Page 22 of In Prey We Trust

Dropping onto the bed in an embarrassed slump, I nod. “Yep. And it’s not like they offer a remedial class in basic predator shit. No one but me was raised like Rapunzel in a tower hoping to be used as a puppet.”

Fitz rolls over, grabbing me and wrapping around me like a crazy spider monkey. “It’s okay, baby girl. Now that we know, we can all be your teachers. I know how much you love that.”

The chorus of growls that fills the air tells me they like that idea as well. Methinks the big growly men all have a little ‘being in charge’ fetish; good to know. The teasing glint in my eyes brings Chess over to join Fitz and me, and I sigh happily as he sandwiches me in with the tiger. A soft purr kicks up in his chest, and I wiggle in delight. It’s my absolute favorite thing, and the cheetah knows it.

“He cheats with that all the time, you know,” Fitz says, as he buries his face in the back of my neck. “Be strong—though I honestly can’t resist it, so I don’t know how to teach you that one.”

Felix walks over, sitting down next to Chess and resting a hand on my hip. “He’s not lying. Our cheetah is not above using it on me, either. It helps calm the rage for certain. I’m not as soft as my twin, but I won’t claim I can tell you how to resist, either.”

I feel the mattress dip again, this time more substantially, and I know Aubrey and Rennie have joined us. I tilt my head up to look at them as they recline against the headboard together. “Rennie uses his tail to cheat. It’s like a big hug, too.”

Aubrey laughs. “She’s not wrong about that. His wings are a weapon as well.”

My psycho tiger stiffens behind me and I know exactly when he remembers what he saw before he came to my house. I give the dragon and gargoyle a knowing look, then turn back to Fitz. “Something you need to discuss, crazypants?”

“Uh, no. Nope. Not a thing. Can’t imagine why you’d ask,” he blurts.

Rolling my eyes, I reach up and tug on Aubrey’s pant leg. They need to come clean now or it’s going to be a problem later. I get why they’ve kept it to themselves in the past, but now that we’re a unit, secrets will only be weapons that can be used against us. “Out with it.”

“Oh, for the love of…” Aubrey makes his signature stuffy librarian harrumph and shifts a bit.

Fortunately, Rennie isn’t as stubborn as him. “Ma petite is trying to get Fitzgerald to admit he discovered our secret the other day.”

Felix frowns. “What, the room surprise?”

I giggle and Aubrey snorts before saying, “And you wonder how we kept it a secret for centuries? People see what they want to see.”

“Kept what a secret?” Chess says, as he looks at me in confusion.

“Holy shit,” I mutter. “Men are totally obtuse. I knew something was up, but I figured it had to do with the sleeping space until I found out. I wasn’t totally clueless like this. I don’t feel so bad about not knowing the pred stuff now.”

“Will someone just fucking say it before I explode?” Fitz pleads. “It’s killing me.”

Looking at Rennie, I wait, and he just grins mischievously. I heave a sigh. “They’re not telling you they’re a couple and have been for a very long time with no one knowing. I assume they’re mates like Fitz and Chess, but I didn’t ask, so I can’t speak for them on that part.”

“Oh, thank fuck,” Fitz says, as he wriggles closer to me and nips my neck. “It was hot as hell, but I didn’t want to be the one to spill the bean slapping.”

The two cats who were in the dark are quiet for a moment and I think they’re remembering all the little things that should have given them clues. Finally, Felix pats my hip again and nods. “Well, okay then. Now that you tell us, it makes perfect sense. You didn’t have to hide it, you know. I don’t give a fuck about Fitz and Chess; I certainly wouldn’t have cared about you two.”

“We didn’t think you were prejudiced, Raj,” Aubrey laughs, and I feel him shaking above me. “We’re just private creatures by nature. Neither dragons nor gargoyles are as social as big cats or most of the surrounding shifters. We’re more insular species and our relationship wouldn’t be acceptable to dragons, much less others.”

“Gargoyles wouldn’t be thrilled, either, trust me.” Rennie shrugs and mutters. “They exile you for outside of the clutch relations.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I whisper. “I know you don’t normally…”

“Not today, ma petite, but maybe someday.”

Aubrey leans over and kisses him lightly. “Then Fitz stumbling in on us was a gift rather than an annoyance.” He looks at the rest of us and shrugs, his face a little red. “I don’t know the complete story, either. Maybe with all of us supporting him, my mate can finally get the trauma out.”

I’ll be damned. Fitz’s rambunctious lack of boundaries is saving someone else.

It’s an Apex miracle.

I Would Do Anything For You

Chess

After all the soul baring last night, we went back to the living room and strategized our way through my angel’s class schedule.

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