Page 76 of Let Us Prey
I’m about to answer when the fisher cat from my Shifter History class randomly walks up to us. He’s dressed as a zombie from the Walking Pred, and I snort. I’ve definitely seen better blood and gore in person, especially lately. Squinting at him, I cross my arms over my chest, unimpressed. “What do you want?”
He shifts from foot to foot, looking around as if he’s worried someone might see him with me. “I… can we dance? I need to talk to you.”
“Oh, now you want to speak to me? Well, since I haven’t been good enough for you to defend in the past, I don’t think I—” Cori elbows me and I see every one of the guys straighten and pretend they’renotwatching this interaction like a kettle of hawks. My lips curve up as I get a very bratty idea. Maybe Cassius—Cash—is right. I do like to poke the proverbial bear with a tiny stick. Turning back to the fisher cat, I sniff. “Fine. One dance and if you have nothing interesting to say, it’s going to be a short one.”
“It probably will be, regardless,” Rufus smirks as he glances at my guys again. “C’mon, Coco. Let’s grab a drink while our bunny beards the lion, so to speak.”
When did I start calling themmyguys?
I follow the weasel nervously, a slight flashback to losing my V-card at this exact spot making me falter. When the slower song starts, I groan and let him take my hands as I try to ensure there’s enough space to keep anyone who sees us from yelling ‘slut’ comments. I’m not in the mood, and frankly, Bash might kill them if I don’t do it first. The small pred tries to lead in some sort of 2-step for a moment, and I sigh. He has no idea what he’s doing, so I take over, leading him as I impatiently wait for him to spill whatever information was so pertinent that he had to approach me at a dance, of all things.
“Thanks for hearing me out. I mean, I know I haven’t... "
I shake my head, in no mood for a false show of support. “Cut to the chase.”
“You’re in danger at Apex!” he says, then ducks his head as if he’s expecting me to hit him. To be honest,I’m ready to hit him with the world’s most sarcastic ‘duh’ when he’s yanked away from me and dangled in the air, like a fish on a hook.
Bash’s eyes are golden as he snarls at the terrified fisher. “WHAT. IN THE. FUCK. DO YOU THINK. YOU’RE DOING. DANCING WITH MY GIRL?”
Oh, shit.
FORTY-THREE
Dead Man’s Party
Delores
“Bash!” I lay my hand on his other arm as he shakes the shivering weasel like he’s trying to make loot drop or something. It’s hard to take him seriously in the short fluffy dress, but if anyone can look like they’re going to murder someone while wearing four-inch Leopartins, it’s definitely Sebastian Romulus. “Put him down,” I hiss. “Everyone is watching!”
His growl makes my thighs clench as he grinds out, “What the fuck do I care? He had his hands on you.”
Rufus is damned near ecstatic as he walks over with our drinks, with a wincing Cori close behind. Neither of them gets too close to my furious…boyfriend?Fuck, I still don’t know and now isn’t the time. We’re all going to get tossed out of this party if I don’t calm Bash down quickly, and I have no idea how Lucille would react to that. She seemed pleased to learn I’ve been seen with one of the Romulus brothers, but since she’s also a total psycho, I have no idea how pissed she’ll be if I get suspended.
“Bash!” I hiss, tugging on his arm again. “If we get kicked out, I might get suspended, and then I’ll get in trouble with my parents!”
His head whips around, and the yellow in his eyes fades. He drops the fisher cat in an unceremonious heap, holding his hands out for me with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Cherry. What can I say? I can’t control the wolf around you.”
Squirming in place, I take his hands and let him tuck me into his side possessively. My irritation disappears like mist when he growls in my ear playfully and I giggle. “You can’t just attack people at a party!”
Rufus walks over and gives me an eye roll as he hands me my Dr. Pupper. “Oh, that’ll show him, Dollypop. Crack that whip.”
The wolf side-eyes my besties for a moment, then shrugs dismissively. “No one asked you, little gangster.” I glare at him and he mutters, “Thanks for keeping my girl company until we arrived.”
“Your girl, huh?” Cori says, her eyes full of reproach. “That’sherdecision, Professor, and I don’t think anyone has asked her yet.”
My face turns bright red and I sputter into my cup, turning my glare on my meddling friends. Bash looks confused and I sigh. He’s definitely as clueless about me as he is about Nico, and I have no idea what I’m going to do about it. I sure as fuck don’t know how to bring this shit up without getting triggered. The last time I tried committing to someone, they chased me down and tried to eat me—and not in a good way.
What in the hell am I supposed to say to lock down Sebastian Romulus, playboy extraordinaire?
“C’mon, Cherry. I heard about this awesome game people are playing, away from the noise. That’s really why I came over.” Bash gives me a less-than-subtle grin, and I snort at his lack of finesse.
The fisher cat slunk away while we were having our ‘protective BFF vs. protective maybe-boyfriend’ standoff, so I nod at Bash, assuming the warning the smaller pred gave me was just that. “All right. I can go see thisgamefor a few minutes, I guess, but then I have to come back and hang with my friends, too.”
“Go have fun with your temperamental suitor, girl. Coco and I are on the prowl for ourselves. I smell drunk athletes and have a hankering for beefsteak,” Rufus says, waving his hand with a wink. Cori laughs and takes his arm, her grin enough confirmation that they’ll be fine without me.
“Okay, Bash. I’m all yours,” I say, turning back to him, feeling better than I have in a while. His eyes dance mischievously and he drags me off the dance floor, toward whatever naughty surprise awaits.
* * *
