Page 111 of Let Us Prey
“Now that our guests have arrived, I have a special film to share. I recently dug through old lecture materials until I found lesson plans and films referencing certain types of folklore. This one is extremely old, so feel free to giggle at the outdated shit. It’s grainy and cheesy—the girls should also be prepared to be angry at the blatant misogyny. But in a pinch, this is the best I could do without being granted access to anyspecial archives.”
That dig was aimed right at my grumpy librarian, and I can hear his snort of irritation before I smell the smoke rings. I’m not sure whose side the lioness is on, but it’s clear she has absolutely no fear, and maybe no sense of self-preservation. My dragon willroasther if she isn’t careful, especially with the mood he’s been in lately.
“I expect to see all of you taking notes. The information in this film has been banned in the past—it’s rare to learn this at all since the Council took over. You may not get to see it again.”
Frowning, I wonder why the Council would give a shit about legends and mating practices. What could be in this damned movie that’s so scandalous? Maybe she’s just being dramatic because she figured out I was talking about a Romulus when I asked her my questions, and this is her way of making me feel dumb.
That has to be it.
Zhenga turns the lights out and drops onto the bean bag she prefers, whipping out her phone immediately. I can’t complain, though. The benefit of her distraction is I can carefully turn my head to watch the guys out of the corner of my eye. What I see is giggle-worthy, but I don’t want to draw attention to myself, so I bite my lip to hold it in.
The aforementioned dragon is seated in a large armchair with a frown on his face that looks more thoughtful than grumpy. His phone is out, and I think he might be recording the sound of the video rather than playing around like my actual professor. Rennie is perched on the arm of his chair, his expression unusually stormy as his tail flicks in sharp, angry beats. Bash is sprawled on a beanbag next to Cash, focusing on the film more than I’d expect as his brother runs his fingers absently through his hair. It’s like Cash is comforting him, but I don’t know why. Nico is standing off to the side with his arms crossed as he leans against the wall, watching quietly.
Something is off with them, and I’d sure as hell like to know what it is.
But now isn’t the time or place. I can’t message them in such an open space, nor can I get caught slacking when this change in the curriculum was clearly prompted bymyquestions. I return my focus to the video, squinting when the word ‘knotting’ flashes on the screen.
What in the name of Aphrodite is that?
I don’t have to wait long to find out because severalverydetailed diagrams appear on screen, and I feel the color drain out of my face as I recognize exactly what happened—with both BashandNico. The film explains that the phenomena differ from species to species, and can be called other things, but it’s specific to sexual activity between ‘fated mates.’ Wincing at the weird hook thing that happens in felines, I struggle to keep up with my notes despite my shaking hands.
Fated mates—what does that even mean? Does it mean the guys don’t really like me? Maybe Bash and Nico didn’t have a choice? What if it doesn’t happen with the others? What if my stupid prey shit caused this?
The questions whirling through my head are overwhelming, and I don’t know what to do. It feels like my world is being tossed into a blender, and it’s set to high speed, but I can’t turn it off before the lid goes flying. I put my pen down and close my eyes, desperately trying calm myself. When I felt like this during the summer, I would go out and get a new piercing or a tattoo. The pain distracts me, and though I know it’s nottechnicallythe healthiest way to deal, it helps.
I wonder if I can get Rufus and Cori to sneak off campus with me to a tattoo parlor.
When I open my eyes, I realize I’m white-knuckling my notebook. I’m feeling so insecure and naïve, but I need to get a hold of myself. My gaze cuts to the lioness again, but she’s not looking at me, or my guys. Maybe she really is doing this to be helpful? I’m not sure I’m ready to trust anyone else just yet—it’s been hard enough to share my trauma with Rufus and Cori, and now I have to swap truths with my boyfriends in order to get the same from them. I’m still reconciling how exposed that makes me feel, but I know it has to happen.
Any good therapist would tell me I can’t lock my heart in a vault forever, because of a few assholes in high school.
Maybe that’s what I need—realfriend time. This is my last class of the day, and I could go have a ‘therapy’ session with Rufus and Cori. Their parents taught them afucktonmore about shifter life than Lucille allowed me to learn, so they might know about this ‘knotting’ and ‘fated mate’ stuff. If they explain it to me in layman’s terms I might feel less like an idiot.
You might stop wondering if the guys feltcompelledto be with you.
That thought makes the bite on my neck ache a little, and I frown. I’ve been keeping it under wraps with scarves, Bash’s hoodie, and other winter garments because it seems to be healing slowly. I’m not surewhyit feels different than other injuries, and I don’t think I can bring myself to ask Zhenga. When I have my implant changed, I should probably ask the nurses.
Which needs to be soon, since I want to sleep at the townhouse this weekend.
I pull out my phone quickly, making a note to ask Bettina about the bite. Weird infections aren’t something I want to take chances on. A thought occurs to me, and I add another quick task for during my work study this evening…visit the archives and look up fated mates. Between that and my research on the Society and Nico’s stained glass project, I have plenty to keep me busy.
When the movie ends and everyone stands , I scurry out of the room as quickly as possible. I can’t bear to look at the guys until I have my head on straight, and I definitely can’t let any of them touch me until I fix this damned birth control issue. Wanting to scream in frustration, I put my earbuds in and duck into a small corridor that leads to the prey tunnels.
I don’t want anyone to see me freaking out, especially not that obvious spy, Heather R.
Using the modified prey version of the campus map, I follow a series of twists and turns until I arrive at a door that has acaduceuson it. The symbol for medicine makes me sigh with relief, and I push open the door slowly so I don’t startle the three nurses when I emerge from their supply closet.
“Um, hello? Bettina? Clarice? Argyle? It’s Dolly... " The three women are sitting at a table chowing down on lunch, not batting an eye when I appear out of nowhere. I give them a nervous smile as I shut the closet door and walk over. “I need your help again.”
“Told you she’d be back!” snorts Argyle.
Clarice frowns, and Bettina glares at their colleague. “Stuff it, Argyle. What can we do for you, Dolly?”
“I need my implant refreshed and, um, I have some questions.” They look at me curiously and I rush to add, “Privatequestions.’
Bettina wipes her mouth with a napkin and stands, nodding. “Well, then girlie. Come lie down on the exam table and we’ll get started.
“Oh, no! I’m interrupting your lunch,” I reply, shaking my head.
