Page 96 of Villain

If Juri was telling the truth.

And there was no way for Nix to know that with absolute certainty.

“Last question, and I swear I won’t be mad if you come clean,” Nix held his gaze. “Did you put something in my backpack yesterday?”

“What? No. Like what?”

“Like a dead luk,” he left out how it was a fake.

“Good Light! Someone put a dead animal in your bag?!” Juri seemed honestly upset. “Who would do something like that?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

“And you thought it could be me?”

“It came with a note telling me to stay away from the Demons,” he explained.

Juri exhaled. “Okay, I can sort of see how you might suspect me. But I swear I didn’t send it. That’s gross.”

“Can you think of anyone else who might want me to stay away from them that badly?” Nix asked. “Either because they hate them or want them or something?” Had to cover his bases.

“There are a lot of students on campus currently hating on you for seemingly taking all of the Demons' attention,” Juri replied. “But I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head who’d go to these types of extremes. Most of us are well aware of what Yejun and the others would do to us if we were caught messing with their boyfriend.”

Nix winced at the title. Boyfriend. Yeah, right.

“Have you considered…” It was clear that he didn’t want to continue, only doing so when Nix motioned for him to, “What if it was actually them?”

“Huh?”

“I told you, using fear tactics to control people isn’t out of the norm for them. What if that’s what this is? What if one of them put that thing in your bag so they could convince you to stay with them?”

West had been with him when it’d happened but…Nix really didn’t like this theory.

“You just came from the Roost, right?” Juri said. “You’re wearing a waif sweatshirt and Lake’s number is on the back.”

Nix hadn’t even noticed. Last night he’d been so quick to get dressed, not wanting to be naked in front of Lake for longer than necessary. Not because he was afraid of what the Demon might do to him if given the chance.

Because Nix had been afraid he’d enjoy it too much.

“Did they ask you to stay with them, or was that your suggestion?” Juri questioned.

Nix ran a hand through his hair. It made sense, but at the same time, that wasn’t something they’d bother with. Right? To what end? They already had him coming when they called, and they hadn’t tried asking him to stay the night normally. Why would they jump to such an extreme?

Just to scare him?

To tighten their control further?

It hadn’t worked. All finding that luk had done was give Nix more of a drive. He’d been reminded why he’d truly come here and what his purpose was.

Nix rose to his feet. “I have to go.”

“Where?” Juri stood as well but didn’t try to stop him.

“Any chance you know where Lake is right now?” He needed to talk to him. Needed to look him in the eye when he asked if Lake had been aware this whole time that Iris and Branwen were the same person.

Needed to know if that moment of understanding between them last night had all been a lie he’d stupidly eaten up like a sucker.

“Um,” Juri checked the time, “probably at the stadium. Usually, this is when the waif team practices.”