Page 103 of Let Us Prey
“Um… you know. Do we do it all at the same time or one at a time?” I feel a bit exposed, but my family didn’t exchange presents together and now that I think about it, I never once swapped gifts with the Heathers.I never realized how sheltered I was until I came to Apex.
Bash nips at my ear, growling low. “Let’s all do it together, heheh.”
My face turns red again, and I pinch his side, making him laugh. “Okay. You guys all go and then I’ll do each of you, one by one.” This statement inspires another round of laughter, and I sigh heavily, although my annoyance is half-hearted.
I can’t seem to avoid verbal pitfalls in this company.
The guys rip into their boxes, throwing paper and ribbon aside with reckless abandon, and I wiggle with excitement. All at once, they pull the specially madekigurumisuits I had made for them, based on their animals. Cash’s wolf is black, and the head on the hood has fierce fangs. Aubrey and Rennie even have stuffed wings that stand up in back, and Nico’s fox has a fat, fluffy tail. The white wolf I had made for Bash has a bit of blood dyed on its fangs and fur, and he picks me up with a hoot of approval, standing with me in his arms like I weigh less than nothing.
“I love it!” He spins me around before setting me back on my feet so he can quickly shimmy into his suit. Holding the hood in place, he throws his head back, letting out a loud, long howl, making me laugh.
“The quality is amazing,” Rennie murmurs, examining the onyx color. “When did you make these?”
I shake my head. “Oh, no. I’m not this good yet. Not by a long shot. I had some friends from my summer job at the fashion house whip these up.”
Cash strokes his beard for a moment, tilting his head as he studies his. “It’s perfect, but when do you see us wearing these?”
My eyes dance as I grin at them. “During our future slumber parties.”
That got their attention. Ha!
A hand tugs me back down to the floor, and Nico places a kiss on my jaw. I lean into him, loving the soft growl he emits, just for me. “I love mine, Lo. Thank you for making the fox look just as fierce.”
Bash barrels over to the nest, having zoomed around the room in his for the past five minutes, and puts me back on his lap. I pull the wolf's hood up and he howls again before he looks over at Aubrey. “Put yours on, you adorable lizard! I wanna see!”
I have to cover my mouth as the grumpy dragon glares daggers at him. Taking pity on him, I pick up the smallest gift. “Maybe I should open these first?” He gives me a barely-perceptible nod, and I take that as my cue to begin.
Nico’s box contains a delicate pair of handmade stained glass earrings that make me feel all squishy inside, remembering how I first caught sight of my fox. Inside the biggest package—of course—is a slinky black Ostrich de La Renta dress and matching LaPreyla to go underneath. As always, Bash found exactly the right size.
It’s like his superpower.
Renard unveils a gorgeous wild orchid that seems to sparkle in the twinkling lights, and I smile at my botany loving professor, wondering if it will remain as perfect-looking as the one he keeps under glass. With only one package left, I rip into the paper, furrowing my brow at the heavy, flat stone. Cash gives me a grin, allowing a single claw to emerge from his finger before scraping it over the stone, and suddenly, I get it—it’s a whetstone for sharpening my claws.
It’s like each of them gave me a little piece of themselves, except for…
Aubrey rises from the arm of the couch, disappearing from view as he descends the stairs. He must be going to Rennie’s room, but why did he hide his present there? Cash, Nico, and Bash all look at each other in confusion, but the gargoyle looks like he has a secret. When Aubrey returns, he’s carrying an unwrapped brown box that’s….moving?
“I had to keep this downstairs, or it would have spoiled the surprise,” he explains as he walks over and joins us on the floor. “But a colleague in Morocco found a litter whose mother died, and I thought... "
The lid pops open and a small, golden cat jumps out, looking at us with wide eyes. It has abnormally large ears, stripes, and looks certain we’re going to eat it.
I mean, for some of us, that might be fair.
“Is this a domestic cat?” I ask, reaching out carefully, so I don’t scare it.
The dragon shakes his head. “No, it’s a sand cat. They do best in the wild, but this one has been living with foster families since it was born.”
“You got me… a kitten?”
Bash’s face splits into a huge grin as he looks at me. “I hate to say it but, lizard man wins this one, guys. You can’t beat a floofy cat.”
“And she’s so so cute,” I murmur, as the small feline butts her head against my fingers. “I think I’ll call her Jinx.” When I look up, I swear Aubrey’s eyes are twinkling.
He does have a soft spot for cute things.
“Where is it going to live? In the dorms, right?” Cash says, eyeing the kitten as if he's terrified I’ll send it home with him.
Rennie waves his hand. “The cat can stay here. There’s plenty of room, and we’re all here often enough to help take care of it together.”
