Page 153 of Let Us Prey

Her hold snaps and I nod when I can finally look up at her freely. “You’re definitely right. No one can know a prey animal has this power. It would put you in even more danger.”

She lets out a long breath, staring at the ceiling as she grumbles, “Could I be normal for one fucking day? Is that too much to ask?”

Laughing, I rise and pull her into my arms. “Normal is boring, angel. Now let’s figure out the rest of this puzzle so we can tell the guys.”

“Deal.”

Thriller

Delores

After my adventure with Chess,we updated all the boards in the Tower and everyone took extra assignments.

Aubrey took the painting of super great grandaddy Khan to the library to run tests on it while Felix agreed to work with me on the scary alpha thing. I couldn’t replicate it for them—of course—but they believed Chess when he said he felt the push. Everyone but Fitz gave each other terrified looks as he described it, and I considered bopping them all in the nose.

Not comforting, assholes.

Time passed quickly between our detective work and focusing on my end of the year projects and exams. The threat of the killer is still a concern, but the Heathers aren’t bothering me. Between my bullies’ distraction and the workload, the rest of their minions have dropped their campaign of whispers down to sneers. People have approached me since the talent show video went viral, but they were fine with either joining the bullies or doing nothing to help until three weeks ago.

Barf. I’m not putting stock in their fickleloyalties.

One good thing came out of my fifteen minutes of fame: it made it much harder for Pink to use her dad’s connections and her platform to fuck with me. That quieted the Apex boards down and I’m not constantly bothered by the dings of being tagged in nasty shit—for the moment.

Yellow seems to have fully ingratiated herself with the group, so she’s following orders instead of trying to get attention. It wasn’t hard to figure out she was behind the plagiarism bullshit. Cranky old Professor Cormac made her the Apex paper delivery person and even the asshole Abel is giving her a wide berth. It solidified her place with my ex-frenemies, but made her toxic waste to the staff.

Not that she seems to care.

It feels fantastic to be free of the constant buzzing for the last part of my freshman year, though. I’d much prefer to be working on the mystery, my classes, and my relationships. The Heathers are part of my past that won’t let go because of their petty need for narcissistic supply. Each day I’m supported by people who actually care about someone other than themselves, and I get farther away from them and my psyche gets healthier.

I have better things to do with my life than play games with such vain, immature sociopaths.

While studying for final exams, Aubrey has been sending me tidbits from his research to look over whenever I take a break. We’ve been texting theories back and forth—including one that all the drawings are actually map overlays. We’re not sure what the remaining three go to, but we think getting the painting and puzzle box to reveal their secrets will help.

Renard is the one who figured out we need to take everything to that atrium on the night of the Blood Moon at the end of this week. We decided not to risk waiting for the next one, which sent everyone scrambling for answers. I have to focus on working my cottontail off for my finals while they do their things. Lucillewasn't serious with her show of support and will lash out if I flunk because of searching secret tunnels.

My mother is up to her neck in this bullshit, just like it seems the twins’ father might be.What I don’t know is why the Council is stealing or killing students…But the ‘how’ has to relate to Lucille’s slip about the ‘Society tunnels’. Somewhere on campus, the damn things must be accessible from an outside entrance. That’s how the killers and kidnappers are getting past security on the ground and in the air.

Felix is determined to find and plug that leak in the perimeter, so until he does, I’m not allowed to go anywhere without my escorts.

This is going to be a long, long week.

Sighing,I turn off the shower and step out into my steamy bathroom. I’m supposed to meet my ‘escort’ in a few minutes, so I have to dress for tonight’s super-secret prowling activities quickly. Somehow, I doubt the rest of my guys will take this as seriously as Fitz intoned, but I’m going to humor him. Even if we don’t find a damn thing with the ritual Aubrey finally found behind the painting, I’ll keep the shining chain from the puzzle box. It’s got two tiger charms on it and I think it’s a Khan relic.

Now it’s mine and I’ll use it to remind myself I have a phony tiger king of Bloodstone to deal with later.

Pushing aside my fury for another day, I walk to my closet. The black leather catsuit Rufus helped me pick out fits like a glove. I lace up the thigh-high combat boots with a smile of satisfaction, knowing the glowing collar Rennie gave me will keep this from getting destroyed. Heading to the mirror, I pull my rainbow waves into a high ponytail, add some smoky, bunny-burglar eye makeup, and tuck my phone into the hidden pocket on my hip.

What else will I need? I hate to be unprepared.

Frowning, I reach into my top drawer and pull out the folding knife Fitz gave me, clipping it inside my bra. It’s hidden by my boobalicious cleavage in the half-zipped suit. As Felix says, inside of thirty-four feet, I have an extra edge with a knife and combat skills. Outside of that, I can run my ass off until I find better ground.

Because of the twins, I’m ready for anything.

A sharp knock at my door startles me, but a sniff tells me it’s my gargoyle patiently waiting like a shadow in the bright hallway. Renard would never just barge into my room like Fitz, even if it doesn’t bother me at all when the tiger does it. His odd mix of courtly manners and hungry desire are such a contrast, and I can’t help but feel my stomach tingling as I think about it.

“Coming!” I call as I tuck the brass knuckles Aubrey slipped me after our date in the opposite pocket. I’ve missed my guys while we all worked, and I’m hoping to reconnect in the nest tonight. Renard’s low chuckle makes my core ache, and I grin as I throw the door open. “Ready to solve a mystery, big guy?”

He snorts, taking his eyes over the skin tight suit as his tail flicks up one of my legs slowly. “Someone’s channeling Emma Peel tonight.”

---