Page 95 of Let Us Prey
That shitty asshole Professor Abel changed the test—again—without notice, so everything I spent the weekend memorizing was damn near useless. The professor’s smirk at my dismay, and that no one else in class seemed to be freaking out makes me wonder if I’m not being given completely different material than everyone else.
My DiePhone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, smiling for the first time in hours when I see who it is. “Hi Cori! I just got out. I’m headed to your room to—oh. I see.” I stop in my tracks, looking across the campus in fear. The Honeywell Admissions building looms across the lake, and I can’t repress the shiver that shoots down my spine as I listen to my friend explain why she and Rufus think I need to join them in the cafeteria.
“... besides, Dolly, you can’t avoid the building entirely for the next three and a half years! Rufus and I are already inside, headed to claim a table. No one will mess with you when we’re together; I promise. They have fish tacos tonight, and we want to spend the whole dinner giggling like idiots. Pleeeeeease?”
Swallowing hard, I put my free hand on my chest, feeling the rapid thump of my heart as the prey animal inside of me remembers the last time I was in there. Rufus and Cori don’t understand how that chase made me feel—they can’t. They’ll never be able to comprehend the desperation I felt trying to get to the infirmary before some dickwad dingoes I didn’t even know tried to attack me. It’s not something I can explain, because it’s so far out of their experience as preds, especially ones who can hold their own. Even still, the invitation is tempting—because I don’t want to keep running forever.
Chin up, Dolly. It’s time to face your fears and kick its ass. That’s what your guys would do.
Ugh. It’s definitely what they’d do, while also encouraging me to do the same. “Okay, Coco. But no one gets to make fun of me if I’m a little jumpy at first. Tell Rufus not to be a bitch about it.” Her laugh tinkles through the line, and before I know it, we’ve said goodbye.
My feet move again before I can think too hard about it, carrying me along the edge of the lake towards the Shird. The Captain and his crew are out in the middle, tossing things into the water—it must be aquatic shifter food. When I squint past them to the garden behind the Tower, it’s empty, so I know Rennie has finished his last class of the day. I miss spending my nights in the Tower, and eating dinner—and more—at the Townhouse, and just thinking about my guys makes my heart squeeze a little. After I celebrate with my friends tonight, I plan to plant myself in their space and dig my claws in, so I don’t have to leave for a while.
As if they could hear my thoughts, my phone buzzes again, and I swipe it open to find new messages in the group chat.
MasterBeta:Cherry, I have one more exam for you…
SpicyLizard:Don’t say it, Sebastian.
MasterBeta:… you should exam-ine my balls!
GrumpyPants:Why the fuck do I need to be in this chat again?
RockMan:Perhaps we could ask Dolly how her actual exams went?
NaughtyNico:How did your exams go, Lo?
SpicyLizard:Yes, tell us, bite size.
Smiling to myself as I walk around the outside of the arts building, I consider how to respond. I could definitely tease the guys about their own classes, but I don’t want them flying off the handle at any of my other professors if I complain—especially with my suspicions about Shifter History. It won’t make me any friends, and since I don’t know yet what my classes will be next semester, I have to tread lightly.
CherryPie:I’m pretty sure I did okay in Shifter Studies :wink emoji:
MasterBeta:Bro didn’t give you a D? A BIG D?
GrumpyPants:Bash, fuck off.
GrumpyPants: You did great, baby.
CherryPie:My solo and dance went well—at least that’s what Cori said.
MasterBeta:Nico should have watched! Cherry likes it when he watches.
NaughtyNico:Bash…
SpicyLizard:Do we get to see you perform at some point?
MasterBeta:…
RockMan:Keep it to yourself, Bash.
MasterBeta:Cherry, tell them to stop picking on me!
I pause for a moment in the space between the Shird and the Honeywell Admissions building. To be honest, I like Bash’s teasing even when it makes me blush—like now—but I also love the way they jump in to save me. I’m not used to so many people completely focused on me in a good way, and I’m not sure how to handle it.
What would Rufus say?
He’d tell me to give it to them good. I ponder for a moment and take a deep breath, feeling braver with the distance messaging offers.
