Page 67 of Let Us Prey
I cock my head at her in confusion. If anyone ever messes with Nico, they’ll havemeto deal with—or worse, Cash—so there’s no reason for my fox to learn how to fight. “Nooo... " I slowly reply as we reach his studio. “I just wanna tell him we won’t be home for dinner so... "
“Oh! So you’ve brought him something to eat? That is so sweet of you, Bash. See—you’re getting the hang of this.”
“Uh,” I scratch the back of my neck, wondering why Delores is acting so clueless tonight. “No, I just didn’t want him to be waiting around for us with whatever he’s cooking for dinner. Cash has a call with Nonna Romulus and I need to whip your ass into shape… huh, I guess he’s not here. Oh, well.”
Delores is staring at me like there’s something on my face. I give it a quick swipe, but she just shakes her head, further confusing me. “Okay... " she finally says. “Let’s at least leave him a note. I see some paper over there.” She walks across the studio to Nico’s stained glass corner, but I stay right where I am, enjoying the sight of her ass jiggling in her yoga pants.
I should totally get her on a squat schedule—for maximum thiccness.
“The Honorable Academy... "I hear her murmur, so I saunter over to join her and see what’s caught her attention. Per usual, Nico’s creative mess is all over the worktable, including random scraps of paper with notes in his signature script. Delores is holding up one scrap to the light, squinting at it as if she’s examining her ex-boyfriend’s tiny dick.
I mean, anyone would be tiny compared to moi.
“What are you guys looking at?!” Nico shouts from the doorway before hurrying over, probably afraid I’ll break something…again.
“Oh, hi, Nico,” Cherry gives him a dazzling smile, which immediately removes the stick from his ass. Watching them together is the best—even outside of the bedroom. The way Nico looks at Delores makes me feel the way I did on my seventh birthday, when I ate so much cake I puked.
And I still have zero regrets.
“I’m giving D some kickboxing lessons tonight. Alpha’s orders,” I explain, my mind briefly wandering to whether Nico would ever be down for a bunny sammich in his precious studio. “And Cash is meeting with Nonna, so you’re on your own for dinner, dude.”
“Sounds good. Got it. Have fun kickboxing,” Nico hurriedly replies, snatching the paper out of Delores’ hand before shuffling it under some other scraps on the table.
I shrug and reach for my girl. “Ok, cool. We’ll see you later... "
“What was that note about, Nico?” she asks, shaking me off. “What’s the ‘Honorable Academy?’ Is it Apex?”
Nico has gone strangely still, like a deer in the headlights, which is fucking odd. “It’s um… just something I found about… the stained glass project. Uh, I don’t really know what it means. Yet. I guess we’ll see!”
Delores narrows her eyes at the fox, but I simply roll mine before herding her past him and out the door. “Maybe you should eat something, Nico!” I call over my shoulder. “I’m sure the vending machine has something you could have for dinner—it’ll take the edge off.”
Weirdo.
“He gets hangry,” I mutter to Delores as we exit the Shird and head for the Leo. “Now let’s go punch things.”
“No,” she snarls, surprising me with her intensity. “We’re going to the library.”
“Uhhh... " I reply, wondering if it’s the full moon making everyone act like a nut job. “At this point Aubrey’s having dinner with Renard... "
“We don’t need Aubrey,” she huffs, yanking me through the staff entrance of the library. “I know how to get in. That note on Nico’s desk… I’veseenthat title before, in the archives.”
Holy shit.
Aubrey has neverallowed me anywherenearhis precious archives, even when I gave him the cutest stress ball that looked like Grumpy Cat. He always says I’m the lastpred he’ll ever let in there, because I can’t be trusted not to break things just from breathing on them.
I mean, fair.
But my girl doesn’t know that, and with the sexy glint in her eye right now, she’s clearly a woman on a mission. Who am I to stand in her way—especially if it means helping Nico with his arts and crafts project?
I’m the best boyfriend ever!
Something churns in my gut as I think of myself asanyone’sboyfriend, but I quickly brush it off. D hasn’t actually called me anything official, but we’re practically engaged—definitely on our way to be mated for life—so there’s no reason to stress. Plus, we’re about to infiltrate Aubrey’s secret spy lair together, which trumps the night's original plan of punching things, regardless of whose boyfriend I am or not.
Delores creeps across the main floor of the darkened library, peering around as if someone might jump out of the shadows and arrest us at any moment. She’s clutching my hand like a vice, and now I’m wishing it was mycockgetting squeezed by her tiny paw, because this is the hottest illegal activity I’ve been involved in for a while. The sour dragon won’t even letNicointo his special archives when they work on projects together, and here’s our little bunny tugging me along like a thief in the night.
Maybe someday she’ll sneak into my bedroom to roleplay sexy ninjas…
The idea drags a growl from my throat, and she turns to glare at me. “Shh! I don’t want anyone finding us here,” she mutters, as ifanyoneelse would dare lurk around Aubrey’s lair, even in the middle of the day. Letting go of my hand, she feels along a shelf for something and I’ll be damned if a small keypad doesn’t pop open on the sideboard. She then quickly punches in a code, and the fucking wall slides open!
