Page 6 of In Prey We Trust

Arching a brow at his casual tone, I tilt my head and smirk. “That’s a new one. Feeling spry this afternoon, big guy?”

If he realizes I know Fitz barged in on one of their big secrets, he doesn’t show it. “I’m taking great pleasure in my work here, yes.”

“I’ll bet,” Fitz mutters, and I have to stifle a giggle.

Keeping this to himself for days is going to be almost impossible for him.

Rennie glares at the back of the hyper tiger’s head as if he’s trying to erase his memory through sheer willpower, but Aubrey shrugs. “Despite being run by a Sphinx, this collection is quite extensive and I believe it will aid us in finding the next pieces to our puzzle.”

Felix rolls his eyes at the dragon’s look of distaste. Apparently, dragons and Sphinxes get along as well as wolves and tigers, but it’s less physical competition as much as intellectual. He mentioned how angry our grumpy book lover was to discover some texts and scrolls famous families donated here rather than Apex.

“At least you won’t have to work as hard to get it up to speed?” I offer with a small smile. “That has to count for something.”

He huffs and Rennie steps forward, giving me a mischievous look. “Our new home is quite luxurious. You’ll enjoy the upgrade, ma petite. Plus, I’ve added my layer of security to their formidable set-up. No dead bodies will show up in our private sanctuary this year.”

Of course, he can’t promise no dead bodies at all, especially after the events at the end of last year. His suspicions about magic users and their connection to bad juju at the school were spot on. We had a story prepared by the time anyone reached us and we’ve all stuck to it without fail. If the Council won’t call in the Sibbies, none of us wanted to end up in some rubber room because we suggested the magic they insisted was gone has returned.

And fuck if anyone of us know why I shot blue lightning out of my hands—that’s on the ‘to do’ list for sure.

As if he can hear my thoughts, the gargoyle squints at me. “No… side effects to your shift now that your bunny is listening again?”

“Nope,” I reply. We’ve been cautious as hell about referencing the secret shit while I’m home. Lucille and Bruno aren’t here, but I’m not stupid enough to believe one of them hasn’t bugged the entire place hoping to catch some info.

“No one has touched you, right, baby girl?” Fitz pushes his way back to the front, studying me as I shake my head. His frustration at being unable to protect me all day, every day, has been one of the hardest things to manage during this stupid break.

I cross my finger over my chest in an ‘X.’ “Nope. The body guards hover like flies, but they haven’t done more than leer.”

“Even the ugly mutt?” Felix growls low.

“Yes, even Lucius stays an acceptable distance when he looms threateningly. I promise, guys. I’m okay, and we’ll be back together soon.” The alarm on my dresser goes off and I groan. “It’s time for my jujitsu lesson. This guy is hardcore, Felix. Where the hell did you find him?”

He grins smugly at me. “One of Fitz's former Pred Games competitors. He’ll have you ready for Zhenga’s boot camp, for sure.”

I wrinkle my nose, pouting at him. “If by ready, you mean so tired I can barely move afterward, then you’re right. Who decided I have to compete in these damn things, anyway? They’re on my shit list.”

Chess raises his hand, looking sheepish. “I mean, Felix mentioned it first, but once we knew we were being sent to a school with an established team? I knew it would put you in the spotlight looking formidable, not weak. It will help you avoid the attacks students arranged at Apex if people see you as strong.”

Snorting, I give him an incredulous look. “Chessie, I beat Gold and Todd’s asses in public and they still pulled shit.”

“Only sneaky backroom politics, though. The physical threats died down once you showed your stuff,” he says confidently. “I wouldn’t have suggested this if I hadn’t done research on this school, Angel. The sports angle will help keep you safe.”

“Fine, fine. Rah, rah, I’m full of school spirit,” I say with a grimace. My alarm goes off again and a loud, pounding knock on the door makes me jump. “Shit! I gotta go. That’s one of the goons.”

Blowing them a kiss, I swipe the screen off and run over to slip on my tennis shoes. Once I grab my gym bag and water bottle from my desk, I slip my phone in my pocket and head for the door. When I pull it open, the nasty wolf in charge of the security flares at me with his yellow flecked eyes.

“Madame Lucille detests tardiness. This will go in my report.”

Instead of letting him intimidate me, I stick my nose in the air, putting on the affect of a true heir as I breeze past him. At the stairs, I grumble to myself, “You can stick your report directly up your ass, you fuck knuckle.”

Pleased with myself, I jog downstairs and head for my car.

Everyone knows wolves have excellent hearing.

Piece of Your Heart

Aubrey

“He hasn’t said a single word. Don’t you find that strange?” I ask my companion as he flits about in the main bedroom. When we negotiated the positions at Capital Prep, Renard insisted on taking over the entire staff quarters for the library as part of our contract. I didn’t find out why until he gave me the grand tour of the enormous room he declared as Dolly’s. She’s supposed to live in the reptile dorm across the way, and nothing I said would deter him from remodeling this place for her, so I let him have his project.

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