Page 23 of Let Us Prey

Aubrey and I whip our heads around to look at him in disbelief. He can’t possibly be suggesting… My eyes dart to the gargoyle sitting back on his throne like he wishes he had popcorn and a red leather jacket.Fuck, that guy loves chaos.When I turn to my twin’s consort, he looks like he regrets saying anything. I’ve never treated Chess like he wasn’t good enough to have an opinion—toxic alphas make my skin crawl and it’s not how I planned to rule my people.

“Unless what, Chess?” I say, hoping it will spur him to untangle his tongue.

He ducks his head and shrugs. “It seems to me we have an excellent option from an acceptable family who needs a little training, but… You’d have to share her.”

I’ll be a cereal eating cartoon kitty… Chessneverasserts himself like this. What iswiththis fucking girl?

“Talk about a good time to have a birds and bunnies and bees discussion with the young one,” Renard says with a snort. “Fuck knows Fitz hasn’t done it yet, despite sticking his dick in him every chance he gets.”

Whirling around, I glare at the winged asshat, then snarl at his partner in crime who’s also guffawing. “Leave him alone, you clowns. What would you know about it, anyway? Neither of you have evenapproacheda woman in the decade we’ve been here. You’re experts on celibacy, not the birds and the bees.”

Renard quirks a brow at me, his lips curling lazily as he swings the leg draped over the arm of his throne. “Oh, Felix. It’s like you don’t know me at all.”

A loud snort comes from the dragon as he continues fiddling with his book, and I frown.

Ever since Delores Drew rolled into the parking lot of this place, my mini ambush has lost its collective mind.

I can’t decide if that’s good or bad.

You Don’t Own Me

Delores

My first weekat Apex is little more than halfway over, but I’m still meeting obstacles at every turn. Monday I had to deal with the gruff Professor Felix, the last-minute audition, and my work study with the oddly attractive book dragon. On Tuesday, I attended classes in the Shird with Cori and Rufus, but afterward, I stayed cloistered in my room, snacking on vending machine fare, and memorizing all the secret prey information the infirmary staff shared with us. There are days I won’t be able to depend on my friends to protect me, and I can’t let Fitz see me as a weak little girl.

He’s already doing far more for me than he should have to.

Yesterday, I had an annoying class before I stumbled into the resident gargoyle’s haven. He’s different from the others, but something about Professor Renard intrigues me. Since I don’t have as many classes today, I have time to find food to squirrel away to take back to my room for tonight—anything to make attempting the cafeteria again unnecessary.

I may have to order some provisions on Amazon, to be honest, and learn how to cook. The dining hall is beautiful, but with theHeathers and their followers circling it, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe going in there alone. It’s too enclosed, and I’m too easy a target when I don’t have backup.

I can’t ask Cori and Rufus to babysit me.

A quick stop at the mirror has me checking my high ponytail, and my gaze drops to the Apex Academy issued black sweatsuit. The email Professor Sarabhai sent Monday evening said we would focus on ballet, jazz, and tap in the first semester. I don’t have the correct shoes yet, but I got them ordered. I can dance barefoot until they arrive if I have to, but I cobbled together tights, booty shorts, and a sports bra to wear. I won’t look fancy, but I’ll survive.

Sighing, I stuff my uniform into my bag on top of my stupid, school-issued kitten heels before loosely tying my preferred combat boots. It’s not cold yet, so I can head over to the gym in my dance gear without worrying about freezing my cottontail off.

Eventually, I’ll have to get the right attire, but if I play my cards right, I can get Lucille to send it. She’s due to check in with the Headmistress within the next few days—if I know her, and I do—so once she hears that I’m competing against some of her rivals’ kids in dance wearing nothing but booty shorts, the floodgates will open. I just have to play to her obsession with image and a veritable cornucopia of gear will arrive, lickety-split.

If not, I’ll figure it out. Luc paid me well this summer, and I’ve been saving as much as possible to help support myself if my parents ever decide to cut me off completely. So far, I’m only annoying them with my ‘plebeian rebellions’, but there may come a time when they strike back.

I have to be ready to make it on my own.

Picking up my bag, I open my phone, looking at the newly installed map app carefully. If I take the east stairs to the west lobby, and exit from the fire door that’s never armed, I should popout right by the side door to the Leonidas Gym offices. Fitz hangs in Felix’s office there, and if I text him, he’ll be at the window in a nanosecond to watch me enter the Leo safely. That covers my journey to dance in the morning. All I need to do is remember how Clarice told me to get from the gym to the library, and from there to the Shird to meet Cori and Rufus.

After that, I’m home free, except for Shifter History.

That’s a future Dolly problem.

Maybe my friends can advise me on the history professor, to help mitigate the fact absolutely none of my allies will be with me in that course.

Hera, help me. I’m going to need all the advice I can get.

“I supposeyou can convince me to allow you to continue with this class, Ms. Drew. If you acquire the attire and equipment by next Thursday,” Professor Sarabhai adds, looking over her elegant shoulder at me, as if I’m contaminating her studio with my non-compliant clothing.

This isn’t the hill to die on today, so I simply nod. “Yes, Professor. I’ll make certain I have everything I need next week. Thank you.”

She stalks off, leaving me to finish packing up my bag. I made certain to take as long as possible after class, allowing the older students to head for the locker room before me. Neither Cori nor Rufus are in this section of the class, and it surprised me when I found myself amongst mostly second and third-year students, rather than beginners. That means there isn’t a Heather in sight, so once the rest of the girls are gone, I can try to slink in and change before I head to the Shird.

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