CHAPTER 141

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

CHAPTER 142

JULIANThat shouldn’t make my stomach flutter but it does anyway.I take another sip and lean against the counter.“So… what are we doing today?”He does a double take, as if surprised that I’m considering spending the day with him, rather than rejecting him as usual.“Up to you,” he replies, as a slow grin spreads across his face.“Or perhaps we should just stay home,” I say thoughtfully. “You must be tired. I’m sure you didn’t get much sleep.”“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”I study him carefully. “You spent the entire night cleaning again, didn’t you?”He shrugs stiffly. “Maybe.”“We need to talk about that.”“Trust me, I’m used to it. You’d be surprised how much I have to do it on the regular.”“It’s not about that. It’s about the fact that it’s not exactly healthy. Especially if you’re using it as some form of coping mechanism.”He scoffs. “Nice, Julian. When did you turn into a psychologist?”“You’re right. I’m not one. But maybe you do need one. Or a psychiatrist. I’m not sur

CHAPTER 143

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

CHAPTER 144

NIKOLAII stay silent, my heart pounding hard. Whether in fear or anger, I don’t know.Maybe it’s both.My silence is enough of an answer for Caleb.“Fuck, Nikolai,” he curses.My jaw tightens. “He knows enough.”“That’s not an answer.”“He knows I’m not exactly a good person.”“That’s one hell of an understatement. But it’s not what I’m asking. I asked if he knows about her. About your—”I cut him off before he can continue. “Fuck, Caleb. Can you let me breathe for one second? Why do you always have to interfere when I’m happy? Why do you have to try and ruin everything?”My voice rises toward the end, my breaths coming out in pants.For a second, I think Julian might hear and come downstairs but I’m relieved when I hear no footsteps.Caleb’s expression softens as he stares at me.“You know I’m not doing this out of malice.”I scoff. “Bullshit.”“Believe what you want. It’s the truth. You know I’m right and that he needs to know. He needs to know everything about you. And that includ

All Chapters of The Devil Who Claimed Me (M x M): Chapter 141 - Chapter 144

CHAPTER 141

CHAPTER 142

CHAPTER 143

CHAPTER 144