Page 20 of Eat. Prey. Love. (Apex Academy Capers #5)

I’m going to skin that bitch and make a rug out of her hide.

“Fitzy, calm down,” our girl says as she strokes her fingers over my face. “I handled her. The Heathers have given me years of practice dealing with some deluded mean girl threatening me.”

Growling low, my arms tighten around her as I bury my face in her neck. She doesn’t understand; I know that. When I was stalking her or when we first got together, I already disarticulated fuckers who upset her. Now , she’s my fucking mate . Fury is crawling through my veins like a fire out of control and I’m ready to rip the throat out of the first person who tempts me.

“Love, you have to take a breath. Remember what you did when we first…” Chess flushes and my posture relaxes a tiny bit. He’s not wrong; I was touchy as fuck after I claimed him.

Probably time to make that confession…

“Chessie, I didn’t control it as well as you think.” Baby Girl arches her brow, looking at me suspiciously and I shrug, giving her a roguish smile. “I tore the pits up for weeks so I could control the anger that had me in a choke hold for the first couple… months-ish.”

The cheetah shifter’s jaw drops and he gives me a dirty look. “Fitzgerald Khan. The pits on Bloodstone are dangerous . People die in them several times an hour.”

Felix walks in before I can answer, his expression smug. “Yes, he knows. For a while, they were calling him the Feral Tiger of the Dark Isle in the ambush.”

“That was you ?!” Chess gapes and my girl giggles—another reason I adore the living shit out of her.

My twin shrugs and drops onto the sofa next to me, his hand landing on Baby Girl’s knee to squeeze it. “Who the fuck else did you think it was, Chester?”

“You.”

I snort, shaking my head. “As if Dear Old Dad would allow his chosen heir to be in those hellholes unless it was some big show for the world. He’s a sadist, but he isn’t stupid. I’m the psycho, Felix is the prince. That’s how it’s always been and always will be, Chessie.”

Dolly clears her throat, her big blue eyes serious. “And you said I’m the Queen, Fitz Khan, so you all have to let me rule my world how I see fit. I can handle this flea-bitten shithead and if I can’t, I will ask for your help. ”

I love the confidence radiating from her, so I can’t deny her the opportunity to prove herself.

“Fine, Baby Girl. I’ll leave her processed hide in place… for now. But if she lays a single finger on you outside of practice, all bets are off. Got it?” My expression is as stern as I can make it because I’m fucking serious about this shit. I refuse to allow a repeat of the first year where those girls tortured her for no goddamn reason.

Felix leans in to press his nose against hers, blocking my view as he growls, “Your King says that’s fair.”

Chess snorts, leaning into my side as he mumbles, “There are three kings in this place. Who said you’re the top cat?”

“No one,” the dragon says, his voice tinged with amusement as he and Ren enter the living area. “The Raj is sorely mistaken if he thinks he’s the one calling all the shots.”

“Indeed,” the gargoyle drawls as he flops onto the special chair his crew of rodents procured. It allows him to drape over the furniture in his favorite style and for a second, I ponder finding minions of my own. Those little prey shits are very useful and maybe I’ve slacked off on building an empire for myself.

“Excuse me,” our girl says as she puts her hands on her hips. “The Queen has not consented to marry anyone, so none of your bullshit posturing counts. My rule is solo and you’re all my royal courtesans.”

My twin opens his mouth to argue and I put my hand over it quickly. “Don’t argue with her you idiot. She’s saying we’re her sex bots and who the fuck wants to argue with that shit?”

His eyes widen and I feel the smirk under my palm. “You’re right, bro. Being her courtesans sounds much more fun than politics.”

“And it will be, but tonight, I’m so fucking sore that I want to die,” she admits. “I’m hungry, sore, and I have two chapters of the stupid Theater History book to read because the big guy distracted me at lunch. ”

I snarl as my eyes narrow. “You what? No fair, Spicy Chameleon!”

Aubrey chuckles, shaking his head. “Not distracted in that way, though I’d be happy to do so anytime, snack size.”

Pouting a bit for effect, I look at our girl. “Is that true, Baby Girl? No hanky panky for big and cranky?”

She holds up her hand like a Pred Scout, eyes wide. “I swear, Fitzy. We just talked about my classes and stuff. He didn’t get a single article of clothing off. In fact, not one of you has today, which definitely disappoints me as much as you.”

“Okay, good girl. Then Chessie is getting on dinner, and we’re going to help you ease those sore muscles while you work. Frenchie, draw her a bath fit for a Queen after we finish eating. And I’ll read you the chapter, then my stuffy brother will feed you dessert while Spicysaurus Rex gives you a massage. How does that sound?”

Her eyes turn into saucers and the shiver that runs through her makes my dick strain. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes, fuck yes.”

I groan, tipping my head back as I squeeze my eyes shut. “None of that, bad girl, or we’ll lose all ability to follow the Queen’s rules.”

Not that I have great hopes for it, anyway.

“Holy fucking shit Chessie,” Dolly groans as she pats her food rounded belly. “That was so good I might marry it instead of you clowns.”

My cheetah flushes happily and I lean in to kiss him before he gets too flustered. “You did good, baby.”

Felix tosses back the end of his bourbon, wiping his mouth with the napkin and sighs happily. His eyes are fond as he looks at the whole table of full preds. The happiness in his expression comes from knowing his chosen ambush is well taken care of and it’s one I hadn’t seen in years until our girl hopped in our life. “Chess, buddy, you are turning into the best chef I know. You spoil the shit out of us.”

“ C’est vrai, mon ami ,” Renard says as he leans back. “I’m impressed with how well you’re learning as well. You could open your own restaurant eventually, I believe.”

Chessie turns even redder, ducking his head, and Baby Girl tugs him over into her arms. “Your part in my relaxing evening was amazing, my knight. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Angel,” he murmurs softly as their foreheads touch. “But I’m also pleased that the others like it as well. It makes me feel important.”

I snort, squishing them together as I press into his back. “Baby, you’re important in more ways than I can count. You keep us all functioning, especially me. Between organizing and food and snuggles, you’re the backbone of our little family.”

“Indeed, he is,” Aubrey interjects. “Chester, without you, we’d be sitting on the floor with takeout right now.”

“The Captain and his crew?—”

“Oh, don’t be modest, Chessie. You directed the mayhem.” Dolly beams as she pulls back and looks around. “The rest of you are up to bat. I was promised a lovely bath, a massage, help reading, and desserts. Chop, chop.”

Ren leaps up from his seat, walking over to take her hand and kiss it. “As you wish, ma magnifique reine . I’m off to create a beautiful, relaxing scene for you to absorb your history lesson in.”

Cheating fancy pants Frenchie, I fucking swear.

Dolly melts a little and Aubrey snorts, shaking his head. “Such a fucking cheater. He knows what that does to everyone. ”

“I know, right?” I grumble as my arms tighten around our bunny. “I have too many things to learn to kick your ancient asses. It’s very time consuming.”

Felix puts his hand over his mouth, muffling his laughter, and I glare at him. “Fitz, you don’t have to compete with them. Fuck, we can’t , man. They have ridiculous amounts of time on us.”

“Plus, I love you how you are, Crazypants,” Baby Girl says as she wiggles. “You try everything and don’t give a single shit if you’re good at it or not. And your stalking might worry some people, but I like that you want to be with me all the time. It makes me feel… cherished.”

“Good thing otherwise he’d end up in jail,” the dragon mutters into his scotch. “He’s almost attached to you like a damn shadow.”

I shrug, grinning widely at them all. “Don’t be jelly, guys. I keep eyes on you all, too. Can’t have my bros-in-law and my other mate unsafe. I’m just less obvious with checking on you ‘cause you don’t dig it like our girl does.”

The Hot-Headed Gila Monster glares at me, his expression cautious. “You spy on us all the time, too?”

“Don’t get twisted, buddy. I still don’t know what the fuck you two fuckers eat, and I didn’t know about your little secret until you gave it up, did I?” My lashes bat as I look at him innocently. “I’m keeping tabs, but not that closely.”

Chess finally pulls out of our grip, moving to clear the dishes. “Since I cooked, you assholes need to help me load up and clear this stuff. I’ll pack up the leftovers in lunch bentos if you do.”

Oooh. I love when he makes me care packages for later.

“Well, don’t sit here like mold growing, guys. Who doesn’t want Chessie’s hot lunches for the rest of the week?” I clap my hands as I shoot to my feet, setting our girl on hers. “You go get ready for that bath, Baby Girl, and we’ll help Chessie. I’ll be in very soon. ”

She kisses my cheek, then hits up the other four, giggling when each of us grope her. “Thanks, Fitzy. I’ll get my hair tied up and head for the bath with my stupid textbook.”

I watch her skip off, then turn to the dragon, cheetah, and my brother with dark eyes. “Now that she's gone… We need to keep an eye out for that skank who threatened her. O’ Learys are Council fuckers and they have pull. If that little wretch tells her parents who the competition is, I guarantee it will get back to Dolly’s cuntfaced mother. She doesn’t need any more problems.”

“Agreed, Fitzgerald,” Aubrey says as he lifts up the platter of meat to take it to the back counter. “I don’t like her garnering another rival so well connected. Between the other problems at this school and this, our planner keeps filling. It will become unmanageable.”

I grin fangily. “It won’t if you all quit putting me on a fucking leash. I could clear players off before anyone even knew they were missing.”

“That draws too much attention, Fitz. Threats and light maiming are working fine.” Felix pauses for a moment. “Perhaps that would be a good choice if this O’ Leary keeps bothering Princess. Take her claws one by one—it will hamper her in the games.”

Excitement floods me as I look at my twin. “Seriously? No one will lose their shit and call me impulsive? Not that I care, but I don’t like fucking up Chessie’s planning.”

My mate’s chuckle is soft and I wink at him as he wraps up lunches and puts them in the fridge.

“I think the Raj is right, and I know Rennie will agree,” Aubrey says grimly. “Show this girl we’re not kidding around if need be, Fitz. And make it painful—we need her to believe it the first time.”

Fuck yeah, she will. I know exactly what to do.