Page 56 of In Prey We Trust

As predicted, my soothing gargoyle allowed me to work on the ridiculous paper as long as I promised to read our assignment with him this weekend. I enjoy hearing his deep, accented voice read lyrical prose and I plan to make my grumpy dragon sit with us while he does. The solution makes me smile, especially since I have that essay ticked off and now I can vent my fury out at practice.

I guess Fitz and Felix were right about my participation having unexpected benefits.

Striding into the airlock with the quietest quokka, Banjo, I gather all the fury and rage that has been building up over the past week. Apex was a nightmare before the mystery and murder started, but since the night of the explosion, things were mostly calm. I missed my friends and my guys, Lucille was a shadowy threat, but I had time to breathe. Since the moment I left for Capital Prep, the universe has been piling obstacles and assholes in my path like I’m cursed. I’m fucking tired of it and tired of being nice.

I slam my badge against the second scanner and stalk down the tube at a rapid clip. Banjo is probably having trouble keeping up, but I don’t care right now. All I want to do is get changed and climb in the ring with whomever Zhenga pairs me up with today. It’s the first time we’ll be doing full contact battles and my adrenaline is pumping like a freight train in my veins.

No matter who it is, I’m ready to rumble.

Banjo waves when we hit the grass and I give him a small smile before heading into the locker room. Luckily for me, Coach Z banned the cheer squad from using our facilities outside of the field. I assume Felix helped her with that blatant middle finger to the corpse licker; this arena is here due to Khan machinations. Her dimwits are relegated to changing over in the Leonidas stadium and walking to the practice field. It protects me while I’m naked, at least, even if it won’t help me anywhere else.

“Your uniforms are being delivered to your dorms today,” Zhenga calls from the front of the room. “They are made to fit only you, per our measurement session. You will receive a new one after every match as long as you remain eligible to compete. That means you must be academically, physically, and competitively eligible to participate that week. Athletes must have a three-point-five or higher, be uninjured, and stay in the rankings. You are also prohibited from competing if you are on any kind of behavioral probation. Keep your noses clean, ladies.”

I feel her eyes on me and I sigh into my locker. She’s probably trying to warn me about the Heathers. They’ll be subject to the same rules on the squad, so they know they can fuck with me if they make me retaliate to their shit. One fucking day. Just one day without bullshit would be fantastic. Pulling on my new team practice gear that has appeared in my locker, I wing a thanks to the sky that each piece is vacuum sealed in plastic. After the tea fiasco, I’m not willing to take anything, even clothing, someone could have messed with.

This level of paranoia is unfair. I should be partying and having fun in college, not fending off psychos and magic wielding freaks.

Stowing my shit in the locker, I pause to text Fitz to make sure the electronic lock can’t be breached while I’m away. He doesn’t have classes today, so I know he’ll be on the sidelines with Felix and the guys team in the main stadium, but he’ll have his phone. I almost wish he would come to our practice today, but I know he’ll be at the game Saturday. He can witness the fruits of his friend’s training again that night. Tonight is supposed to be Felix’s and I don’t want him to barge into our plans—whatever they are.

“Let’s hit the field!” Coach Z shouts and I rise from the bench, letting the bunny inside fill me with her pent-up emotions.

It’s time to burn off the fury that is consuming me in a sanctioned fight. I just hope Zhenga hasn’t put me against someone who can’t handle what I’ve got roiling inside of me.

I don’t know if I can leash her now that I let her out.

Legend

Delores

“Miss Drew, you’ll be fighting Jaiyana. Selene, you’ll face Braylynn. Roswitha and Allizia. Kyaw and Philippa. Helena and Beatrice. Absinthe and Norma Rae. Francesca and Ashlée. Elizabetta and Denita.”

I watch as Zhenga hands out the assignments, feeling panic roil in my gut next to the anger. Jaiyana is the last person I’d want to have a practice match with because of her species. The crocodile in her already triggers my memories of Bruno and though Selene’s jaguar would be a keen second, I have less fear of Lucille than my father.

At least, physically.

Bruno has never pretended to like or need me for anything. In fact, his cruelty was almost worse than Lucille’s because it was obvious he didn’t give a single fuck if I lived or died—not once. Lucille doesn’t love me, but she had a use for me, so I felt something from her besides hatred. My father hasn’t looked at me any different than he would dog shit on his shoes my whole life. When he meted out his punishment, I could feel the pleasure he took in making me bruise and wail. I’m nothing to him and that bone-deep fear of not knowing how far he’d go is edging through me now.

“As you know, at college level, the Games are not the same as what you watch in the pro leagues. You may not kill or permanently maim another participant. If the refs believe you cannot control your beast, they will call the match and give the victory to your opponent. Cheating is closely monitored, so don’t think you can get away with claiming you didn’t ‘mean’ to blind someone.” The lioness pauses and gives each one of us a serious look. “If I think you’ll be a liability in the match, I’ll bench you and hold new tryouts for your spot. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Coach!” the team choruses.

I catch her eyes, nodding as she looks at me curiously. She has to know I don’t have any known rivals in this group and I’ll do the best I can. Much like her competing in the male Games as the only female ever, I’ll be the only prey animal to ever grace the college field. It’s going to draw a big crowd—especially if Lucille’s reaction to my status can be trusted—so Zhenga’s coaching career could also be on the line. I’ve got a lot riding on this damn thing and if that’s not enough pressure, I know it will set the tone for what people can and cannot do to me at Cappie.

You can do this, Dolly.

I hear a couple hoots from the stands as I take my place in the circle to face Jaiyana. My eyes flick over and I see Rufus and Cori clapping in the stands. Their support helps ground me and I turn to look at my opponent as she gets ready. Jaiyana is tall, broad shouldered, and has glittering dark eyes common to her species. Her long black hair is pulled back in a tightly bound French braid and pinned up so it can’t be used against her. We aren’t much different in height, but her muscles are toned and tight like she’s been training for this most of her life. Given her father’s career in the Games, I’d bet she has.

“Ready?” Zhenga says as she holds up a hand. Our eyes meet hers and she grins. “Fight!”

Jaiyana advances, clearly favoring the aggressive opening. I grapevine along the edge of the circle as I watch her, learning the walk her body moves and looking for weaknesses. A low rumble comes out of her throat when she realizes I’m not meeting her in the middle and I see a flash of the slitted gaze of her reptile in her eyes. We’re not in the water, so she doesn’t have the advantage of depriving me of oxygen that way, but I see her fists clench. She’ll throttle me the second she gets her hands on me.

I’m faster and I know if I use that to keep her moving, she can’t get me in the barrel grip.

“Are you scared, little bunny?” she sneers.

I hear Selene and the other girls snorting from their places in the line up. They’re not really my enemies yet, but if I beat this girl, they will be. No Queen Bees like seeing their brethren knocked off their pedestals. My lips curve as I shrug at her, noting the way she holds one shoulder lower. An old injury, perhaps? Noted. The croc steps forward, pushing into the circle further so she can get within reach. She’s hoping to intimidate me, throw me off by being as big and aggressive as possible.

Unfortunately for Jaiyana, I’m very used to more vicious preds than her taking this tack. Lucille has always loved playing with her food and Bruno delights in pain. “No. I’m wondering why you haven’t jumped in if you’re feeling so damn froggy. Worried you’ll lose to a lowly prey animal?”

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