Page 33 of Let Us Prey
The walls are painted gallery white, instead of the usual rental beige, and the artwork featured is incredible. Lucille and Bruno liked to think of themselves as ‘patrons of the arts,’ but with no actual taste or interest in the scene, the house ended up resembling a patchwork of poorly curated crapola.
Seriously, I think one piece they bought featured actual excrement spread on a canvas.
But this collection is a wonder of light and color, and I forget the wolves entirely as I wander into the dining room to continue my self-guided tour.
Both men trail after me, although I suspect Cassius just wants to make sure I don’t pocket the silver. “Do you like it, Cherry?” Bash asks, his voice so innocently hopeful that I can’t help a smile from twitching my lips. “Nico handles the decorating, because… you know, he has the eye for it.”
“Is Nico here now?” I blurt out, eager to see the stupidly attractive redhead again. Even with how often I’ve been in the Shird this, I haven’t seen him at all, which seems odd. “He canceled both my classes and I’ve stopped by his studio a few times, but he’s never there. I sure hope he’s not avoiding me!” I laugh nervously under the combined stares of the wolf twins, suddenly feeling like I might be on the menu after all.
“Maybe it’s the way you stink,” Cassius smirks, ignoring the withering look Bash throws him. “And yes, heisavoiding you—just asIwas hoping to do, outside of class—but here we fucking are.” I can feel my anger rising at an alarming rate again, but my professor sweeps past me and into the hallway before I can reply.
“Ignore him, D,” Bash croons, raising my hand to his mouth to deposit a kiss on my palm. “Bro hasn’t gotten laid in a while… at least not by anyone astastyas you.”
I blush deeply at the memory of Bash’s skillful mouth between my thighs. Even with all the heavy petting Todd and I snuck in before prom night happened, he’d neverevenofferedto satisfy me in that way. All at once, I feel terrible that Bash somehow doesn’t know what I am, and I decide to set the record straight.
Even if it means he’ll no longer be interested in me.
“Bash, I… ” I begin, my gaze dropping to where he’s still clutching my shaking hand in his enormous one.
“Oh! You want to see Nico, right? He’s in the kitchen—right this way. Besides being an artistic genius, our fox makes the best fucking Osso Buco you’ll ever put in your pretty little mouth.”
Regaining my composure, I nod, trying to mimic Bash’s signature nonchalance as I bravely follow, still determined to clear the air at some point tonight.
Nico is as handsome as I remember, efficiently moving around the kitchen like a man in his element, completely oblivious to our presence. Last time I saw him, he was smartly dressed for teaching, but now he’s wearing gray sweats and a canvas work apron over a white undershirt—showcasing adorably freckled shoulders and muscular arms that flex enticingly as he works. Having been raised to eat like a pred, the smell of veal shanks makes my mouth water, and a sound of hunger inadvertently escapes my lips.
The fox spins, accidentally knocking his hand against the pot. He hisses in pain and clutches the injured hand to his chest, backing away from me as ifI’mthe predator in this relationship.
Not that there’s any relationship here to speak of.
To my annoyance, Bash simply cocks his head at the other man. “Chill out, dude. She’s not gonna bite… unless maybe you ask her to.”
“He’s hurt!” I exclaim, pushing past the clueless wolf to get to the freezer. Finding a flexible ice pack, I wrap it in a thin dish towel and apply it to Nico’s hand before he can protest.
“Thank you,” he tersely mumbles, his jaw is clenching and green eyes downcast and as he pointedly removes his hand from mine.
Heisavoiding me!
Oh my gods,doI stink?
Suddenly self-conscious, I also drop my gaze to the floor. “I don’t think it was such a good idea for me to come here, Bash. I’m fine eating Roarmen until I can order more food, I swear.”
“No!” Nico surprises me with an uncharacteristically commanding bark. Then he breathes out slowly, as if centering himself before speaking again. “No. I would very much like to feed you. Please stay.”
Bash beams as if this extremely awkward situation is all part of his grand design, and I can’t help smiling in return. Something about the way these men want to take care of me in their own ways warms something deep inside my chest—like the tiniest spark igniting at the cold center of my frozen heart.
“It smells delicious,” I offer, and I’m rewarded with a dazzling smile from the fox, made all the sweeter by the pink coloring his pale cheeks.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he shyly replies. “For a moment, I was worried you might not eat meat.”
Bash snorts. “Why wouldn’t she eat meat? We all do. It’s literally part of our DNA. It’sscience.”
Nico furrows his brow, full lips pressing into a thin line, clearly debating how to proceed. I suddenly realize he and Cassius know exactly what I am, yet they’re both letting Bash date me—if that’s what you can call it—without bursting his oblivious bubble. Squaring my shoulders, I nod at the fox, wordlessly giving him permission to break the news.
At least Nico will let him down easy.
“She’s a godsdamnbunny,Bash,” Cassius stomps into the room, half-empty beer bottle in hand and smelling like it’s not his first. “She’s. Prey. You. Fucking. Idiot.”
Or, we could just rip the band-aid off.
