Page 41 of Let Us Prey

That’s when Zhenga rolls up and I almost lose my shit again. Her fighting gear is just as skimpy as the girl in the back row, but unlike Barbie, I want nothing to do with touching her exposed skin. Thelioness is gorgeous and built like a brick house—I just have no interest in her. The males in my class, however, look like they’re about to jizz all over themselves.

Better put a stop to that before Z does—she’s not very subtle, either.

“Get your shit together,” I roar at the boys, making googly eyes at her. “This is Professor Zhenga, and she teaches… well, you’ll find that out next semester depending on what your family has told you about our biology. Her other skill set is being a top competitor in the female Pred Games. She will gladly chop your cock off and feed it to the sharks in the lake if you get fresh with her.”

Zhenga’s laugh is sultry and I notice Barbie making a sour face as she listens. “Felix is correct. If they have not forced you to control your baser instincts in your cushy home lives, you will learn to behave at Apex. There are many places you will get away with acting like spoiled twats, but this ring isn’t one of them.”

Her words cause a buzz of conversations in the stands, and I roll my eyes. I’m sure they’re all contemplating calling their parents or fucking lawyers, but it won’t help them. This is a required program and if they don’t complete it, their asses get booted from the Academy. No parent will want their darlings labeled as drop-outs from the premier pred school in the country. Each one of them will find that out eventually, but not right now.

“Enough!” I reach down and tug my shirt off, tossing it aside as I back away from the lioness. “We will demonstrate first, then call on pairs of you until we’re done.”

That almost gets a purr out of Zhenga and she mutters something about the last time we got naked together that makes me shoot her a dirty look. It earns me a pout, but she drops into position anyway, nodding when she’s ready to begin. “At your word, Raj.”

Her words draw another gasp out of the crowd and I roll my eyes. “Only the basics, Z. No shifting, no funny business. This is not a staff event.”

“As long as I get to wrestle with you, I’m game,” she replies tauntingly. Before I can correct her on her bullshit again, she darts forward with the speed of her animal.

I’ve fought Zhenga enough times to know her strength is in her speed and willingness to play dirty. She’s aiming for my knees, so I allow her to get close before I pivot out of her path. Her forward momentum works against her and she can’t stop quickly enough to veer off her path. With a wink at the crowd, I dance backwards as she charges past. I wait for her to wheel around, springing forward to knock her off balance. Once she’s on the ground, I use my body weight to pin her in place.

Normally, she’d fight her way free, but that would entail much more violence than I’ve asked her to display. She purrs as she looks up at me, clearly enjoying her position under me despite my repeated warnings.

My ears catch a tiny growl in the air and when I lift my eyes to find it, I’m surprised to see Barbie sitting so rigidly you’d think she was about to lift off. Her fists are clenched on her lap and a dark expression is playing about her features.

Is she… jealous?

The thought makes my tiger rumble in pleasure, and Zhenga gives me a sultry smile. Blinking, I give her a stern look, lifting off her body to dust myself off. I could have shown them more captive positions, but I’m not interested in giving her the wrong idea if Barbie’s ire arouses my beast more.

Which it shouldn’t, but fuck me if it’s not.

I can feel the weight of her stare as Zhenga rises from the ground and tilts her head at my students.

“I allowed Felix to pin me so you might see how a fight should end—domination. When we fight with no limits, there is more blood, more ferocity, and it takes far longer because we are close toevenly matched.” A snarl rips from me, and she gives me a suspicious look before adding, “His tiger takes umbrage to my claim and since his lineage trumps mine, I will yield.”

She drops to her knees, head bowed, and I sigh in irritation. It calms my cat, but I’m not fond of overt displays like this in public. “Get up, Zhenga. No need for this shit.”

“But I love being on my knees for you,” she says with a mischievous expression. The growl sounds again and her grin gets bigger as she gets up, looking for its source. “However, it sounds like there’s another person eager to jump in the ring. Perhaps we should allow her to have her turn?”

Barbie’s eyes go wide and a look of fear comes over her. “With… one of you?”

Zhenga laughs and I shake my head. It’s clear she’s not even certain which one of us she’d be more terrified to take on—though, obviously for different reasons. “No, Barbie. With one of the other students. I’m feeling generous, so I’ll even let you pick which one.”

Her gaze narrows as she stands, putting her hands on her hips. I don’t know why I thought she’d back down or cower; the girl has stood her ground every time I’m around. She finally points at the head bully with the gold bow, her lips curving as she looks to me for approval.

Fucking hell. Bravery looks as good on her as everything else.

The snooty Heather stands, tottering a little on the sky high heels she foolishly wore to class. Kicking them off, she watches as one of the idiotic hyenas picks them up and flips her hair over her shoulder. “DD, you’ll never learn your place. Just like before and until the day you die… I’ll make you snivel in fear and defeat in front of everyone.”

“Prom wasn’t a fair fight, E. You rarely give your enemies one and that’s why you think you’re hot shit.” A feral grin spreads over herface as she calmly walks to the stairs and makes her way to the ring. “This time, it’s just you and me. No minions, no flunkies, and no cheating.”

You could drop a pin in the dirt and hear it, as the previously quiet Barbie steps into the center of the ring and turns to face the crowd with her arms spread in ‘come at me, bro’ position. An acrid scent fills my nostrils and I realize its fear radiating off Gold Bow as she stares at her opponent.

“I don’t have to do this, right? I’m not even dressed for it, Professor. And if I get hurt?—”

Zhenga smirks, cutting her off. “That’s your fault, honey. I know Felix didn’t bring fresh meat to the pit without telling them to be prepared. It’s not his style. If you didn’t listen, that’s on you.”

“Agreed,” I respond with a satisfied grin. “I offered to let Barbie pick, and you made yourself a target by acting like a fucking fool at every turn last week. Let it be a lesson for all of you—if you wave a flag at a bull, you eventually get the horns.”

Barbie holds her hand out, crooking a finger at the griping dog. “Afraid a wittle bunny is going to beat you, E? What would Daddy say then? Gosh, I can’t imagine!”

---