Page 121 of Let Us Prey
He huffs, turning to continue stomping toward the training grounds, and I laugh. For someone with a fetish for cute things, he sure is touchy about it.
“You’re going to be late, snacklet. I doubt the alpha will appreciate that..”
I mean, that’s sort of the point, isn’t it?
“I’ll take my licks if it means I get to spend an extra few minutes with you.” I pause for a moment, realizing something I hadn’t had time to even consider. “Is the brooding why the chat has gone silent? I didn’t think about it before, ‘cause I’ve been buried in work, but everyone talks to me privately now.”
Stopping again, he rubs the back of head as he sighs. “I suppose you could say that. We’re… working things out. Friends have to do that occasionally, you know.”
This time, I shrug and kick a rock across the grass. His statement hits a button inside and I’m not sure how to answer without sounding pitiful. “Truth for a truth? I don’t know. Cori and Rufus are the first real friends I’ve ever had.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “I didn’t mean to... "
I shrug, giving him a sad smile. “I know. It’s okay. I’m glad I met them, and… all of you, too. I didn’t expect to find anything but pain at Apex, but even with people chasing me, it’s still the best year I’ve ever had.”
“We’ve got to get you out more, nibblet.” He shakes his head, holding his hand out.
Taking it, I ponder for a second. “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
* * *
My second exam went late,my phone is dead, and I feel ready to drop. Consistent lack of sleep for the past two weeks is catching up with me, and I still have three more days of this shit. But I promised Aubrey I’d stop by Renard’s, and what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t stick to my word?
I trudge up the stairs of the Tower, furrowing my brow to find no one here when I get up to the sitting room. Grabbing a soda from the fridge, I go down a level to Rennie’s room.
At least I know where to find Jinx.
When I open the door, the kitten comes bounding out, and I smile as I pick her up and nuzzle her soft fur. Her little mews make my heart feel squishy, but I’m too damn exhausted to give her a proper petting. I look at her with an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, baby. I’m gonna have to lie down. Hopefully, you’ll be okay with that.”
I walk into the gargoyle’s bedroom, dropping my bag on the floor. Keeping Jinx curled in the crook of my arm, I walk over to his nest and flop into the huge recessed pile of blankets and pillows with a grateful moan. Every time I get to curl up in this giant pile, it feels like I’m lounging on a cloud and Iloveit.
I think I’ll just lie here until the guys get home...
* * *
Loud shouting wakes me,and Jinx scrambles off the bed as I struggle to sit up. My heart pounds and I tilt my head, trying to make out what’s going on upstairs through the thick ceiling.
Oh, shit. I totally left my last exam without my escort.
Quickly rolling to my feet, I scurry out the door to the stairs, feeling terrible that I let my phone run out of battery without sending a message to the group chat. My last exam was sex ed, but Ithinkit was supposed to be either Rufus or Cori meeting me after class… although, it could have been Cash… gah, I don’t know anymore. An apology is ready on my lips, but half-way up, I pause, realizing the problem is something else entirely.
“I don’tknowhow they got it up here without anyone seeing them, but adead bodyon the balcony isunacceptable!”
At the word ‘dead body,’ I leap up the remaining stairs and charge into the room. “There’s a dead body up here? How did I miss that? I’ve been alone here for a while... "
Five sets of eyes turn to look at me, and this time, their gazes are full of fear.
SIXTY-FOUR
Beast of Burden
Cassius
If the punches she’s landing on my jaw are any sign, Delores is still pissed off about the missing students. More specifically, pissed we hadn’ttoldher about the missing students.
I try not to think about that night a couple of weeks ago, when my pack was frantically searching for our girl after she didn’t wait for Cori to escort her home from class. My idiot twin finally remembered he’d bullied the library ostrich into installing tracking software on D’s phone, so we followed the signal back to the Tower, assuming she’d be safe.
