Page 56 of Let Us Prey

Her long lashes flutter as she looks away, expression serious as she considers my words. When she looks up again, she places a small hand on my chest. “You’re not as aloof as you’d like everyone to believe, are you, Renard?”

I swallow hard, pretending I don’t like how astute she is, or the way my name rolls off of her tongue. Her skin is warm on mine, and she’s standing far too close, but I don’t know what to say that won’t betray the effect she has on me.

I hope the feeling is mutual because the night she slept with Aubrey and I was the best slumber I’ve had in centuries.

Everything seems sofamiliar,but as much as I’d love to immerse myself in those memories, Dolly isn’therand I’m not the gargoyle I used to be. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to indulge in nostalgia. Although, a waltz in the moonlight might soothe the irritable git inside of me while I wait for my companion to arrive for dinner.

My mouth opens before my brain catches up, and I blurt out, “Would you like to dance?”

Okay, not the smoothest line in the world, but Delores is making me nervous with her moonlight fairy singing and sassymouth.

“I suppose I could allow you to lead, Monsieur Renard, if you promise not to step on my toes. I have a dance midterm in two weeks and I can’t be hobbling around,” she teases, her lips curving into an adorably mischievous grin.

She takes my hand, letting me lead her into a two-step waltz to the sounds of Beethoven wafting from my room. Once we make a few circuits around the grass, I arch a brow at her playfully. “Am I leading satisfactorily, or do you have a critique,il prima?”

She chokes back a laugh, shaking her head. “I am far from aprima. However, you’ll do as a partner.”

I widened my eyes, and she gasped when she realized how her words could be misinterpreted. Her face flushes that rosy color again, and I spin her around, dipping her backwards to dispel the awkward moment. I know what she meant, but the ingenue blushes and natural shyness are making my chest tight. I don’t know how to handle her intriguing combination of charming innocence and worldly sarcasm. It makes every nerve in my body fire, which only riles up my gargoyle.

Must. Keep. Animal. Brain. Quiet.

“Good to know, as I don’t make a habit of waltzing with people in the moonlight.” The gentle tease makes her giggle again, and I see exactly why Fitz has been running around like a lovesick cartoon character for months.

Delores Drew’s appeal lies in her depth, not just in her surface-level pouty lips or soft curves. Their exile hardens the women at this school, or they have no personality outside of the personas their families molded for them. This girl is unapologetically discovering herownidentity and watching her fumble and fire back is endearing as hell.

“You don’t? I mean, there’s enough room out here for Fitz to teach you to grind or Chess to waltz with you…” She throws her head back and laughs when my eyes narrow. Once her giggles are under control again, she raises a sassy brow and continues. “Maybe Felix then? He seems like a foot stomper, though, and putting you and Aubrey together in this tight space might be a squeeze. One of his grumpy belches might toast you, but I bet he’s lighter on his feet than he looks.”

I snort, the imagery finally getting to me. She’s not afraid of anything, it seems. Most of the shifters she just poked fun at would kill someone on the spot if they heard these musings, but I know none of them would harm a hair on her cotton candy head. I lift my hand and let her twirl again, watching the moonlight hit the voluminous gown as she spins a few times. It’s been such a long time since I had this much fun with someone who is not my ancient companion, and she paints the prettiest picture, inside and out. When she stops spinning, she rewards me with a brilliant smile that hits me in the chest like a cannonball.

Romance will not be enough with this girl.

“Renard, are you okay?” she asks worriedly. “Your necklace thing is…glowing.”

Nodding, I rub my chest again and send her a reassuring look. I’m about to give her my go-to explanation of the talisman, but before I can, the very book dragon she mentioned before lands in front of us. He’s half-shifted as usual, and a knowing smirk is playing over his lips as he eyes the two of us.

“I looked for you on the balcony, but imagine my surprise when I heard you down here instead,” Aubrey drawls, his eyes dancing with mischief.

He can smell how this is affecting me—and he’d better keep his damn mouth shut about it.

Delores’ eyes light up. “We were dancing, you old fuddy duddy. Don’t be grouchy just because I made him late for whatever the hell you two get up to when no one is looking.”

I blink, rushing to stop her from asking too many questions. “I wasworried because she was down here alone and defenseless, Aubrey. Plus, you were late and didn’t even send a text. Again.”

“Oooh. Five points to the rock man,” Dolly whispers, tilting her head at the scaly librarian as she awaits his response.

His eyes narrow for a moment before his lips curve into a grin that means nothing but trouble. I’ve been his friend long enough to know he’s returning the favor of causing chaos. “Well, lunchable, I suppose if you’re here... " My eyes widen and I shake my head, knowing where this is going. It’s like watching a train wreck about to happen. "... perhaps you should come with us. We both require a hunt.”

Holy Bridget in the bathwater, is he fucking serious? We take no one with us.

“Oooooooh, can I?!!” Her nightgown bounces as she jumps up and down, clapping her hands like a little kid. Compared to us, I suppose she is, but the analogy is damned near perfect.

Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. Aubrey isn’t trying to screw up our relationships—whatever they are—with this girl. He’s testing her covertly to find out if she can handle the aspects of our animals that very few know about. If she can’t, the question of her presence in our life is answered before either of us gets too invested. The mere act of inviting her tells me he is more interested in her than he will probably admit to anyone—including me.

Sly dragon.

When I don’t protest, he turns back to her. “You may join us, little one. But Rennie here isn’t meant to carry even a girl as small as you for too much of a distance. You’ll have to ride me.” Her eyes pop open and I choke, making him howl and puff smoke as he laughs. “Meaning I’ll fully shift; both of you read far too much smutty romance from my stacks.” Delores flushes, then scowls, pointing at me as if it weremyfault.

Feeling playful, I point back at her, and Aubrey snorts again. “You look like two-thirds of the Spiderman meme Fitz sent me the other day. Own your word porn addiction so we can get moving.”

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