Page 62 of Let Us Prey

I didn’t expect Fitz to come home, but I also didn’t expect to wake up with Felix curled up beside me like he needs to be watched over. Our Raj guards his emotions carefully, and he doesn’t enjoy appearing weak, even to his family. But right now, the anger and confusion radiating from his sleeping form is almost more than I’ve ever sensed from him.

At least when he’s sober.

The first few years we lived at Apex, he was a ticking time bomb of fury and unchecked rage. He drank constantly,tore up the rings in fights, and screwed Zhenga as if she could erase the memory of Minerva from his brain. It didn’t work and eventually, his tightly coiled control came back with a vengeance. Neither is healthy, if you ask me, but Felix has always supported Fitz and me, so I will not judge him.

I just wish I could help him.

Lying on my back, I stare up at the ceiling while Felix snoozes. I wish Fitz was here and honestly, I wish our angel was, too. I’ve spent the past few months adjusting to my desire for her and when I saw her glee at the gore in the fights, I knew my tiger was right. This girl is perfect for the twins and me—maybe even for all of us, like I suggested in the Tower. She’s smart, caring, strong, and undaunted by life handing her shit every day as if it’s her job to shovel it.

She even puts up with Felix’s asshat behavior in class with spunk and has the two ancient grouches wrapped around her finger. That’s something none of us have done in over a decade of friendship.

“Stop thinking so hard,” Felix rumbles over his shoulder. “I can feel it.”

I blink.Felix doesn’t leave our ambush link open anymore—not since we left Bloodstone.

“I’m sorry, Raj. It’s hard not to turn all this change over in my head,” I murmur in reply.

He snorts and rolls over, looking at me with fondness. “You’re not wrong. I’ve never seen Fitz act like this before, either. And you, Chester… you seem to get more confident by the day.”

My eyes narrow. “Don’t call me that.”

His laugh is deep, and the vibration slides over my skin. “Then don’t call me Raj. You know I hate that formal shit.”

“Mmm, unless you’re making a certain bunny call you ‘Sir’, I hear.” I grin broadly, enjoying the back and forth with the tiger who's always been like a big brother to me.

Another irritable huff and Felix flops on his back. He looks up at the fan quietly for a few moments, then finally speaks. “I don’t know how to handle her. I have conflicting feelings about our ambush, our family, our friends, and myself. I try to push her and she shoves back harder. No one shoves back at me, Chessie, except Fitz.”

I grin. “Maybe it’s time someone did? I mean, besides your ex-booty call. She can stay a respectable distance.”

“Z actually backed off in class the other day and made some weird comment about my interest lying elsewhere. It was like she knew. How do women do that shit?”

“Hell if I know. My experience with them is limited to pleasantries and family, Felix. And what Fitz says, though I know that’s mostly bullshit.”

Felix coughs, choking on air as he laughs again. “Very astute of you to notice.”

I haven’t seen our king laugh this much in years; it’s making my chest hurt. Fitz will hate missing this, though I suppose what he’s getting in return is worth it. Knowing our angel is sparking this kind of emotion in my brothers makes me even more sure she’s the one we need to rally around. I look at Felix with a shy smile. “But he’s right about Delores, brother. He’s said from the second we laid eyes on her she was perfect for us. He meant for me and him at first, but after that stupid dance and the summer, he’s been downright certain she’s like the center of our wheel.”

The king looks thoughtful for a moment, crossing his arms over his chest as he considers my words. “I hate any sentence that starts out with admitting my twin is right about anything.”

Huffing another laugh, I shrug. “I know. We can’t tell him or his head will get so big he won’t get into the Tower without it being greased.”

“I’ll think about it, Chess. Now go to sleep or I won’t be able to get up to torture the woman of the hour in class. Since my shithead brother isn’t home yet, I assume I’m going to enjoy making her pay for her night of debauchery.”

“That’s cold, Felix. Ice cold.”

As usual,I rise first and head downstairs to our small kitchen to start breakfast.

We could eat in the fancy ass cafeteria, but Felix hates being around most of the staff in the lounge. Fitz never minded, but he was also fucking half of them. Personally, I’ve always sided with Felix on that account, so I learned to cook fairly soon after we arrived. Being able to take care of the brothers who have been my family since I was a cub makes me happy and I don’t have to endure the hungry stares of the female staff members picturing a Fitz-Chess sandwich.

Though, given the way Fitz acts about our angel and Felix’s admission last night, I have the feeling Zhenga may warn them off.

I never thought I’d be grateful for anything that clingy lioness might do, but if she can back the women off our dicks, it would make me a hell of a lot more comfortable. And it might save someone’s life too, because Felix declared her off-limits and I feel his Hulk out last night in the ring had something to do with Delores. His eyes cut to us before he went nuclear and I know Fitz tapped in before Felix did something he couldn’t walk back.

Of course, then my love did something ridiculous, but everyone expects it from him.

The door slams and my eyes widen as a rumpled, limping tiger comes sneaking in through the back. His smile is shining like the sun and it makes my breath catch to see him so damned happy. Turning the heat down on the eggs, I walk over and comb my fingers through his long locks, trying to untangle them for him.

“I take it you had a good night, my love?” I murmur as he buries his face in my neck.

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