Page 114 of Let Us Prey

Fitz bought my angel a gorgeous designer gown for Yule and he declared our date the perfect occasion for her to show off her curves in the slinky Ostrich De La Renta. That meant he and Felix trussed me up in the latest winter fashion for New Year’s: a black satin leopard print tuxedo with a dark bronze shirt and matching bow tie. I tied my curls up into the messy bun I prefer, but chose not to struggle with contacts.

Of course, my love almost mauled me before I got to the door and that would have made us late. Felix winked and assured me it meant I looked good before he rushed to the kitchen. When he returned, he was holding a black velvet box and a stunning bouquet of pastel roses.

Now I’m sitting on his car as I wait, my nerves jangling from all the trappings around me, including that blasted box containing one of the fucking Khan tiaras. Between it, the car, and this outfit, you could pay two professors for years. It’s making me twitchy, but neither of them looked even concerned when I waltzed out the door.

I’ll never get used to the way the most elite preds operate, no matter how long I live among them.

A scent catches my nostrils and my head jerks up to gaze at the woman crossing the parking lot. Suddenly, I'm very glad we’re on break and the other students haven’t returned yet. If anyone gave my angel shit right now, I’d probably kill them myself.

How odd.

Delores is a vision in the long black dress that appears to be cut to fit her form perfectly. I know my lover bought it for her, and his precision impresses me. The De La Renta gown dips low between her breasts, exposing the luscious curves, and it has slits from hem to waist on both sides to reveal her long legs and thighs. I guarantee it has little to no back—Fitz planned to showoff as much of her skin as possible without being totally indecent.

I pick my jaw up long enough to smile at her glossy pink lips, artfully messy up do, and smoky eyes. She’s been learning quite a bit from her two friends during classes—everything from costuming to makeup and hair—and it shows. Everything about my angel looks grown up and sophisticated tonight, right down to the sky-high ‘fuck me’ pumps. She’s rocking it all with confidence.

No one would mistake the woman walking towards me with the girl who toured our school last spring.

“Angel, you look luminous,” I say when she reaches me. I open the car door with an exaggerated flourish, loving her giggle as she lowers herself to get in.

When I round the car and hop in, Dolly smiles shyly. “Thank you, Chess. You look rather handsome yourself. Did Fitz coordinate us?”

I chuckle and nod. “Of course he did. I’ve never seen my consort so invested in playing Cupid, but he’s definitely jumped into the role with both feet.”

She wiggles in her seat, then frowns and reaches under her bum. “Hey, what’s this, handsome?”

My cheeks flush bright red at her words, and I cough to clear my throat. “Felix sent some bling to complete your outfit. If it’s too much, let me know and I’ll lock it in Felix’s box in the trunk.”

“His box in the trunk?” Her brow arches, but she opens the jewelry box anyway, letting out a loud gasp when the pink diamond encrusted tiara is revealed. “Holy fuck, Chess! This thing is… expensive looking.”

“I try not to question the price tags on shit the twins do, angel. It makes my blood pressure rise. But yes, it’s a Khan heirloom, so I’m certain it’s damn near priceless, anyway. Want me to help you putit on?”

Her lips purse as she takes all of that information in, but the siren song of sparkly bling gets the best of her. “Yes. Make me a princess as intended, Chessie.”

Oh, that sneaky son of a bitch. Well played, Raj.

I smile, taking the tiara from her and wait for her to bend a little so I can settle it on her head. When she raises up, the picture takes my breath away. She truly looks like they made it for her and I reach for my phone quickly. “Let me take a quick picture to send to the guys and we’ll be off, angel.”

Biting her lower lip impishly, Dolly mocks a couple adorable poses while I snap and once I hit send, she buckles her belt. “Okay, let’s hit the road, handsome. I’m ready for snooty people and weird fancy-ass food.”

“It’s good to have accurate expectations,” I say, winking at her as I put the convertible in drive. “Good thing I didn’t put the top down.”

* * *

Le Joyau de la Couronneis further out than Fitz’s date location. It’s halfway between Apex and Cambridge, nestled at the front of a sprawling piece of land owned by the ambush. Patrons not part of the Khan family would be shocked to know that the Khan family uses the rest of the land for various training, deals, and extractions to Bloodstone. The fanciest restaurant around is sitting on the same land as a landing strip to transport Eastern seaboard prisoners and train future staff for the reform school.

The current Raj loves the irony and I wonder if the Council even knows what he’s doing under their noses.

Regardless, we won’t be heading anywhere besides the top of the Khan Tower to our reservation. I don’t even want to get off on another floor in this place without having the twins along, much less take our girl there. We haven’t heard from their father or herparents since break started, which makes my fangs twitch. I don’t like not knowing what those evil fuckers are doing.

“This place is so modern looking,” Dolly says as we hand the keys to the valet. “I wouldn’t have expected that based on the decor ofThe Jade Sceptreor the pictures I’ve seen of Bloodstone in our history books.”

My eyes dance. “Bloodstone looks a little like the Temple of Doom, I admit it. ButSceptreis more of a mid to lower-level joint—it’s not geared towards attracting the rich and powerful in the supe world. Khan Tower houses more than our destination.”

Her eyes widen, and she leans into me as I guide her inside. “You mean Khan business happens on some of these floors?”

“Yes, but don’t think you’re going all Nancy Drew here, angel. Fitz designed their security, and it’s nothing to shake your finger at. After we were exiled, they likely revoked all his access, so it would take a lot of preparation to get to anything incriminating.”

“Mmm. But it’s good to know for future escapades, Chessie. I wasn’t joking when I told Fitz I’d take down the entire fucking lot of them if they threaten my guys.”

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