Page 42 of Villain
“Club Essential is whispered about in the streets, in broad daylight and the dead of night. In offices and school rooms and even the grocery store. Our identities are hidden, but we’re known to all. Our power, our wealth, our,” he reached out and flicked a finger at the button of Nix’s pants, “proclivities. We do nothing to hide those. Because we want the planet to know who owns them.”
“Careful,” Nix said, pushing Lake’s hand away and retreating a step, “you’re starting to sound a little too much like a storybook villain for my liking.”
“This isn’t a fairytale,” Lake reminded, smirking. “This planet belongs to whoever sits on the seat of the emperor and the members of Essential. It’s impossible to become emperor outside of the Imperial family. But Essential? People might not know how, but they do know there’s a way to become a member of the club. Aspiration and desire. That’s what truly keeps the world running. Knowing there’s hope to achieve the unobtainable keeps people in line.”
“They’re less likely to fight against it because there’s a one percent chance they could become a part of it?” Nix made a sound of contempt. “As you’ve already pointed out, I have no interest in the club, so I don’t know what purpose there could be in telling me any of this.”
“That’s simple.” Lake tucked the file beneath his arm, and then before Nix could ask what he was doing, his hands shot out. He captured his wrist a second time and stabbed the sharp tip of the pen down into his pointer finger.
Nix cursed and tried to pull away as blood dripped from the wound, but Lake held firm, waiting for the end of the pen to turn completely crimson before allowing him to distance himself. “What the actual hell?!”
He shoved his finger into his mouth and sucked, glaring at Lake. “You’re insane if you think I’ll sign anything after that!”
“And therein lies the purpose of my rant,” Lake informed him coolly. He pulled the file out and turned it so it was facing Nix, then held out the pen. “You now know a secret of the club outsiders aren’t allowed to know. So, your options have been simplified. Either you sign this agreement, or,” he held his gaze and delivered the threat like he was offering to buy him a cup of coffee, “I stab you in the neck next.”
Nix’s breath caught in his throat and he froze.
“What’s it going to be, Songbird?” Lake motioned to the file. “Your blood on paper or seeping into the carpet?”
He was serious. Even though his expression didn’t waver, it was clear that Lake meant every word. It was also blatantly obvious Lake knew what Nix would choose. He’d set a trap after all, only it wasn’t to get him to sign any documents.
“You’re an asshole,” the words slipped past his lips, filling the space between them. “I already agreed to go along with whatever you wanted in the cafeteria, and I willingly followed you all the way here. You aren’t doing this because of the contract. You’re making a point.”
“It’s a friendly warning,” Lake corrected. “I’ll discover the secret you’re keeping from us in due time, but until then…I need you. But I don’t trust you. Prior to this moment, you were still clinging to this image you’d formed in your head of who Maestro was. I’m Lake, Nix. I’m an Imperial in line for the throne, and I’ll do anything, harm anyone, I have to in order to achieve my goals. Fall in line, Songbird, be who I need you to be, and—”
“I won’t get hurt?” he sneered, only for Lake to laugh.
“No, no, you’ll most certainly get hurt—in the bedroom and outside of the bedroom. Don’t let Yejun’s charms fool you; he’s the most vicious of us.”
“Pot calling the kettle black.”
“I advise you not to get on his bad side,” Lake added as though he hadn’t spoken. “Take my advice or don’t. For now,” he held up the file again, “sign.”
Nix hesitated. “Why me? If you could just as easily kill me right now, that means I’m nothing special. Why not ask someone else? More than half the student body would trade their right arm for a chance to be with you.”
“You’re the one I want.”
“You can’t mean that.” It made even less sense to Nix than everything else about this fucked up situation did.
“Sign, Songbird.”
They both knew he was going to. There was no other choice since he wasn’t about to die here. With a growl, he snatched the pen out of Lake’s hand and messily scrawled his name in thin red ink at the bottom of the page presented to him.
“There,” he practically snarled once he was done, “happy?”
Calmly, Lake shut the file. “Place this on the desk.”
“You’re joking?”
He stared at him unblinkingly.
Nix inhaled slowly and then did as he was told. “All right. I did it. Now tell me exactly what it is I actually committed myself to.” He stopped in front of the desk and tossed the file down onto it. “Because—”
He hadn’t even heard Lake approaching, but in the next instant, Nix found himself bent over the desk, his cheek sticking to the file he’d just placed there. Lake’s chest sealed over his back, his dark voice coming against the curve of his ear.
“You committed yourself to me, Songbird,” Lake said, and the hint of excitement in his tone was impossible to miss. “Shall we begin?”
When he felt Lake bump his erection up against his ass, Nix’s mind momentarily went blank.