Page 71 of Let Us Prey
My eyes sweep over the students in my garden as they gather their books to leave. I rarely end class early, but I’m sending them en masse to the library to research their papers on the impact of Gothic literature on modern works of literature and film. Twenty unplanned student visitors eager to Google vampires and werewolves ought to drive a dragon to distraction, which brings me no shortage of chaotic pleasure. Chuckling under my breath, I sort my lecture notes into a neat stack and move to slide them into my bag.
That’s when I notice Delores is still standing at the edge of the classroom, staring out into the lake.
The thumping in my chest feels like one of the rave DJ’s Aubrey listens to is in control of the muscle there. I watch her silently for another moment, unsure what to do. We’ve been alone several times now, and each time it gets a little easier, but still makes me nervous. She’s wormed her way into our routine seamlessly—something I would have declared impossible a month ago. Her presence makes all of my misfit cohorts smile, and she doesn’t seem to want us for our inheritance or titles—in fact, Bash has to beg her to allow him to buy things for her.
Ugh. I feel like I’m inadvertently giving an old literary cliche to her: she’s not like other girls.
I’m better than that drivel, but the truth is that Delores Drewisdifferent from the women at Apex Academy—students and faculty alike. She’s smart, kind, and completely unconcerned with anyone’s bank account or family provenance. Despite all the difficulties she’s had, she seems interested in spending time with various members of our outcast clan not to help her claw her way back into society, but because sheenjoysour company.
It’s fascinating and terrifying at the same time, how she affects all of me so completely.
None of my friends are without trauma, most resulting in why we’re now living at Apex, instead of within our communities. Family and friends have damaged each of us in their own way, so it’s a struggle not to be naturally suspicious of the ingenue walking amongst us. If she betrayed any of us, I believe it would irreparably harm the broken men that gather in my Tower most evenings.
“Renard?”
Her voice draws me out of my musings, and I blink, feeling sheepish because she’s caught me staring like a fool…again. “Yes, Dolly?” I respond without tripping over my tongue. Her eyes are wide when they meet mine and a strange sensation zings between us. I’ve never felt anything like it before, but the pull towards her in that moment is undeniable. Making a mental note to ask Aubrey if he’s felt it around her, I watch her closely to see if she’s experiencing it as well.
Delores bites her lip, fiddling with her notebook, but I swear, her scent has changed. “I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions? I’m sure I can tackle my research project during work study in the library, so it won’t affect my paper if I don’t go there now.”
Mon Dieu, this can’t be good. Is she going to ask about hunting? Or has her perceptive mind noticed other things about Aubrey and I that no one else has? What am I getting myself into if I say ‘yes’? Before I can come to my senses, I’m nodding at her.
Merciful Lugh, I can’t control myself around this girl!
“Great!”
She beams, and my heart trips again while she rifles through a bunch of papers in her bag until she pulls out a small black journal. My eyes widen and panic sets in—she cannot be considering reading things from her diary! The stream of consciousness that escaped her lips the last time she confided in me was enough to do me in; what am I going to do if she confesses anything else?
“So, Nico is working on this stained glass project for Aubrey, and the other day, I saw a scrap of paper in his studio that weirdly mentioned the title of this random book we’ve been authenticating in the archives!” She shimmies a bit as she pulls out her phone to show me a picture of the book cover, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of the hunt—in this case, the hunt for knowledge.
This is why my fiery companion is so taken with her.
How many students—or women—would wiggle their bums about a dusty old book from his creepy cave? That explains his willingness to invite her to hunt earlier in the month. Old Sparky is positively smitten with the book-loving bunny, and I fully plan on teasing him mercilessly about it.
If only to draw attention away from me.
However, I see one problem. “You took…pictures?In Aubrey’s archives?” I ask carefully, unable to stop my face from scrunching in a wince.
Aubrey is fanatical about the archives—that’s not an exaggeration. It took me a decade to get the grumpy fuck to speak to me when I arrived at Apex, but it was a solidcenturybefore he allowed me to enter his precious book hoard. His meticulous care of the priceless tomes and scrolls down there includes temperature and light controls to keep the ancient texts from turning to dust. Hopefully, she didn’t damage the text…
Delores nods, biting her lip again as she whispers, “I may have… gotten over excited—but I didn’t use flash, I promise! When I recognized the title, I dragged Bash along with me to investigate. Of course, he was being a dork, so I got distracted for a tiny second. But anyway, I took the picture ‘cause he said I should askyouabout the Society since you’re so old... " Her eyes widen and she grimaces when she realizes what she just said.
Oh, she does like to play with fire, doesn’t she?
I decide to go the mischievous route because her reactions enchant me. “Well, you’d be right about my age, though Aubrey has a millennium on me. Speaking of that easily-angered dragon, did you just admit to letting Sebastian Romulus into his beloved lair?”
“Ohmigawd, don’t tell me he isn’t allowed in there! He didn’t say anything,” she groans, covering her face with her hands. “Am I in trouble?”
The laughter tumbles out of me and I clutch my stomach. ‘Is she in trouble’ is the best question I’ve been asked all week. When I finally gain control of myself, she’s glaring at me, tapping her foot in irritation. I wipe my eyes and shrug, deciding to tease. “That depends. Do you own a fireproof suit?”
“Fuck,” she mutters as she scuffs her combat boot on the ground. Her face brightens when she looks up. “Maybeyoucould help break the news? I’m sure Aubrey wouldn’t be as mad, since you guys are so close... "
I arch a brow at her, then shake my head. “No way,petit lapin. I never come between the scaly man and his books. You’re going to have to brave the fire on your own this time.”
Wrinkling her nose, she makes an adorable pouty face at me that almost breaks my resolve. “Fine. If you won’t help me keep the dragon from frying my bits, then you have to help me figure out what this ‘Apex Society’ is. I mean, everyone knows about the Council, but this book is talking about aSociety. Does that sound familiar to you?”
I pause, deciding it’s best to err on the side of caution with my young ingenue—she has enough enemies chasing her fluffy tail as it is. While there were whispers of such a thing, long before I came to Apex—from a time before shifters broke contact with the other magical communities, and well before the predators reigned supreme—I was too young to be certain of what I heard.
I would hate to lead her astray.
