All Chapters of The Devil Who Claimed Me (M x M): Chapter 141 - Chapter 150

JULIANThe next morning when I wake up, I’m not surprised the other side of the bed is empty.I’d be surprised if Nikolai went back to sleep after all that. Something tells me this isn’t the first time this has happened.For a few seconds, I lie perfectly still as I recollect the events of last night slash the early hours of this morning.I’m not sure of what to do with the new information I’ve learned. With seeing the boy behind the supposed monster.It’s a bit disconcerting to try to fit the man before me with the boy he was or the man he could’ve been if that boy had been protected. If he’d, perhaps, met someone kinder.Someone that didn’t punish him for not being like everyone else.I push myself upright and rub my eyes.Thankfully, it’s Saturday, which means I don’t have anywhere urgent to be. No reason to rush out of bed.Yet, I feel restless.My eyes drift toward the bedroom door. I wonder where Nikolai is.If he’s downstairs still performing whatever strange ritual he does to

NIKOLAII’m in the living room that evening watching a documentary when Caleb appears.I sigh the instant I see him.Of course. The day has been going almost too perfectly, aside from that little hiccup Julian and I had in the morning, with Julian wanting to be in my presence and spending time with me all day.He only kicked me out of my own room this evening because he had an assignment to work on and he needed to ‘focus.’As if he couldn’t do that with me in the room.Anyway, I’m not surprised Caleb has come to ruin that peace.Even though I ignore his presence and don’t acknowledge him, he comes to sit beside me on the couch anyway.That’s never enough to stop him.We stay in silence for a while, neither of us willing to speak up first, as he stares at the television.I know it’s not like he’s enjoying it. He can’t even stand documentaries. He finds them boring and in his own words, “Why do I have to sit down for two hours and watch someone tell me something I can just find out mys

JULIAN Nikolai has no concept of personal space or boundaries. It shouldn’t be surprising considering the way he acts but I’ve only recently found out that it’s even worse than I thought after sharing the same space for a few days. Not that I’m complaining. And that’s exactly the problem. I should be complaining. Sure, I huff and pretend I don’t like it when he gets all up in my space or refuses to give me any personal time. But secretly, I do. Deep, deep, inside of me, I know I like it. It’s humiliating and pathetic, and I’d never admit it to anyone out loud, but it’s true…unfortunately. Nikolai is…obsessed with me and for some reason, I don’t want him to stop. Heck, I think I might…like it. Today is one of the only days I’ve had space from him in days. Apparently, he’d exhausted his art supplies and he needed to get more. When I asked him why he couldn’t just order it online, he’d simply said, “Art is born of touch, of texture, of presence. A few taps on a screen cannot su

JULIAN I decide to turn the conversation around before he can say anything else I’m not prepared for. “And you?” He tilts his head. “Me?” “I thought you and Nikolai hated each other.” For a second, Caleb just stares at me as though I’d just told him the sky was green. Then he laughs. “Of course not. We’re brothers.” “He has called you annoying multiple times. He told me he’s thought about replacing you and bringing in a new brother several times.” Caleb places a hand over his chest, pretending to be wounded. “Several times? I’m hurt. I thought we were keeping our family drama private.” I can’t help smiling. “That’s the nature of our relationship,” he says. “I annoy him because it’s fun, he threatens to kill me because he’s dramatic and violent, and then we go back to being brothers.” “That sounds like a very healthy dynamic.” “It is very healthy. You should see us at family dinners.” I laugh softly, and for the first time since he’s entered the room, I feel some of the t

NIKOLAII never thought I could be someone who could enjoy someone else’s company this much. But the past few days with Julian have been nothing short of perfect.I smile to myself as I climb the stairs, a paper bag of art supplies dangling from one hand. Sure, I spent nearly three hours in a store arguing with an incompetent employee who didn’t know what the fuck he was doing, but all in all, the trip wasn’t a complete waste.I acquired everything I need, and I even bought Julian his favorite pastries from the bakery on the way home.He likes the chocolate ones. It was obvious by the pleasure on his face the last time I bought them for him, even though he pretended it was nothing special.He thinks he’s subtle. He’s not.I reach my bedroom door and push it open.“Miss me?” The words leave my mouth before I even look at him.Julian is sitting on the bed, his laptop closed beside him. He’s staring at the floor, his hands clasped loosely in his lap.He looks up when I enter.His express