Page 135 of Let Us Prey

“Sorry, baby. I need to lie down. Hopefully, you’ll be okay with that.”

I walk into the gargoyle’s bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor. Keeping Jinx curled in the crook of my arm, I walk over to his nest and flop into the huge recessed pile of blankets and pillows with a grateful moan. Every time I get to curl up in this giant pile, it feels like I’m lounging on a cloud and I love it.

I think I’ll just lie here until the guys get home...

Loud shouting wakes me,and Jinx scrambles off the bed as I struggle to sit up. My heart pounds and I tilt my head, trying to make out what’s going on upstairs through the thick ceiling.

Oh, shit. I totally left my last exam without my escort.

Quickly rolling to my feet, I scurry out the door to the stairs, feeling terrible that I let my phone run out of battery without sending a message to the group chat. My last exam was sex ed, but I think it was supposed to be Rufus or Cori meeting me after class… although, it could have been Felix…Shit, I don’t know anymore.An apology is ready on my lips, but half-way up, I pause, realizing the problem is something else entirely.

“I don’t know how they got it up here without anyone seeing them, but a dead body on the balcony is unacceptable!”

At the word ‘dead body’, I leap up the remaining stairs and charge into the room. “There’s a dead body up here? How did I miss that? I’ve been alone here for a while...”

Five sets of eyes turn to look at me, and this time, their gazes are full of fear.

Sabotage

Felix

“Henrietta, this shit is unacceptable!”

The diminutive avian shifter shrinks behind her desk in terror, but I don’t care. Her handling of the mess on campus this year has been subpar at best and downright criminal at worst. She’s molting feathers everywhere as she tries to control her flickering shift. I growl again, knowing we won’t be able to get her to see reason if her animal is this panicked.

“What Felix is trying to convey,” Aubrey begins, pausing when a hawk appears. The headmistress zooms around until she hits the glass of her window and shifts back while sliding down the wall. Our fiery friend sucks in a calming breath and tries again. “We have several problems that affect students and staff negatively. You must take action before Apex becomes a laughingstock.”

I see where he’s going—get her to worry about the academy as she’ll fight for that so she isn’t ousted.

Renard pushes off the wall, walking over to help the hawk up and into her chair. “I suggest we start with the most expedient matter,Henny. This plagiarism claim stinks like day old fish on the Captain’s dock.”

“It’s fucking bullshit. You didn’t ask anyone to check it out before you sent that letter,” Fitz snarls as he prowls to the desk and puts his hands on it to get in her face. “The florist and the briquette over there checked four separate plagiarism checkers—even human ones. I dug out a tree’s worth of posts, referencing the scheme on the Apex boards. You let those bitchy twats and Professor Limp Dick snow you.”

Our supposed boss looks at each of us for confirmation and sees how serious we are. She absolutely fucked up and even though we gave her time to figure it out, she ignored the signs. Now she’s going to have to reverse the decision, apologize, and have Fitz wipe the boards. The students will be furious and you can bet your ass he’s going to plant shit to keep better track of the bullies. Henny will regret cowing before the pack of slavering morons before this is over; my twin will accept nothing less than justice.

“I-I can fix this,” she squawks as she looks over the proof Aubrey compiled. “Of course Miss Drew won’t be expelled, but I don’t know if we can do everything the plan you submitted suggests. The students have rights and…”

I’m about to open my mouth when Chess speaks, his eyes amber with the glow of his cheetah. “Henrietta, I had the pleasure of meeting the woman who gave birth to Miss Drew on New Year’s Eve. While I’m a Khan and her viciousness doesn’t concern me, do you wish to be on Lucille Drew’s bad side? If you don’t allow us to erase this incident from the records, it will reflect badly on their family name, and I’m sure Dolly will have to inform her mother.”

Ho-leeey shit. Fucking the princess has made our meek sibling a secret bad ass.

Fitz beams like a proud parent and walks over to kiss the hell out of his consort. He doesn’t give a single fuck. We’re in a business meeting with our boss, but my twin showed his love with zero fearof judgment. I’m not sure how he turned out the way he did with our upbringing, but I’m a little jealous right now. He’s certifiable, but somehow more emotionally healthy than any of us.

The cheetah beams like he’s basking in the sun before he turns back to Henny. “What do you say?”

“No, no, Professor Khan. Informing Madame Lucille is unnecessary. I will need to have a conversation with Professor Abel about being more discerning when taking the word of one student against another. His intentions were good, I’m sure, but he failed to confirm the accusation before bringing it to me. That’s not acceptable, and I will address it firmly.”

The dragon snorts, blowing smoke rings across the room. “Somehow, I doubt that. However, if you agree to our terms, this incident can be kept between us.”

Cutting my gaze to her, I stalk closer, letting the alpha pred out for a moment. “Agreed, but you will also get these nasty little bitches under control. I don’t care how you do it, Henrietta Shirdal, but the dirty tricks like piss-filled dorm rooms, newspaper articles, and faked plagiarismstop now. If it doesn’t, I promise you will also face the wrath of the Khan ambush.”

“Truth,” Fitz sing-songs. “Dear old Dad doesn’t love Felix, but he’ll be livid that someone blatantly disobeyed a directive to appease measly Council assholes.”

Chess looks thoughtful before he adds, “Insubordination is adeath sentenceon Bloodstone.”

That has the poor hawk shifter molting like crazy despite not being fully shifted. I have no idea what the hell her heritage is—not fully Shirdal for certain, which explains a lot—but she’s damn near having a panic attack. I look at Renard, hoping he has enough control to discuss the rest of our requests with Henny before she passes out.

The gargoyle winks and walks over to pour her a glass of water from the pitcher on the sideboard. “Calm down, Henny. The tigers are only stating what could happen, not what is happening. Dramatics seem to be necessary in order for you to take us seriously this year.”

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