Page 136 of Let Us Prey

His words make her hawk settle slightly, and the headmistress plops down into her chair to catch her breath. “Yes, of course. I deal with many demanding individuals and this isn’t unusual. My… issues seem to be worse today than normal. The pressure from all the unrest is making me very high-strung.”

How the hell can she tell the difference?

“We have other concerns,” Renard says calmly. “You are aware we found another dead student in my private living space last week. Most of the students have left campus for break, outside of a few, so we are working to find the security breach.”

“Finding another student harmed is terrible for the school. At least with disappearances, they occur off campus. We can’t be blamed,” Henrietta says as she fiddles with folders on her desk nervously.

That’s what she’s worried about? Bast’s furry tail, that damn kid is dead!

“I doubt the parents see it that way, but the breach did not occur with my security. At least, not from an entry and exit standpoint.” Ren looks at her, then at us, and sighs. “There are clearly outside forces getting on to campus. They have either found a weak point in the school perimeter or they are using magic. The body appeared at the top of my Tower with no record of any untoward activity on my system, Henrietta.”

“Magic? That’s a fairytale, Monsieur Laveaux. Shifter societies don’t have magic anymore,” Henny scoffs. “They must have gained access another way. Technology is fallible.”

Aubrey arches a brow. “It is, especially with lax users, as we haveon campus. However, between his tech and the band of prey at his command, I believe that did not happen this time.”

Her face gets red and I push the water glass toward the flighty bird. “Breathe, Shirdal. We want permission to speak to the school security department, access to key logs, and every map they have of campus. The rest Fitz will get for us from older city archives.”

“That.. doesn’t sound like too much to ask.” She finally settles, turning to her computer and opening her email to comply. “What else do you need?”

“An email to the National Library so I can research the poison from last spring more thoroughly,” Aubrey adds. “A list of the students and families who left for spring break to verify arrivals at their homes via social media. And we need to knowimmediatelyif anyone does not return on time.”

Nodding, our boss continues working as we talk. She almost looks relieved and I wonder if taking this on will put us in the line of fire instead of her. “Henrietta, youcannottell the Council we are investigating. They are too powerful and if a member is involved, they will scramble to cover it up. More people could die.”

Her face goes white this time. “But what will I tell them about progress?”

“Tell them they should send the Sibbies in,” Fitz says with a snort. “It’s what should have happened from the first corpse. Don’t be dense.”

“Madame Lucille was very adamant we avoid that at all costs.”

“I’ll bet she was,” Chess mutters. “She’s probably butt cheek implant deep in this fucking nightmare.”

His meetings with our princess’ mother definitely went poorly and I’m a little chuffed. He hasn’t discussed it with us yet, just mentioned they were accosted at the restaurant and he handled it. I give him a sharp look, letting him know I want information after we finish with Henny.

“This is only the beginning of trouble here,” Renard says as looks out the window. “I can feel it in my bones. We have not found a motive for any of the terrible things going on except for the childish heirs’ pranks. The deaths and missing students are actions of a far more patient, calculating enemy—or enemies.”

That statement hangs in the air for a moment, and we all stay silent as we consider it. It doesn’t bode well for the princess, nor for any other student.

“Let’s take this one step at a time, Rennie,” Aubrey says as he rises from his chair. “Make sure we have everything we need before nightfall, Henrietta. We may be the only ones who care enough to save your chickenshit hide from what’s coming.”

On that churlish note, we leave the spare Shirdal heir quaking in her chair as we head home.

I’m Good

Felix

“This is a terrible idea,”I mutter. “How did she convince all four of you perfectly intelligent shifters to take her and two of her friends to a fucking outdoor festival?”

My twin rolls his eyes, bouncing around the living room of the townhouse. “Because it’s Spring Break, duh! Baby Girl wants to have fun like a normal girl and fuck if I’m going to deny her.”

Chess shrugs, giving me an apologetic smile. “Sorry to overrule you, Felix, but Fitz is right. Campus is no safer than this place with bodies dropping. Dolly might as well have some fun before school starts up again.”

Rubbing my hand over my face, I growl softly. While they have a point, I’m not sure the extra work on self-defense she’s been doing with my twin is enough to feel secure. The annual Shifter Fantasy Festival in Cambridge draws a crowd from all over the country; I’m not comfortable having that many unknowns around the princess. The five of us are formidable opponents—if we can get to her fast enough. Knowing our girl, she’ll make that a challenge everysecond we’re there.

Besides, who the hell wants to camp out on the dirty fairground rather than sleep on Egyptian cotton?

“Don’t act like a tiger caught by the toe, bro,” Fitz says as he stuffs shit into a duffel. “Poetrypants even bought some sort of fancy glamping tent or some shit. He says we’re partying in style to make the spicy lizard happy. This shit is his jam, you know.”

My head turns to give my brother a look of complete bafflement. “What in the actual goddamn fuck is glamping?”

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