Page 99 of Let Us Prey

“Fitz!” she hisses, her face flushing as pink as her dress. He justsmirks at her like an asshole, then drops into the seat between her and Chess.

To my absolute shock, Aubrey does not point out Delores’ bold choice of seats, instead following suit on her other side, shaking his napkin out and putting it on his lap before he responds. “Seems fair. Is there an out for questions we cannot answer for various reasons? At least, not yet... "

Good question.

My gaze flits between Chess and Felix, both of whom do not look excited about this game. That means I’m the deciding vote, and since I enjoy the hell out of watching everyone cautiously dance around Dolly, I choose chaos. Giving her my most charming grin, I take the seat next to the dragon. “If there’s a way to pass on questions we can’t or won’t answer yet, I’m game.”

“What?!” Chess grumbles, but Fitz ignores him, reaching over the table to high five Aubrey and I.

“Fuck, yeah! Hey bro—come sit your brass balls at the sharing table with us!”

Felix narrows his eyes at his brother and stomps over to the remaining seat. His gaze locks with our girl’s the second his ass hits the chair and she lifts her chin in a challenge.

This couldn’t be more fascinating if it was an episode of The Good Life.

“Okay, baby. If you wanna play with the big preds, we’ll play. What’s your question?” His expression is knowing, as if he’s already won, and he passes a basket of rolls to me while he waits.

Dolly gives him a feral grin as she thinks for a moment and then asks, “How did it fall on Fitz to ask me out on behalf of all you big baddies?”

Felix leans forward on his elbows as the rest of us fill our plates quietly, only the clinking of the silverware in the air as he grins. “We thought you’d be most comfortable with Fitz, but I may have helped coach him with phrasing.”

“Why would you do that?” Dolly sits back, the smug grin replaced by surprise.

“You owe us an answer first,” Aubrey pipes up, and I turn to look at him again in shock. “How did you end up working for Luc Growlvinchy?”

What’s gotten into him tonight? Spicy lizard, indeed.

She rolls her eyes, making a show of reaching for a gigantic piece of prime rib and slapping it on her plate. “I met him when I bought my dress for prom. He was kind during the fitting, and I think he sensed I needed an ally. He gave me his number, ‘just in case’ I had dress issues, so when I needed to earn money after everyone deserted me, I called him. He has a lot of prey animals working for him, and I knew he wouldn’t mistreat me.”

“Fair enough,” Felix casually replies, although I notice his jaw tick as he no doubt tamps down the instinct to protect. “Who’s next?”

Oh, we are going to need a lot more alcohol for this.

Heartbreaker

Felix

Beingon trial at Bloodstone wasn’t as nerve-wracking as being grilled by Delores Drew. If we’d raided a distillery, there would not have been enough alcohol for her sharp questions and fierce determination to get to know us. Fitz spent most of the time doing his typical over-sharing, which she allowed him to do with a soft smile that made my gut clench.

How did the former playboy of Apex worm his way so thoroughly into her graces, and how did this girl get my brother to settle in a way I never thought he would?

It’s a fucking mystery.

Chess was quieter, offering information as she asked, but obviously still trying to come to grips with his feelings for her. He’s much more vocal about her when we’re all alone and I might have to take him aside to have a chat if he doesn’t get it together soon. It will go much smoother if I do it rather than Fitz, and I want him to keep developing these sparks of confidence I’ve been seeing.

The three royals, including me, were less effusive because we have questionable pasts. My scandal might be well known, buttrusting a Council heir with more information was difficult. Aubrey and Renard rarely speak about their past, even to us, and I could tell they were answering cautiously. I hoped that after ten years, I might find out exactly what they did to end up here, but no dice.

We’ll all have to earn those tales, I suppose.

Luckily, our girl had enough sense to dance around things that shouldn’t come up at a family meal. She didn’t ask about my consort, despite Fitz sharing far too much with her on their date. No one asked about Aubrey and Ren’s hunting or their weird inability to admit where they sleep. No one asked Chess his real name or about how he came to be with us.

That impressed me a bit because it felt like all of us were being sensitive to one another for once.

As Fitz pointed out, sharing our fuck-ups makes us look more sympathetic. Delores was horrified by what happened with my exile and it explained why I’m such a closed off asshole—according to my brother. I wanted to kick his ass when I found out he blabbed, but honestly? It’s a relief that I don’t have to relive that shit again. My ex’s betrayal still smarts even though I don’t love her anymore.

My father, however, can put on a cape and get super fucked.

Looking over at the gang of preds in the Tower kitchen cleaning, I smirk a little. The nefarious bunny is downstairs asleep in her gilded chamber, but I rousted the troops early to get this place cleaned up. If Delores is going to use it during the week to make herself food, it can’t be filled with crusty dishes and leftover crap.

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