Page 70 of Let Us Prey

“Do you want to show me? I’m not a scholar like Emo Batman or Scaly Shakespeare, but Felix and I had to learn shit in order to take over. Not just fighting and ruthless shit, but actual history and politics—though he’s infinitely better at it than me.” I tilt my head, feeling nervous as I offer.

No one ever asks me about this kind of shit and I get why, but just because I’m a hyper, jokey motherfucker doesn’t mean I’m stupid.

Her eyes widen and she squeezes my hand excitedly. “Do you mind? I’d love to show you. I mean, every perspective helps and your viewpoint will be so different from Aubrey’s. We can use all the help we can get puzzling out why this makes both of us feel so edgy. It’s like the book has mojo or something.”

My heart grows five sizes like that green dude in the cartoon. My baby girl wants my opinion on book stuff and she thinks I can fucking help with something that isn’t beating the snot out of someone. This shit is why Delores Drew is goddamn special. It’s not that she’s different from others; it’s that her heart is enormous despite going through the massive amount of crap life has thrown at her.

I might rock the boyfriend stuff, but my baby girl puts us all to shame in the good person category.

As we approach the front door, I notice the sign flipped and sigh. “Dragon Master is off with the Rock Man. They locked up this place tight, babe.”

She reaches between her breasts and I’m distracted again until she pulls a key out of her bra. "Voila!”

I’ve never been jealous of a key before, but fuck it, here we are.

“You have a key? What the hell did you do, lick his sooty balls?” I snark in amazement.

Dolly rolls her eyes, huffing at me indignantly. “I most certainly did not. I am, however, pretty good at the tasks I’m assigned, so I’m allowed to come in to work when I want.”

That damn near floors me because El Fuego doesn’t let anyone in his stupid library without supervision.

“You must be fucking outstanding, baby girl. Now let’s get inside to see what you’ve got before he comes swooping in and toasts my ass for setting foot in here.”

Giggling, she guides me into the main area on the first floor, humming under her breath as she deftly avoids every obstacle in the dark. She really knows this place and I can see why the spiky tailed asshole is creaming his tweed over her. When my eyes adjust, I realize she’s leading us to a back corner out of the sight line of the open tables.

“What’s the story, morning glory? I can’t believe Aubrey is keeping something valuable back here, even if it is a delightful spot to get it on.” Squinting, I look at the shelves and laugh when I realize this is a non-fiction section on religious history—probably never used in the slightest.

My girl goes on her tiptoes, looking delicious in the short skirt as she does so, her fingers skating over books one by one like she’s looking for something. When she finds it, she yells in victory. “Ah-ha!”

I’m about to chastise her for drawing attention to us, but I’m too stunned to get words out when the fucking bookcase swings out like we’re in Clue. She grabs my hand and tugs me towards the darkness behind it with a mischievous grin.

“Come on, Fitz. We have to take the elevator thingy to get to the archives.”

What the actual fucking fuck?! The archives? The ones where sooty balls hides all his good shit?!

“I’m definitely not allowed in here, baby girl. Our dragon buddy barely lets me in the regular library because I might damage shit. I don’t know if?—”

She snorts. “Just do what I say, and I promise it will be fine. Can you be a good boy, Fitzy?”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

She used Chessie’s name for me and she said those words.

My cock is ready to tear out of my pants to get to her. I blink, licking my lips. Dolly bobs her brows, and I wonder where she learned that tidbit. Our girl is full of surprises today, and hell if I don’t want to see what they all are. “Uh, well, I probably could have until you said that.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to love being your teacher,” she replies, her ass swaying as she leads me into the void and the shelf clicks shut.

Spitting my words back at me? Fuck, this girl is my goddamn queen.

Raiders March

Delores

I hadno idea Aubrey kept his archives so secret. He gave me the key to get in unbidden and I occasionally pop in when I can’t sleep. It’s never been an issue, but the way Fitz is acting, I’m fairly certain not even Chess gets to access the parts of the library I’ve been granted leave to work in.

Does that mean the dragon likes me?He was pretty pissed when he woke up with me sandwiched between him and Rennie that morning.

Sadly, I haven’t gotten an invitation back yet. Maybe that’s why he gave me the key—he was distracting me, so I didn’t bother them again. That thought makes my heart ache a bit, so I take a deep breath and let it out. Fitz is following me and he wants me around; if the stodgy old coot wants me to be far away, I’ll stay there because other people want me.

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