Page 51 of Let Us Prey

“We could take you, baby girl. I’ve got plenty of my own, but I’m always game to add more,” the tiger says before giving me an excited look. “Chessie doesn’t have much—maybe you can talk him into more? I mean, all three of us have the required Khan ink and brands, but he’s never gone past that.”

She turns quickly, holding onto the towel to keep it from falling. “I’d love to! We could have a big outing. Maybe even the other grumpy pusses would come. I mean, since I discovered that amazing kitchen, I want to get food I can make like a normal person. Delivery is getting boring.”

I cock a brow at her with a shy smile. “Do you know how to cook?”

“Well, no.” She wrinkles her nose and walks over to the bathroom with her clothes, talking to us from just inside the door as she dresses. “But I’m a fast learner. I can use YouTube and with that setup, I should be good.”

Fitz’s lack of movement when she didn’t close the door was distracting, but after a moment, I catch what she actually said. “Did you say… you discovered a kitchen? Where?”

That gets my lover’s attention and his eyes get wide as saucers. “Here?”

Dolly pops her head out as she braids her gorgeous sherbet colored locks. “Yes, here, you goons. I couldn’t sleep the other night and I kind of went on a walkabout… I found out that the second floor is a big dining room and kitchen with so much cool shit. It’s ridiculous for it to sit empty.”

Renard and Aubrey do not let people explore their domain.

“Uh, Angel? What… What happened when you were wandering? Did you… run into anyone?” I ask carefully. Neither of the winged members of our group mentioned this, and I’m astounded.

“Duh,” she replies as she walks out in a pair of skintight ripped jeans and a cropped black hoodie with strategic cuts in the arms. “But it’s okay. I’m allowed to clean up the second floor and get the kitchen working. Scout’s honor.”

My mouth hangs open in shock as she makes the gesture everyone recognizes for pledging, and I turn to look at Fitz. He’s in a similar state of shock and even shakes his head as if trying to make sure he heard correctly. “Aubrey or Renard… gave you permission to use another floor? Alone?”

She rolls her eyes at me and plops on the bench to pull on her boots. “Yes. In fact, I’m free to roam wherever I want. So ha!”

That revelation is paired with her sticking her tongue out at us, and I laugh softly. Fitz was right for once; this girl has literally wrapped all five of us in some weird web. Not even the grouchy book dragon is immune to her charms. They don't allow us free rein in their Tower, and we've been friends for over a decade. YetDelores Drew waltzed in with the sound of punk rock and her middle finger raised… only to enchant every single one of us.

She really might be an angel.

“Are you ready to go, Angel?” I ask with a soft smile. She nods and I roll to my feet, holding a hand out to Fitz.

“We can take Felix’s Jag since there’s three of us. His bike only seats two safely.”

She snorts, covering her mouth as her sapphire eyes dance. “You don’t want to ride on the handlebars, Chess? It’d be dangerous, but fun as shit if it isn’t far.”

“No, no,” I blurt. “We can take the convertible. No need for danger.”

Both my wicked tiger and the smoky eyed temptress look at me with similar teasing smiles on their face. It occurs to me that I have a thing for bad boys—and girls—who push my boundaries. Dolly was teasing, but I know she would have tried that stunt if I’d said yes. Fitz absolutely would have let her and I’m going to be the voice of reason in this little triad, for sure.

I can live with that.

“Now that we’ve established Chessie is a wet blanket, can we go? I can’t wait for you to feel that engine purr for you, baby girl.” She gives Fitz a reproving look and I rub my hand over my face. “What? She likes vibration and we both know it! I’m being considerate of her needs.”

“I’d rather take my Mustang and let you feel my girl purr,” Dolly interjects. “Both of you.”

My face flames as I look at Fitz for help, but he’s just giving her a dreamy look. He finally snaps out of it and replies with a smirk. “I’d love to see how you handle a stick, and so would Chess.Lead the way.”

Merciful Bast, I hope these two don’t get worse while we’re out or I will not survive this trip—and we’ll get kicked out of the store for certain.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Lucille

“Matilda!Get your feathered ass in here!”

I rise from the Queen Anne desk in my study, heels clicking on the Amazonian Ipe wood floor. I’d prefer Italian marble, but Bruno insists on flexing his manhood by filling the house with endangered pelts and materials. As if anyone assumeshe’sin charge of this family simply because we’ve decorated our home with expensive trophies—the idea is laughable.

He’s little more than a crocodile handbag I drag out for special occasions, but I don’t mind the false front. The right people see him strut and posture, and I’m able to conceal my activities for the Society without scrutiny. The general population of predators has no idea how much of their day-to-day lives are decided by a select group of elites led by a woman, and I prefer to keep it that way.

Despite thesurvival of the fittestatmosphere of pred life, they don’t give females equal credit for their abilities. Our men are no more enlightened than human ones, and I don’t have the patience to justify my decisions simply because my balls are on the inside of my body. Knowing that the revelation of who they bow to would horrify and emasculate them certainly improves my day.

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