Page 84 of In Prey We Trust

“The report just came through an hour ago,” Rennie supplies when I give him a dirty look. “That’s why we hadn’t brought it to Security’s attention yet. However, you will see they ran it against the Council's birth record DNA database and a positive match was made.”

“This is highly unorthodox,” Balthazar blusters. “Are you saying a student at this academy is a murderer?”

I give him a reproachful look. “You mean, a student besides me? Is it so hard to believe? Fucking hell, Rennie, tell us who it is, so they let me go home.”

My gargoyle winks, rising to his feet to hold his hand out to me. “They have linked the killer with the killings at Apex and the one here, so there’s nothing to dispute. Her name is Heather MacLachlan.”

I’ll be a three-legged wolf in a four-legged race—for once, the Universe is smiling at me.

Legends Are Made

Delores

“It thrilled me at first, you know?” I sigh as I look at Fitz through my legs while I’m in downward dog. “I thought I’d finally had some good luck. Besides you guys and my friends, I mean.”

He looks pleased when I amend my statement, despite being upside down in a backbend. “Well, the Pouty Poet knew the second the report hit the big guy’s email it was bullshit. The science isn’t faked, but those hairs were definitely planted. That chick wasn’t even on campus when the Halloween murder happened and she’s been MIA from her little squad of dummies since the beginning of the year. Either someone else killed that chick and left the hairs, or someone found the body first and took advantage.”

I watch him kick his feet up and walk over, grinning. “You’re getting good at this, Fitzy. You couldn’t do that a week ago.”

Bobbing his brows, he grabs my waist and bumps his hips against mine until I feel his dick take notice. “If I get to teach you things, it’s only fair you get to teach me shit, too. Plus, with six of us, more flexibility will be an asset.”

“Good planning, baby.”

My head whips up to look at who just arrived and I grin when I see Chessie. “You should see his cartwheel. It’s getting way better. He doesn’t look like someone has electrocuted him anymore.”

“That was pretty damn funny,” Chess says. “I thought Aubrey was going to bust at the seams.”

“He can suck it, the big cheating fuck knuckle!” Fitz yells as he does a quick run and tumbles through a clunky, but improving round-off. “I’m a fucking baller gymnast and I didn’t break the damn library.”

“Fiiiiiitz,” I groan as Chess snickers into his hand. “You guys have to let that go sometime, right? He loses his mind when you tease him.”

“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,” Fitz sing-songs as he comes up to us. He leans in and kisses Chess like he’s been away for a week, then does the same to me. “He’s been riding us for years about that shit and I’m never letting it go.”

I give my cheetah a pleading expression, but he just grins. “He’s right, angel. It’s the dragon’s turn to get heckled, and he has to take it like a pred. Speaking of preds, are you two done stretching for the match tonight? I want to get some fuel in Dolly before it gets too late in the day.”

“The match against U&M worries me a little,” I admit. “I read online their players are ringers. They recruit to compete and they do nothing but practice. The university fixes their grades and shit so they don’t have to focus on anything else. It seems like a recipe for my first loss.”

“Honestly? They probably do, angel. That school is full of pale-faced techies and it’s not against any rules to entice people to come and play. The Leonidas league rules are pretty lax in terms of team recruiting and bribery.”

Awesome. I’m going to get matched with some giant bruiser with five brain cells and fists like hammers.

“Next time I say anything about the Universe giving me good luck? Smack me in the back of the head.”

“Noted, Baby Girl. Spank you for hubris.”

The crowd for this match is even more packed than the last one and Coach Z keeps muttering they might have to move the girls’ matches to the big stadium. I agree; it's bullshit that we’re stuck in the practice arena when the boys’ Games are held in the giant Leonidas monstrosity. You’d think she’d have a little sway, but apparently not enough to commandeer the real arena. I shake out my hands as the entrance music plays, trying not to let the camera flashes and lights wig me out.

You’ve got this, Dolly. Your friends and men are in the stands. You beat the frame job assholes. Tonight is your night.

“I heard she’s going to choke,” Selene’s voice carries from the middle of the line. She’s been pissed since Zhenga announced the line-up for the field run. Her crew had mixed results in the last match and they’ve all missed at least three practices for various bullshit since then. Her tantrum wasn’t pretty, especially since Zhenga doesn’t give a single fuck about who their parents are.

The python hisses softly—her version of laughing, I’ve learned—and Kyaw glances at me derisively. “That was a fluke, Selene. No lowly prey animal could ever beat you in the ring. They’re using her for the media attention.”

“That’s what happens when you’re fucking a bunch of losers and gangsters like the Khans,” Jaiyana says with a fake giggle. “You get plastered all over the Preynet like a tramp.”

My brows furrow as I step out of line, intent on heading over to set those bitches straight. It’s bad enough I had the Heathers spouting this shit, but I’m sure as hell not letting some dipshit kids of pop stars and washed up athletes insult my men. “Look…”

A hand appears in front of me, and I stop. It’s Coach Z, and she winks at me, nodding towards my spot in line. When I comply, she turns to stride over to the Plastics. “Listen up, ladies. You don’t have to like each other; this is a team sport but we’re individual contributors. So I don’t give a rat’s ass if you have sleepovers and braid one another’s hair. But no members of my team will ever use another woman’s sexuality as a putdown. It’s classless and immature—we’re animals and have needs, especially after we do battle in the ring.”

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