Page 76 of Let Us Prey

She gestures at my shifted parts, which makes me laugh again, and I squeeze her—involuntarily, of course. Mostly because she’s shaky. “Not at you. I’m discovering that I particularly dislike seeing you so distraught. I’m quite vexed about it.”

She lifts her head and narrows her eyes at me. “Vexed? That’s all? Hmph.”

That adorable tantrum should have been followed by the stomping of a foot, but she seems far too comfortable teasing me while nestled in my arms. “Yes, vexed. I’m well aware you know what that word means. You have an excellent vocabulary, Dolly.”

“I do,” she admits with a sigh. “But I was hoping for something a little less… Victorian.”

If only she knew how very Victorian my thoughts actually are…

I snort, leaning my cheek on the top of her head, purely to rest my neck. “The Victorians were pretentious assholes.”

“Duh. Are you going to tell me anything I don’t know?”

Clever girl.

“Okay, fine, it pisses me the fuck off people are torturing you,” I expel, in a rush, before I change my mind. “Aubrey says you can take care of yourself, and Fitz says he has it handled, but I worry that one of us won’t be around the next time someone tries to hurt you.”

That seems to satisfy her for the moment, because she nestles closer before softly replying, “My turn for a truth: I worry about that, too. But I can’t hide from the world, or depend on everyone to take care of me—that’s how I ended up cluelessly losing my virginity to a tiny-dicked, douche canoe ex-boyfriend and getting the surprise of my life, emerging as abunny.”

She really can’t help herself, can she?

“The real secret is that most people’s first time is a nightmare,petit lapin.Everyone pretends it’s moonlight and roses, but it’s usually awkward and silly and not at all what it will be like later on, even for us ancients. It’s a lot like learning to fly, I suppose. Those of us with wings all looked like idiots while we learned to use them,” I muse, proud of how I steered the conversation to safer territory.

I don’t know how my gargoyle will react if we keep talking about sex.

Luckily, my redirection worked. “Flying was amazing! It was the biggest rush. I’m so glad you guys took me. Can we go again sometime? I don’t mind if it’s at dinnertime.” Delores babbles, gazing up at me with so much excitement, my heart skips a beat again.

Son of a bitch.

“Yes, we can, Dolly. Anytime you wish,” I murmur, knowing in my stony heart it’s the truth.

She sighs and rests her head against my chest again. “Thank you, Renard.”

I guess we’re staying like this for a while. I don’t mind that much—not really.

King of Pain

Felix

I’m stillmad at Chess for allowing that little smart ass bunny to pick the costumes for this ridiculous event. Apex always has a big Halloween bash, but it’s never been mandatory for staff or students to attend. That’s suspicious, much like the dance last spring, and Aubrey has been going bonkers meeting with the prey working the event to ensure we don’t have a repeat of students projectile vomiting like out-of-control fire hoses. Renard provided the nursing staff with a variety of herbs to brew up antidotes to common poisons and anti-venom, but since we haven’t figured out what the hell they used last time, it’s like shooting in the dark.

The whole thing makes my fangs twitch and stinks of Council intervention.

Those fuckers won’t be in attendance, but Bast knows they orchestrated the affair. Henrietta is far too eager to please them and too chicken shit to say ‘no’, even when it’s not safe for the kids she’s supposed to be caring for. I almost sent a missive to some of the few allies I have left within Bloodstone and their satellite locations to see if they’ve heard anything, but I’d rather save that for a genuine emergency.

Favors are never free in the Khan ambush and I don’t want to spend capital that I don’t need to.

My current frustration is fueled by that impotence, but it’s also tinged with fear. Since my exile, I don’t allow anyone to have power over me. Chess giving Barbie free rein to outfit us for this event took away some of my tightly held control and if I didn’t love him like a brother, I’d find a suitable punishment for his little gambit. Nothing violent or harmful, but he wouldn’t be comfortable in public for a short time.

I don’t hurt the ones I care about if I can avoid it, but I also have to maintain order in our ambush.

Looking at the bored expression on the face of the raccoons delivering our boxes, I sigh internally. The damn things require a signature and I can’t fathom why in the fuck that would be. As if anyone would dare touch something addressed to Khans without permission—the idea is outrageous. Even the staff know better than to cross the shifters living in this townhouse, so making me stand here and put my name on this cutesy paper is a flex our little bunny is probably giddy with glee over.

That girl needs a spanking something fierce.

I haul the pile of boxes inside, dumping them in the middle of our living room with a growl of irritation. I don’t know why I let this girl get under my skin so badly, but she’s a genius at riling my tiger up like no one I’ve ever known except my twin. The outside of the damn things are full of drawings and designs and sparkles that make the contents feel even more suspect.

“Hell yeah, baby! Our shit is here,” Fitz says, as he leaps over the couch in a graceful arc. He’s been buzzing with anticipation all day and luckily for me, Chess kept him busy. “I can’t wait to see what my baby girl made for me.”

---