Page 113 of Let Us Prey

“You got me… a kitten?”

Fitz’s face splits into a huge grin as he looks at me. “I hate to say it, but lizard man wins this one, guys. You can’t beat a fluffy cat.”

“And she’s so, so cute,” I murmur, as the small feline butts her head against my fingers. “I think I’ll call her Jinx.” When I look up, I swear Aubrey’s eyes are twinkling.

He has a soft spot for cute things, and this is killing him.

“Where is it going to live? Here, right?” Felix says, eyeing the kitten as if he's terrified I’ll send it home with him.

Rennie waves his hand. “There’s plenty of room here, and we’re all here often enough to help take care of it together. Dolly has free rein of the building, so should her pet.”

My eyes fill with grateful tears as the little ball of fur jumps into my lap and starts purring like an outboard motor. I look down at her with a soft smile and say, “Well, I’d say this has been the Merriest Christmas I’ve ever had.”

When I look up, all of my guys are giving me fond expressions and my heart swells all over again.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

Angel Eyes

Chess

The timebetween our lovely Yule celebration and the night of my date with my angel was excruciating. Fitz insisted I spend New Year’s Eve with her because, according to him, ‘what better time to lose your lady cherry than ringing in a New Year?’

His logic was hard to argue with, especially when Dolly made that adorable shy expression as she agreed with him.

I’ve been working off my nervous energy with endless projects in my studio—suffice to say, no one needs a scarf for the winter weather anymore. Felix has rolled his eyes so much at Fitz’s eager advice that I thought he might get them stuck facing the back of his skull. Renard and Aubrey are more amused than anything, so they rib me gently when I get flustered.

It’s given me such a feeling of family that my chest aches when I slip into slumber at night. I doubt the rest of them understand how incredible the formation of this small, tight-knit group is to an orphan who always felt like a ‘plus one’ to the royal twins.

Not that Fitz or Felix ever made me feel like that, but children are sensitive and I overhearda lot of nasty commentary from adults at Bloodstone when I was a cub.

Sighing, I finish the last couple lines of the piece I’m working on, and look at the clock on the wall. I know my brothers will be at the townhouse when I go back and Fitz will be bouncing off the damn furniture, waiting for me to get ready for my date. He wanted me to take her to one of the Khan businesses like he did, get all dressed up in fancy clothes and show her a better time than she had at that wretched prom.

It’s more the twins’ style than mine, but the idea of replacing that awful night with a more pleasant memory appealed to my cheetah. He practically purred with approval when I let Fitz make the reservation atLe Joyau de la Couronne?1—his father’s ritziest spot in the area. Knowing where we were going made me even more nervous because I know Khan flunkies, Council members, and other species leaders might be there on a night like New Year’s Eve.

My angel would be safer going to that tiger’s den with one of my brothers or the ancients.

As that thought echoes in my mind, I lock the door of my oasis behind me. My cheetah pushes at me, not appreciating my dismissal of his ability to take care of our girl if we need to. I swallow hard, placating him as I walk down the hall of the Shird. My cat has never been as present in me as he is since we met Delores Drew and despite my efforts to manage his sudden dominant behavior, he refuses to listen.

That’s probably because he’s certain she’s our mate.

I have no idea what to do with that information because I didn’t think we could have more than one mate—and Fitz sealed that deal not long after we came to Apex. He’d talked about it before, but once we were away from the protection of Bloodstone and the crown, my tiger was determined to ensure I stayed safe. His father is an evil, old bastard obsessed with power, so he might wellhave sent someone after the disposable orphan to teach his sons a lesson.

Fitz never once hid me from his family, nor did he entertain going anywhere without me—even if they forced him to get married for political reasons. I haven’t ever questioned my place in his life because he tells everyone everything in an endless stream of consciousness that isn’t unlike our fluffy rabbit.

Maybe that’s why she’s entranced him so easily? They’re cut from a very similar cloth.

My lips curl up as I cross the lawn and head towards the staff housing. If I’m correct, the vicious streak in my angel is much bigger than frozen snowballs and ass kicking in Felix’s classroom. The more time she spends with my morally translucent mate, the more of her natural tendencies will come out.

I’m not sure the world is ready for Fitzgerald Khan to have a twin and a soulmate.

If it is true, tonight is my night to find out where I fit in with our girl and why she makes my animal want to burst free every time we see her. I don’t know if his whispers about her also being our mate are true, but I’m excited to see what the evening brings.

Even if that means getting my nerves under control in a room full of the biggest preds in town.

It’smy turn to wait in front of the admissions building, though I’m leaning against Felix’s Jag. The sleek convertible is as similar to its owner as Fitz’s bike is to him. My brothers picked out a ridiculously expensive tux for me and I yank at the bottom of the jacket nervously.

I’m not the flashy type and I definitely don’t wear couture almost as expensive as a normal car, but they insisted.

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