside and was currently making biscuits on the bed.

Mercy paused and turned. “No.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Aodhan, who’d been following behind them both, propped a shoulder against the wall, clearly realizing they were going to be arguing about this for a while. “We sleep together.”

“I’m not saying I won’t sleep with you. I just…” Calix blew out a breath and looked away, trying to figure out how to best articulate the way he was feeling.

“You don’t love us,” Mercy ended up supplying for him, his tone even, expression enigmatic. It was impossible to tell visually how he felt about that, but there was a zap of disappointment through the bond.

Cal rubbed at the center of his chest uncomfortably and shifted on his feet. “I like you both. A lot. Obviously, since I just gave you my life.”

“But it isn’t love yet.”

“Can you blame me?” he asked. “We haven’t had many interactions that didn’t include me being locked up, or one of you fucking me. Love requires more than desire.”

“Experienced being in love before, have you?” Aodhan didn’t try as hard to cover up his feelings, the dark look he rested on Calix openly warning him he didn’t like that notion.

“No,” he reassured, “I’ve never been in love before, but you have.

You didn’t fall for Mercy because he was good in bed, did you?

” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m in this.

I’m not going anywhere—” Cal lifted a hand and turned toward Mercy before he could interrupt.

“—I know I can’t escape even if I wanted to.

But you can feel it. I don’t want to. This isn’t about regrets or changing my mind. ”

“You want partners, not keepers,” Aodhan surprised him by being the first to say. He rolled his eyes when Calix’s brow lifted. “I’m not completely heartless, Be’urn. I have some grasp on the concept of romance.”

“If dating is what you’re after,” Mercy said, “I believe you skipped over a few steps here, Azi.”

“If I’d told you on Alter I wanted to be with you, but I wanted to get to know you better before completing the bond, would you have listened?” Cal countered, and the director had the decency of not hesitating or pretending to think over his swift reply.

“Not a chance. You weren’t leaving that planet without those bites on your neck.” Mercy took a step forward and traced the curve of Cal’s left ear before lightly tipping his head to the side to expose the healing injury.

“These scars are just another form of branding,” Calix told him. “I think we should clear something up.”

“Oh?”

“I let you give me both. I let you brand me with your teeth and with those irons.” He’d wanted it.

Had set himself up to be caught, even if he hadn’t been able to guess exactly what they’d do to him once they had him.

“I’m not upset with either because I’m happy with the results. I want you to want me.”

“Careful,” Aodhan drawled. “It’s starting to sound like you’re dipping into rejection territory. Using us for our—”

“Dicks?” Calix turned to him. “Money? Influence? Yeah, because I am. So what if I want hot and powerful bond mates? With the two of you, I don’t have to worry about running or working or bending for anyone else ever again.

If someone thinks they can treat me the way Sister Grace did, I know you’ll take care of them. ”

“I’m definitely starting to feel used.” Despite his words, the easy, comfortable feeling coming from Aodhan through the connection made it clear he wasn’t angry.

“I’m not using you any more than you’re using me.”

“How are we using you, Be’urn?”

“You wanted a perfect energy match,” he reminded. “That isn’t easy to find. You also wanted someone who would accept you for what you are. Not many people would be okay with tying their life to a serial killer or a psychopath.”

“I feel love. Many would argue psychopaths aren’t capable of that emotion.”

“They’re coming out with new research on that every day.”

“You’re willing to be with us,” Mercy interrupted to get them back on track, “but you want space.” He clicked his tongue.

“I gave you three months of it, didn’t I?

Now you’re saying that wasn’t enough? You had time to discover yourself, come to terms with who you are, and make a decision.

You chose us, Calix. You chose this. You can’t claim otherwise now that we’re finally here and trying to move forward. ”

“I’m not,” he said.

“Getting to know one another, learning how this thing is going to work for the three of us, that’s something we need to experience. It can’t be preplanned.”

“Exactly my point.” He crossed his arms stubbornly.

“The two of you are used to getting your way and already have a routine that works for you. My habits might not automatically align with yours, and I don’t want to be forced to give up any of this newfound ease.

I’m finally comfortable with who I am as a person.

I refuse to lose that because you’re hellbent on shoving me into a box that fits your impression of how a pod functions.

I’ll let you own me, Mercy. But I won’t let you smother me.

Sister Grace is dead, and I don’t need another figure like her in my life. ”

For years, he’d thought there was something wrong with him because of her. She’d beaten this sense of self-loathing into him, so deep it’d taken realizing she was a hypocrite who simply couldn’t accept herself to break him free.

“We are not good people,” he continued. “I don’t need for us to be.

I don’t mind if Aodhan and I are the only two you ever care about.

It doesn’t bother me that Aodhan has a weird obsession with measuring organs.

I thought it mattered what other people thought about my person, but the reality is, I just wanted somewhere to belong. ”

“You belong here,” Mercy said.

“So help me feel like that’s true. That’s all I’m asking for.

I’ll give you my life, but I still need to feel like I have one.

” Calix wasn’t used to sitting idly. He’d never had that luxury before, and while he understood it was possible for him now, that if he wanted, he could do nothing and live off of Mercy and Aodhan’s wealth, that wasn’t something he wanted.

Belonging to them was fine.

But Cal still needed some semblance of independence.

“You’ve manipulated and reprogrammed me,” he finished. “You got what you wanted out of it. Now I’m asking that you respect me enough not to do it anymore.”

Of course, there would still be occasions where it happened. Neither of them would be able to help it. Mercy was used to playing people like chess pieces. Even Aodhan wasn’t immune to that, and Cal wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he’d be any different.

“This relationship is fucked up. It’s built on toxicity, coercion, and lust. You have a Machiavellian personality, yet you claim you’d cut off your own hand before hurting me? Prove it.”

“This isn’t about having your own room, is it?” Aodhan surmised.

“I proved I could be what you want when I lured you to Alter,” Calix said. “Now it’s your turn.”

“Ironic that you’re using an example of your own manipulation.” Mercy’s emotions were a steady thrum through the connection. He was relaxed, but it was hard to tell if that was because he’d anticipated this conversation already or not.

“It pales in comparison to the lengths you’ve gone to.

” He held up a hand and started ticking down with his fingers.

“You planted an old article of me for Aodhan to find. You let Aodhan go on a murder spree to attract the attention of the I.P.F. You had to have used your Connect influence on someone in my department to ensure I got the case.” Cal had figured that one out on his own.

“You bugged my hotel room. You let Aodhan attack me at the reunion. You—”

“I get it, Azi,” he drawled. “You don’t need to list each and every offense I’ve made against you.”

“But the one about you locking me up and using conditioning methods to basically brainwash me is the best one.”

“Is it really brainwashing if you’re aware of what was being done?” Aodhan asked.

“Since we’re on the topic of the I.P.F,” Mercy lifted his multi-slate and clicked on the screen, “perhaps this is a good time to tell you about the other thing I’ve done.”

“There’s more?” Calix’s device dinged and he checked the message he’d just been sent, blinking in mild surprise when he read the document attachment. “What…does this mean?”

“It means I used that influence of mine to wave your resignation letter,” he explained smugly.

“You shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want—”

“You aren’t going back to the I.P.F.,” he stopped him. “Why would I allow that? You’d be forced to live on another planet, away from us. No, keep reading. I’ve ensured you’re given the independence you were just saying you wanted so badly.”

Calix scanned the rest of the document, surprise growing with each sentence.

According to the document sent by his old captain, Calix was still a part of the I.P.F. as an agent. He was keeping his detective status and title, but was being transferred indefinitely to the Emerald precinct to fill the empty position left by Bruce.

“Bruce was the chief of police,” Cal murmured. “This says—”

“You’re a detective,” Aodhan replied. “And an adrenaline junkie. You wouldn’t be satisfied if we forced you into a desk job. Bruce rarely entered the field. That’s not the lifestyle you require to flourish.”

“We are aware of your needs,” Mercy stated. “Does this satisfy your doubts, Azi?”

“What if I don’t want to work as an agent anymore?

” In the grand scheme of things, he was a pretty shitty one.

Here he was, standing in the house of not one, but two murderers.

A good member of the force would have turned them in for their crimes ages ago, not ridden their cocks enough times to be able to feel the difference and know who was fucking him even when blindfolded.

“Then we can get you a job at the hospital.”

“What if—”

“Enough, Calix. Don’t push your luck.”

He licked his lips. “I want my own room,” he doubled down, but rushed on before either of them could complain, “Just to have. I’ll sleep with you two at night, but I want to have a space I can call my own.

And if I take this job, neither of you is allowed to interfere.

I was a good detective,” yeah right, “not counting this last case.”

“Which you purposefully didn’t do a great job on,” Aodhan chuckled. “Thanks, babe.”

“I’m being serious.”

“All right, all right. We won’t meddle.”

“But you come when I call,” Mercy ordered. “That’s non-negotiable, just ask our little killer.”

“He means it,” Aodhan agreed. “We took the hook down, but he’s got a penchant for doling out punishment if you leave him waiting too long.”

“Or at all.” Mercy gave him a stern look.

“My Second and Third are just that, mine. You come to me when I tell you to, Calix, and there will be no more running headfirst into danger for the high of it. If you want to blow off steam and get an adrenaline rush, you ask me to help you with that. Understood?”

“My job is dangerous by nature,” Calix reminded. “I can’t promise I won’t get into risky situations.”

“I know you can handle yourself. What I’m saying is no more chasing after unknown entities into dark forests. If there’s an unnecessary risk, you command someone else to take it. Tell me you understand and agree, little monster, or I’ll lock you up and—”

“Don’t ruin all the progress we’ve just made.” He held up a hand to stop him. “Fine, I agree. I’ll do as you say, okay?”

“Good.” Mercy stepped forward and planted a chaste kiss to his forehead. “That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”

It was on the tip of Cal’s tongue to call him a prick, but he caught himself.