Page 54 of Let Us Prey
I grab my book and my bag, head held high, and stomp to the door. Before I leave, I look at the pudgy Tasmanian devil with anger radiating from my being. My voice is steady as I get in a parting shot. “You may think you’re safe because you suck up to the heirs in this class, but I’mstilla Drew heirandhave been claimed as a Romulus. Neither family is known for forgiving those who cross them. Think about that when you’re trying to sleep tonight.”
His face turns as white as a snow leopard, and a feral smirk crosses my face. This is what Cassius meant by me still being a worthy opponent. The look of fear on this shrimp-dicked pissant is making every cell in my body hungry for more. I’m enjoying his discomfort and the scent is making my skin tingle.
I’ve never heard of prey responding like this before.
But I can’t think about that right now. I have one chance to assert my dominance, so I wink and blow a kiss at the professor, tossing my hair over my shoulder as I slam my way out the door. My sensitive bunny ears catch whispers of incredulity from the classroom as I go, and it only makes me smile wider.
I’ll still fail this exam, but when the story of why I failed gets around, I won’t be in trouble. It will please Lucille that I didn’t allow him to talk down to a member of our family, even if I dragged the wolves into it. Her taste for blood is unparalleled, and striking the first blow against a lesser pred is exactly her style.
With a sigh, I trudge towards the library to start my work study early. Maybe the grumpy book hottie will have us doing something so strenuous, he’ll be forced to take his shirt off. That would make up for this pisser of a day.
One can hope, right?
THIRTY-TWO
Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”
Renard
Even though the moon is high, the lights are still on in the library, and waiting is making me restless.
It’s not as though the recalcitrant dragon and I have a specific schedule of when we meet to hunt, but it has been over a week. We’ve known one another long enough to sense the need to feast, and it’s overdue by several days. However, Aubrey’s drive to solve the riddle of the poison used at prom has him pushing himself far beyond his typical obsessions.
It’s almost like he’s worried about something other than general student safety…
The Romulus aren’t gathered upstairs for once. I hear they are having one of their dinners with the fascinating Delores Drew. Usually I’m pleased to have my roost to myself, but tonight I pace the lower balcony outside my bedroom. My impatience has nothing to do with the silence; that’s a ludicrous proposition and I won’t entertain it.
Except…
Stomping over to the gramophone, I lower the needle and close my eyes as the haunting strains echo off the stone. Music always calms the beast inside of me, even when I’m hungry. My wings pop free, and I groan with pleasure as I walk onto the balcony again. Unlike most royals or alphas, a gargoyle lord can do more than simply half-shift—we can shift specific parts at will.. It’s a closely guarded secret that is rarely shared outside of our clans, and at times like this, it’s a blessing. I don’t want to transform enough that the rumbling allows my monster free.
He’s far too on edge to allow him free reign until we land in our hunting grounds.
The talisman around my neck flashes briefly and I roll my eyes in irritation. It’s not late enough in the evening for it to matter that I haven’t shifted yet, so my magical watchdog is being overzealous. I brace my arms on the railing, inhaling the night air with a sigh.
Then I hear it—a soft humming coming from below. It’s so soft it barely registers, but the notes match the sonata playing in my room. I lean forward, trying to determine who it is, but all I can determine is that it’s a female, and she’s in the library courtyard.
Who would be lurking there at night? What are they up to? Does Aubrey know someone is there?
Panic sets in. My scaly friend has been so concerned about someone trying to harm one of us, and a random person hanging around his library at night is suspicious. I need to find out who it is and what their intentions are… immediately.
I jump onto the railing, flexing my wings as I look down at the courtyard. As soon as I home in on a landing spot, I leap and let my wings expand when I dive. My feet hit the soft earth with a thud, causing a gasp to interrupt the melodic humming I came to investigate. I walk further into the small space, accessing my enhanced night vision to see the figure in the shadows.
“Professor Renard!”
Oh,mon coeur. I thought Delores was eating at the wolves’ townhouse this evening, but here she is, walking through the courtyard like Annabel Lee.
No, I’m not exaggerating for dramatic effect—Delores is wandering under the tree holding Nico’s ornaments in a long white nightgown and bare feet, humming along with my Beethoven. It’s like Byron’s poetry is leaping off the page and into my world.
“You—you dyed your hair,” I stutter, so entranced by her spell I can’t think of anything better to say.
Oh, this is going well, Renard. Way to show you’ve barely spoken to women since before the humans crossed the ocean to settle here.
Her cheeks flush with a color that matches one layer of her hair, but she still twirls a little to show it off. “I did! I’ve always wanted to express myself in this way and… now I can.”
The twinkle in her eyes is infectious, and I smile as she flits around under the enormous tree. Moonlight is shining through the branches and hitting her in a way that, once again, reminds me of long ago. I rub my hand over my chest, feeling the familiar ache this memory brings, though somehow, it’s a little less sharp than usual.
“Isn’t it dangerous to be out here alone? I’m surprised Bash isn’t hiding in the bushes, keeping an eye on you.” I watch her face screw up in what I’d almost call a pout, and I have to hold back laughter.
