Page 110 of Let Us Prey

When I get to the shore behind my haven, I have to cover my mouth to stop the laughter. Fitz and Aubrey are in a standoff, just lobbing snowballs from small piles at one another over and over. Aubrey is covered in snow and his dragon is shimmering beneath his skin; I can feel it. Fitz is taking the hits from the ice balls like a champ, though I suspect he’ll have bruises for a few hours. His tiger is batting the projectiles with the aim of an elvish prince regardless, so if I don’t stop them, his chestnuts are definitely going to get roasted.

“Stop! You’re both out, obviously.” I smirk at them, giving the duo a wink as I take off on the wind over the lake before anyone can try to knock me out as well.

We still haven’t seen the Day-Glo bunny in her suit or Fitz’s cagey brother.

It makes my gargoyle rumble in suspicion.

“I know,” I murmur to myself. “It’s almost as though they’ve planned for the hotheads to take one another out. This plan is craftier than I expected and we’ve all made a grave error in underestimating the fluffy cottontail.”

Banking left off the water, I glide towards the staff housing. A sudden burst of rock hard snowballs bounce off my wings, throwing me completely off balance. The ground approaches fast and I tuck, then roll, so I don’t injure myself on impact. When I pull my wings in, there are five circular marks on the left one, clear as day.

What in the curve of Loki’s horns was that?

Felix’s head crests a defensive bank built of snow and he unleashes another rapid fire round of the damned things that flatten me immediately.

I blink as I look up at the sky, catching my breath. Chess was right; the damn things hurt like a bitch.

The tiger appears above me, smirking as he sing-songs, “Strike ten and you’re out, old man.”

I accept the hand he offers, glaring. “How did you manage the Gatling effect with snowballs?”

His rumble is low. “Trade secret, man.”

“I rigged a slingshot with multiple load capacity.”

The voice comes from behind us and I watch in awe as Delores struts into the middle of the field holding Chess by his collar. His face is red, though I doubt it’s from the cold. I watch her sit him down in front of Felix, noting she covered her suit in snow to camouflage it.

“Bras are good for more than keeping your boobs in place, Rennie,” she says with a giggle. “And men need to understand that female adversaries think totally differently than them. Luckily, Felix the Grump let me lead this one.”

Aubrey and Fitz stomp up, both grumbling about being taken out first, and my smile stretches. Even though Dolly got Chess, it was good for him to last almost as long as she and Felix. He needed that win, and I doubt he’s truly upset by being snared by our vicious little bunny.

She’s a force to be reckoned with and everyone at Apex should be on guard—Delores Drew is playing to win.

Santa Baby

Delores

Wakingup in the Yule Village decor of the Tower is surreal.

Lucille always had professionals tastefully decorate the house for the holidays, but she and Bruno typically did exactly what they’re doing this year—yeeted themselves to whatever resort was in vogue. I always stayed home with Mattie, opening the presents Lucille made her pick out, pretending I didn’t realize my parents preferred being photographed by the paparazzi to spending time with me on Christmas.

I know, I know. Poor little rich girl, right? It still hurt knowing I was little more than a walking, talking accessory.

“Pssssst, baby girl, are you awake? If you could wiggle a little more to the left… I have a big present for you.”

A big forearm flies over Chess and smacks Fitz on the back of the head. I giggle, feeling brave in the makeshift nest Aubrey made in the middle of the sitting room last night. I grab the hand quickly, giving it a squeeze. To my delight, Felix squeezes back before he pulls away.

It’s a Yule miracle.

“Notcool, bro. Chessie, tell them to quit picking on me!”

The rumpled cheetah stretches, his bare chest making my tummy flutter. When he opens his eyes, he gives his consort a shrug. “You deserve it.”

Fitz pouts at me, and I shake my head as well. Finally, he glares past me at the other two. “C’mon, spicy lizard, rock man… back me up.”

“Perhaps you’d find more support if you weren’t always running your mouth,” Aubrey says as he looks over at the tiger.

Renard pops his head up from the other side of him, nodding. “It’s true. You make it very difficult.”

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