Page 40 of In Prey We Trust

Instead of asking why the hell he’s wondering about carrots, I just shrug. “Not much for them unless they’re cooked—never have been. I guess it is a bunny sin, huh?”

His face lights up and he nods, then sips his soda. “Yup. Though, you eat meat and I guess that’s odd, too. I’m just glad you don’t pick at salads and shit because you’re dieting all the time. It would make the brooding brothers and Chess lose their minds. They’re such henny penny motherfuckers.”

I arch a brow. “Says the guy who carried me from the door and made me lunch?”

“I don’t know what you mean by that,” he shrugs and finishes his food. “Now eat up so you have energy for my afternoon delight, woman.”

Well, if you put it that way.

It’s a pity I can’t have Fitz for lunch every day. Or Chess. Or… Okay, I’d accept a rotating lunch schedule; I’m not picky. I mean, who’d complain about big sandwiches and big O’s for their mid-day break? Not this bunny, that’s for sure.

I sigh as I leave the library. It sucks that I didn’t get to see anyone else, but Aubrey was swamped with the dreaded password reset shit he dreads every semester and Rennie was in class. Felix and Chess were both in their offices meeting with students, though I’m not sure why my royal tiger would need to. Maybe he and Zhenga are plotting shit for the Pred Games schedule? It wouldn’t surprise me. They seem determined to turn the Cappie team into a juggernaut. I like Felix has something that makes him excited. He hates the shifting classes with a passion and this seems to make him happy.

I’m not even worried about him spending so much time with Coach Z.

“Fitz isn’t the only one having growth,” I mutter as I head into the tunnel. Apprehension fills my veins as the airlock closes, but I know there’s a new quokka behind me. He waved when I walked out, and I knew he was the afternoon companion. Truthfully, I feel better with someone following along, even if they don’t talk to me.

Raina’s triplets don’t look threatening, but neither did she until she pulled out a compound bow and went Legolas on those hooded freaks. I learned a lesson about underestimating an opponent just because they aren’t a pred that day. Triplet Two is probably packing heat, but he will not show it unless we face an issue. Interestingly, the quokkas dress like bikers, not pirates.

By the time I emerge from my musings about my raccoon friend’s little harem, I’m at the end of the underwater tunnel and I swipe my card to exit to the main campus. Looking around, I note the various dorms, then the pathways leading to the student buildings. The center is very exposed and I’m not a fan of all the places someone could dart out to attack. I remember the weird flash bang from the other night and look up to see what must be an avian shifter class above.

Nope, don’t like that, either.

“Don’t worry, girly. They aren’t allowed to fly around unsupervised at night or on weekends.”

I blink in surprise, looking at my quiet companion. “That’s good to know. It’s a bit jarring to have them circling like this.”

“Agreed, ma’am. I’m no fan of winged preds, either.”

He doesn’t elaborate, but he falls in step with me as I head for the Scholastic Complex. I decide to bridge the gap myself. “You can call me Dolly. Raina and The Captain do and any mate of theirs is a friend of mine.”

“Bowser,” he replies with the bright smile his kind are known for. “My brothers are Banjo and Kirby. Don’t say it… our mum was an old school gamer.”

Stifling a giggle, I press my lips together to get a hold of myself before I speak. When I finally have control, I ask, “Felix calls me Princess—please tell me you call Raina that.”

His cheeks flush bright pink as he mutter, “Peaches. I call her Peaches.”

That does it—my control snaps, and I burst into laughter. Apparently, all men are assholes and even my raccoon friend has to deal with it. “Oh, my.”

“She gets very cranky,” Bowser admits. “But I love it and her response.”

We stop at the front of the building, and I wipe my face. “Thank you for this. I was very nervous about this class because of my experience with a bad professor and you’ve calmed me down a lot. I really appreciate it.”

The quokka winks at me despite his embarrassed color. “I had a feeling you needed a pick me up, girly. My Princess adores you and I’d do anything for her. Be safe in there. Banjo will be here to walk home with you if none of your men shows up.”

Giving him a little wave, I head up the stairs of the oddly shaped building. There are lots of students filtering out, but I don’t make eye contact. For the moment, I just want to learn about the landscape of this place. I recognize a lot of faces from social media—children of movie stars, musicians, politicians and more—but none of them seem to know me. That’s a good thing in my book; I’d rather get recognition on the Games field than from the shenanigans in my past or my family name. My classroom is on the second floor and once I hoof it up the steps, I stand outside it to peek inside.

No one problematic yet—score.

A rough jolt sends me sprawling into the room and I have to employ every skill I learned this summer to stay upright. When I whirl around with my fists raised in position, I see Gold smirking at me with her acolytes behind. They all looked pleased with themselves for nearly flattening me and my bunny sees red inside. A swell of fury threatens to consume me, but I school my expression as I look at the girls who seem incapable of simply fucking off to live their lives like adults.

“What is your problem?” I ask coolly. My hands drop to my waist and I mimic the cocked hip pose they’re all in.

“That Capital Prep also allows trash in its student body,” Gold snarks. “Now you’ve sullied two respected institutions, loser.”

These fucking chicks are psycho. I haven’t seen or spoken to them in months, yet here they are still doing this childish nonsense.

“Grow up, Heather—that’s directed at all of you, by the way. This obsession with abusing me in public is pathetic and immature. You didn’t scare me off last year and you won’t succeed this year. I don’t care if you think you’re better than me; your opinion doesn’t define my self-worth.” I sniff and flip my ponytail at them, spinning on my heel to walk to the back row to take my seat.

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