Page 72 of Let Us Prey

Maybe at home… though I don’t know where. I wasn’t lying when I said my parents don’t share shit with me except their disdain. It must be something I saw that I shouldn’t have.

Suddenly, my eyes widen and I turn my head slowly, looking up at the camera in the room's corner. Oh, we’re both dead. Aubrey will definitely know we’ve been in here by the pictures and when he looks at the footage, he’s going to go all Targaryen on our asses. Not that I’d dare call his tantrums that to his face, especially after what Fitz just said.

“Fitz,” I whisper, while he continues to get a few more angles of the very first map. “I forgot something important.”

He looks up and smirks again. “To pat my bum for being such a good boy? Don’t worry, baby girl. You still have time.”

“No!” Inching closer to him, I make sure not to look up at the security camera as I murmur, “Aubrey has a camera in here just in case something gets stolen. I don’t think he watches it unless he needs to, and when we pull these pictures out, he won’t be able to stop himself from checking.”

That makes him stop completely and look at me with wild eyes. Before I can grab his arm, Fitz pulls the big chair out from under the table and plops into it, wriggling around with a shit-eating grin on his face. He scoots back and forth in it, then makes a show of getting up and facing me with his naked ass pointed right at the camera. For a finale, my smug troublemaker does a few toe touches, still aimed at the video feed, and then stalks around the table with his dick touching the edges the entire time.

We’re so fucking dead.

“I cannot believe you. You promised,” I say as I close the book and ditch my gloves. “Aubrey might take my key back.”

He snorts and shakes his head. “Oh, I highly doubt that. Felix might have to peel us apart when he comes for me, but honestly? I’ve never sent someone one of my turds covered in the ashes of their kin. That fucker has, and it’s not the worst thing his grumpy ass has ever done.”

I blink. That doesn’t seem like the dragon I see at all. He collects stuffies and squishy stress balls in cute shapes. Aubrey’s growly, but that gross? “Are you sure that wasn’t… you?”

“Oh, baby girl. Men are disgusting no matter how wise and ancient and refined they are. Try stealing some of the poetry reading prince’s special flowers in the garden just once… Kablooey! You find your beer full of some liquid that makes you crap your bed for a week.”

Covering my mouth with my hand, I try very hard not to laugh and fail. I can only imagine the sneaky shit the troublemaking gargoyle gets up to and since I know things Fitz doesn’t, I recognize his stamp on the dragon’s vengeance plots. “Oh, Fitz.”

“You’ll learn to get fun, slightly illegal revenge on those you can’t murder, too. We can teach you,” he says with a wink.

I see how it is.

The professor thing isn’t his jam, but this ‘I’ll teach you’ bit is our little game. I can dig it.

“Okay, baby girl. Let’s blow this popsicle stand and get you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”

I snort. “The bunny was shocking enough, thanks.”

“Ouch. That was bad.”

We R Who We R

Delores

“Ready for our daily grind, Dolly?”Cori calls from the stage.

I smile, feeling sore from dance class but excited to see my friends again. We’re nearly done with the tap unit—the routine being the entirety of our exam—and then I’ll be able to ditch the tiny, ass-baring tap shorts and sports bra I’m still wearing. I haven’t changed yet, because Fitz helpfully pointed out it would convince Chess to allow us to work on the Halloween costumes during our design periods until after exams. Even I’m self-aware enough to realize that I’m wearing little more than a bikini in this dance gear, and I agree it will distract the fuck out of anyone who sees it.

I still didn’t sprint across campus wearing nothing but this shit. I’m not suicidal.

Waving hello to my friends, I walk to where they have piles of fabrics, sequins, lace, sewing baskets, and pattern pieces strewn about like a fabric store exploded, unzipping the giant hoodie I’ve decided Fitz is never getting back. As comfy as it is, it gets boilingin here because of the lighting, and I’d rather not be sweating, no matter how much I love the feeling of safety wearing it brings me.

Todd was a mannerless ass-pig who neveronceoffered me his jacket, even if it was twenty below. I want to experiencerealboyfriend stuff, even if it’s only in my head.

Dropping my bag on the wooden boards, I frown. No one has actually said I’m their girlfriend—not even Fitz. I sort of assumed they were serious about me, but… that might be my naïveté showing again. Dickhead Todd simplytoldpeople I was his, and I went along with it because I was a young, swoony idiot. These professors are men; and I don’t know if I’m delusional in thinking things are more official than they are.

What future could they possibly see with me?

Frowning, I plop down in front of the pile of sample pieces Cori is using to teach me to sew. I told her I didn’t know a whip stitch from a whip-it, but she assured me she could teach anyone. I can feel eyes on me as I thread my needle with the day-glow thread I’m using for the hem of this dress, and when I can’t take it anymore, I look up from my project and wrinkle my nose at my friends.

“Why are you staring at me like I have a big bug on my face?” I pause, eyes widening. “I don’t, do I?”

Rufus snorts and shakes his head. “Chill the fuck out, Dollypop. You’re insect free, but you look like someone drowned your pussy and not in a good way. What’s got those skimpy knickers in a twist?”

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