Page 133 of Let Us Prey
And if she’s as good at playing piano as she is at playing peen-ano, she can tickle my ivories any…
My naughty train of thought is abruptly derailed the instant she begins to play. Creative pursuits have always been more Nico’s thing, but at this moment, I suddenly understand how simply experiencing the gods-given talent of another can feel oddly…personal.
Delores sings about how alone she’s felt all her life, how she always knew she was different from those she grew up with, who would later prove her suspicions correct—in the worst possible way. Her eyes are closed, as if she doesn’t want to face the emotions her words are stirring up within herself.
I wish she’d open them and look past the footlights to witness the effect she’s having on the audience. Everyone in attendance is rapt with attention—even those who were heckling the Heathers’ performance. My girl is commanding the stage, glowing in the spotlight like a rainbow-haired angel, sharing her own heartbreak so others can heal from theirs.
Her lyrics draw me in, like zip ties tightening around my heart, drifting to how she’s now finding her place in this world, thanks to her growing confidence, new friends, and the care she’s found with her pack.
With us.
Since I apparently love the pain, my gaze locks on Nico again, and this time, I find him staring back at me with toomuchemotion in his expression. For a moment, it’s only him and me and our girl’s words, inviting me to forget why I’m furious with him, to stalk across the stage and drag that idiot back to my bed, where he belongs.
But I won’t. Ican’t.There are some scars that will never heal—because the betrayal goes too deep. I will share Delores with him, because he’s still pack Romulus, until Cash says he isn’t, but I will never grace him withmydick ever again.
I really do hate him.
SIXTY-NINE
Fighter
Delores
The talent show was, thankfully, not an absolute train wreck, despite everyone’s nerves being on edge from the night before. Obviously, the people who didn’t practice enough didn’t perform well, but for Rufus’ sanity, most of the show went smoothly—meaning he didn’t have to pull out all of his two-toned hair. I did my best to stay focused, but couldn’t help my gaze from drifting to the rafters before I took the stage.
I wonder why the killer dropped a dead body in the middle of rehearsal, instead of during the actual show?
There were parents, donors, talent scouts, Apex faculty and staff, and Council members in attendance at the talent show. You would think that group would’ve been a better audience for such a dramatic statement. It’s almost as if the shadowy figure in the wings was more concerned with scaring thestudentsthan the bigwigs, but I’m not sure what to make of that.
Is this person actually huntingme?Are the dead people somehow connected to my presence here at Apex?
That doesn’t make sense, though. I didn’t know most of the people who went missing; they were sophomores and upperclassmen. The only one connected to me in any way was the fisher cat, and he and I maybe spoke twice… although our last conversation—and his posthumous note—didcome with an ominous warning.
I’m determined to figure out what the hell is going on at Apex, before someone I care about gets hurt.
Aubrey and I have been doing alotof research about the prey tunnels and the mysterious room Renard and Nico found. Despite spending countless hours in his archives, we haven’t hit on what the pedestal means, or what we need to do with it. Nico hinted that it might be some kind of trigger for an ancient ritual, but no one else besides Renard seems interested in listening to him.
We need to work together.
Who or what would the ritual be for? InA History of the Honorable Academy of Apex Predators, it mentions how the ‘Society’ can access the ‘Blood Moon Circle’ through ‘The Dragon’s Door,’ but we’ve found no further references to any of that. I’ve asked Ren and Aubrey several times if they recognize anything, but it seems like they always redirect me, saying they don’t want to operate on rumors alone. I assume there are reasons for their hesitancy, so I haven’t pushed it. Our two truths game has allowed us to get to know each other better; but I understand that certain subjects are sensitive. I’m not a hundred percent certain I want to push their boundaries that far yet.
Even though it might help us figure this out… before more corpses appear.
One subject I’ve avoided is the acrimony running through our pack at the moment. I’ve been building individual relationships with each of my guys steadily, so I’m not concerned about their feelings forme.Plus, the limited information in the archives about fated mates seems to imply it’s a natural—albeit,rare—reaction, so I’m not worrying as much about anyone feelingcompelled. Amongst each other, however, I’ve noticed an increase in suspicious looks and snarky comments that have more edge than they did in the past. Bash and Aubrey are the angriest toward Nico, and Cash seems to have grumpily retreated back into himself, like when we first met. I don’t know if his distance is because of the mate mark situation or what happened between us in Bash’s office, but as much as I would enjoy a repeat performance, I don’t want to pushhisboundaries either.
But I still hate that my guys are unhappy.
Regardless of the attitude I gave the alpha wolf, I didn’tintendfor the things Nico and I did to be an issue. Solemnly gazing at my bathroom mirror in the CHUM, I wonder if I’m not worth all the trouble I’ve already caused. Lucille would agree with that sentiment—she’s told me how little value I have a million times. I know Rufus and Cori care about me, and the guys have opened up in their own ways, but I can’t help wondering if I’m more of a burden than a bright spot.
As if I’ve summoned her, the phone rings, and I groan when I see my mother’s name on the screen. I haven’t heard from her in weeks, but I’m sure she’ll have something disparaging to say about my performance at the talent show last night, even though she couldn’t be bothered to attend. It seemed like the entire audience loved my song and our group performance, but Lucille will never be my biggest fan. With a sigh, I press the green button and wait for the snide barb in place of a greeting.
“Delores,” she purrs. The sound makes my entire body tense—Lucille is good at toying with her food. “I’m so glad I caught you!”
She says it like I had a choice. If I hadn’t answered, she would have sent Bruiser.
“Hello, mother. It’s nice to hear from you. What can I do for you today?” It's easier to ask her what she wants as politely as possible at the beginning of her calls. Getting down to business means I don’t have to endure as much drunken rambling dotted with random threats.
“Don’t be like that, my daughter. I was so pleased to hear about your outstanding performances in the talent show. You made our family look poised and talented, according to my sources.”
