Page 118 of Let Us Prey

In a move that would make Lucille proud, the lioness pounces, pinning him to the bean bag he’s sitting on.

“Every semester, I have a shriveled little asshole like you who thinks his shit doesn’t stink. I’ll tell you what I’ve told all of them—you’re here because your parents or a professor have determined you do not understand the basics of shifter sexuality. Regardless of where you’ve been dipping your wick...” Her eyes slide to me and she smirks. “... or who’s been dipping it into you, you’ve shown a complete lack of knowledge about traditions,safety precautions, or breeding that must be corrected before you endanger yourselves or others.”

Crap. Now I know why this class is small… we’re the remedial sex dummies.

“Fine!” the jaguar says as he struggles beneath her. “So my parents punished me for what happened over Christmas break—it’s still bullshit.”

Zhenga snorts as she rolls to her feet lithely, slinking back to the front of the room as if nothing happened. “You wouldn’t be the first rich boy to earn a spot in my class for getting caught with sex workers. Don’t take it personally; I’m an equal opportunity bitch.”

“I’ll bet,” he mutters.

This moron wants to die, I swear.

Deciding I might as well learn something if I have to be in this embarrassing situation, I raise my hand. “Will we be learning about… rare shifter behavior as well?”

The lioness tilts her head, and I can see the wheels turning as she considers her answer. “Yes, I believe we might need to, Miss Drew.”

I let out a sigh of relief as she moves to a table to collect some papers. A sheaf of syllabi makes its way from person to person, and I wait for mine while Zhenga walks over to the light switch by the door.

“The first thing we’re going to do is watch a film about the traditions of canine and feline shifters. This information may also apply to other shifter types who behave similarly to these larger groups. You will need to take notes, because I expect a five-page paper on an animal of your choosing by next Monday.”

My eyes adjust to the screen and I watch intently, taking notes as the narrator explains how the two classes of animals find and identify others they want to mate with. A vibration in my pocketgives me pause, and I look around, hoping I’ll be able to at least read the message without getting in trouble. I almost laugh when I see the professor stretched out on her own bean bag, texting away like a pro. She’s not going to notice if I get up and start dancing a rhumba.

Ru-ru: How’s the birds and the bees going, Dollypop?

Coco: I’ve heard the teacher is a grade-A bitch.

I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to make a sound. Cori doesn’t mince words about people she doesn’t like, and I have a feeling my leonine professor is on her list.

Dollybear: She’s… something, that’s for sure.

Ru-Ru: You’d be cranky, too, if you should be the heir to the Leonidas empire, but your daddy won’t hand it over until you find a suitable mate.

Coco: Another reason the patriarchy needs to die off.

Dollybear: That would explain why she seems like she’s stalking the royal men.

Coco: It better not be yours, or I’ll…

Ru-Ru: Coco, even Dollybear has to know she’s done the horizontal mambo with the tiger king. It’s no secret on campus. But the past is the past.

Coco: I’m just saying I’ll… cut a bitch.

Dollybear: Cori!

Coco:Well, I will.

Ru-Ru: What else is going on? We haven’t seen you since we got back.

I chew my lip. While I’m dying to tell my friends all about break and my date with Chess, there’s a more pressing issue they need to know about.

Dollybear: Something weird happened this morning… right before class, actually.

Ru-Ru: Tell me!

Dollybear: I got this weird letter… from the murdered weasel. He must have arranged for it to be delivered after his death, because someone slipped it under my door before I was awake.

Coco: I don’t like the sound of that. Letters from dead people are no bueno.

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