Devil May Lie (The Devils of Vitality)

by Chani Lynn Feener

Madden and Berga are…an interesting pair.

They tend to be very extreme with each other, pushing boundaries on purpose. If you’re looking for characters who get mad when the other coerces or tricks them into something, these characters probably aren’t for you. They’re oddly forgiving. Because of this, the trigger warnings for their book are all over the place, so please read through them thoroughly.

salirophilia,

“All right, I’m sick of this.” Flix straightened from the table and grabbed a puff pastry, shoving it into his mouth before he rolled his shoulders as if preparing for a fight. “Where are you going?” “I’m going to go teach Ives it’s rude to stare.” “Didn’t you tell me it was my fault?” Flix shook his head. “Nothing is ever your fault, Bergie. You should apologize to defuse the situation, not because you were wrong.”

Flix is the best, second only to how lovely his friendship with Berga is.

Madden bolted off the couch. “That isn’t in the slightest what I meant.” Although…It wasn’t often anyone got to see the Butcher’s work. “But…I’m not mad about it.” Great covered his mouth with a closed fist and shook his head while Muse merely sighed, used to how things operated around here by now. “You sure?” Berga asked, not affected in the slightest by what he’d just done. He looked at Eric, who was standing there with his mouth gaping like a fish out of water. “Because I can probably save him so long as—” Eric’s fumbling hand reached up and yanked the knife out, causing a spurt of blood to spray across the concrete floor. “Never mind.”

“The Butcher never cleans up after himself,” Madden stated plainly. Berga propped himself against the edge of the table, a glass of water in his left hand, a small vial of pills in the other, and shrugged at them. “I’m squeamish.”

“The Docks are my own personal kingdom,” he played into the joke with a shrug. “Which means you’ve crossed into my territory, Butcher. What do you say, want to bend the knee?” “Sure,” Berga surprised him by saying, until he pointed at Muse and added in an even tone, “As long as I can cut that guy’s off. He’s a Craz, correct? Some pieces of their body have toxic properties when ground up and added to—” “Bro,” Muse straightened from his task of drying up the water left over from the mop, “I’m literally within hearing range. I can hear you.”

“Good Light, what is wrong with you?” “We don’t have enough time before the drug makes it hard for both of us to focus,” he replied. “If you’re still interested in my condition afterward, I’ll give you my official medical diagnosis.”

He’d drugged him and then accosted him. He should be furious and plotting his revenge. Instead, he was out here like a sad puppy waiting for his owner to arrive so he could wag his tail.

Berga rolled his eyes and straightened, turning to send his question to Zane in a move that had to be intended to drive Madden crazy. “What is with all of you Retinue and your preposterous egos?” Zane considered, then replied cooly, “Perhaps it’s a causal effect of having grown up told we’re better than everyone else?”

“Madden.” The man was absolutely infuriating. “You do realize I could melt your insides, right? You wouldn’t even know it was happening until it was too late.” “Yeah,” he grinned, “that’s kind of hot.” “What is wrong with you?” “Cute, coming from the guy who just threatened to turn me to goo.” So they were both fucked up. Shocker.

I’m a member of the Retinue, a Royal, and known killer. What part of that equation made you wrongly assume I also must be a pushover?”

“Royal Madden Odell belongs to the Butcher.” Gently, he took the blaster out of the trembling man's hands. “And I’m protective of my things.”

“I still find that nickname ridiculous.” “That’s why, for the most part, I try to just call you it in my head.” “You call me things in your head?” “Sure. Jekyll. Baby,” he rested his elbows on the counter and leaned in, “mine.”

“You sound far too pleased with yourself. Do you have any idea how complicated you just made things for everyone?” “Kel, I’m going to be real with you,” he said, “do you think I care?” “Not in the slightest,” he sighed.

Prove you’ll never leave, and I will never hurt you.