Page 44 of Let Us Prey

“My Baby Girl, duh.” His grin widens as he watches me shift in my seat. “As you know, Felix got thrashed at lunch after her spectacular fight and told the entire staff she’s under Khan protection. We both know that’s getting around before the weekend and probably spreading further within weeks. Once she’s ready, Chessie wants her to join us. You’re spending time on technology—which youhate—researching something that’s been over for months. Fuck, even the rock man is brooding more than normal. You all need to get with the program.”

What in the seven wonders of the world is he babbling about?

I’m simply doing due diligence in investigating a threat that might affect our home and our group. Unfortunately, tech is a necessary component of that search. There’s no hidden meaning behind it.

“Miss Drew is a student, and she’s quite intriguing, but I’m not working on this because of her. Apex is the only home I’ve known for many years, and if there’s some jackass out there trying to harm students, we could lose our jobs and our residence,” I protest. My frustration escalates as I talk, causing puffs of smoke to escape as the fire burns inside.

Dragons are not good liars, for reasons that should be obvious.

“Yeah, yeah. Keep tragically lying to yourself, Smoky. I don’t know why I’m the only one in this crew who sees it, but Delores Drew is the best thing to hit this place sinceIarrived.'' He winks and shrugs, his eyes dancing. “And I’m pretty sure she’d be down with giving usalla little lovin’.”

Having Fitz Khan read my thoughts was not on my to do list. This has to stop.

My eyes widen and I sputter, unable to form coherent thoughts as his implication sinks in. I’m not one to share the intimate details of my people with others, so Fitz can’t know dragons are some of the few shifters that live in polyamorous communities. The strength of our people lies within the bonds of the mated groups, but I didn’t expect to find something like that after being exiled. In fact, for more years than I can count, I believed I’d spend the rest of my life alone.

That may have changed, but it doesn’t mean Fitz’s vision of the five of us sharing a Council heir is coming to fruition, either.

Not that I have any desire to—the girl is young, traumatized, and so sheltered that she barely recognizes her own desires, much less those of men exponentially older than her. My horn dog friend is biting off more than he can chew with his horny train of thought, and I don’t know how he expects me to react.

We’re an island of broken toys, and she’s badly damaged—what possible good could come from entertaining his little fantasy?

“Dude, chill. You look like your brain is going to explode. I’m not saying the kitty pile needs to happen tomorrow. Baby Girl isn’t ready for a dragon-sized dick… or your teeny weenie, either.”

Narrowing my eyes, I rise from the chair and stalk over to the chuckling tiger. “You don’t know shit, Fitz Khan—not what I’m thinking or what a dragon dick looks like. Give me the other controller, so I can kick your furry ass.”

I Ship It

Delores

“I feellike half the teachers in this stupid school are giving me suspicious or dirty looks. I really am cursed,” I mutter.

The books in front of us on the stage are full of musicals we can license for this year, and the professors left us to our own devices while we looked. I’m sure they’ve fucked off to a teacher’s lounge or in Professor Sarabhai’s case, smoking one of those weird clove pipe things she likes.

Rufus snorts, shaking his head. “Girl, you’ve got it twisted. Yes, that snivel-y bitch in Shifter History probably hates you, but it’s probably because you’re an heir he can’t suck up to, so he sided with those doppelgänger girls. Professor Short Dick has been schmoozing heirs foryears; you’re not special.”

“What aboutFame?” Cori asks, her brightly colored hair popping up from behind a big songbook. “It feels appropriate.”

“Fuck, no, Coco. Where are we going to get that many dancers who don’t look like water buffalo galloping around the stage?” Rufus shakes his head, leaning back on the stage as he stares up at the lighting rig. “There is a serious lack of talent and eligible, non-closeted dick on this campus. I can’t wait until they finally start letting us out on the weekends.”

Cori snickers, ducking back behind her book as he rambles. I pretend to focus on our task for a minute before I finally give in and ask, “What about everyone else? Felix glares at me like I offended his ancestors now and Chess keeps hiding from me. How am I going to survive the semester? The dudes are all bent out of shape, which means I’m fucked because my only female professors are from this program. Artemis knows they won’t go easy on me grade-wise.”

“Dolly, you told us you’ve always been an outstanding student. I’m sure, regardless of a professor’s personal conflicts, you don’t need to worry about—” Cori stops, looking at Rufus and I staring at her with our mouths open. “Right. I forget what an unregulated hellhole this place is. Yes, I suppose itispossible a few rotten apples could wreck your GPA and make your bitch mother go bonkers.”

I nod, chewing on my lip. “It’s like Fitz and the cranky crew are the only ones besides you guys who give a shit if I survive. But that doesn’t even help, because only Fitz is willing to really get involved.”

“Oh, honey. Fitzgerald Khan may care, but that will only continue until you give up what he’s hunting. At least, that’s been the buzz in the beehive since I arrived.” Rufus holds up his finger and pauses. “Speaking of which,Best Little Whorehouse, anyone? We have ourselves a Dolly.”

Even though I’m not worried about Fitz—he’s with me so much he can’t be fucking around with anyone else—I smack Rufus with my book. “You asshole! I have enough people calling me a whore; I don’t need to star in a show where it’s accurate!” The two of them giggle as I cross my arms over my chest, huffing. I may be a blonde, but I’m notthatblonde. Painting that target on my ass would be as bad as the stupid bunny tail already there.

Cori reaches over and pets my hair, her expression rueful. “Aw, Dolly Bear. We didn’t mean to make you pissy. Rufus was just being… well, Rufus. He’s a grade-A bitch.”

I roll my eyes at her, giving up a smile. “I know that. I’m not mad at either of you—the joke was funny, but the people after me aren’t. If it weren’t for you picking up the phone when I ran to the nurse’s office, I might not be here to choose the musical.”

That’s when I see the change in my friends for the first time—the preds they keep underneath. Rufus’ face morphs under the tattoos, somehow looking even scarier than he already does, and Cori’s bulk grows as white fur sprouts on her limbs. I back away, not because I’m afraid of them, but I’m aware my scent might provoke their animals. Within seconds, a giant polar bear and a half-shifted honey badger are sitting amongst Broadway songbooks and notebooks as if it’s perfectly normal.

“Um, guys? Guys? I didn’t mean...” My butt scoots along the wooden stage slowly, wanting to be ready to run if need be.

My friends aren’t first-years like me, but that doesn’t mean they have full control over their shifting. It takes years for that to happen, which is why Shifter Basics is a five-year class. People need years to master their animal and their emotions. Or at least, that’s what Professor Felix says when he’s not purposely riling me up.

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