Page 25 of Eat. Prey. Love. (Apex Academy Capers #5)

My run with Felix this morning is brutal again—I have the feeling that Tuesday/Thursday ones are going to kill me all semester long. He’s grumpy as fuck about his sleazy cousin and while I get that he feels helpless, I’m going to be Usain Bolt by the time he’s done with me. I don’t say anything, though, because truthfully, having better speed and endurance is good for me when I’m being stalked by evil Fae and fuck knows who else.

Practicality is my new goal when it comes to secret enemies and I’ m winning at it.

Cori and Rufus are waiting for me when I exit the library, their gazes hungry as they watch for me to pull out ‘breakfast to go’ from Chessie. When I do, Cori moans happily, taking her fishy concoction with a grateful expression and Rufus flashes his pointy teeth. My cheetah has life time devotees because of his thoughtfulness and it makes me smile as we walk towards the admin building in the early morning sunshine.

“You’re never going to believe this, Dollypop,” Rufus says around a huge bite of his burrito. “My fucking juries include year-long projects I only get this semester to complete. What a crock of hippo shit.”

“Me, too,” I sigh as I think about the routines I have to choreograph and practice for a final grade that could flunk me. “I have songs, dances, papers, scenes… and they all require the most ridiculous amount of full show shit. Like everyone else has already paired up with people to get this stuff done. What are transfers going to do?”

Cori swallows her bite and wipes her mouth, giving us both a look. “We team up, of course. I can do costumes for both of your stuff. It will help fulfill my requirements. We can all work on any sets, plus I bet the triplets could help procure props if you ask, Ru-Ru.”

He nods, his expression thoughtful. “They can and that means we won’t overload our girl’s logistic cheetah.”

Grimacing, I nod. “That would help because he’s got food and organization in our fam. He’s doing fine, but I don’t want to swamp the poor guy. I’d feel bad.”

“That means you two can model the costumes for me and everyone can star in the movies or scenes. I’m sure all of our friends will help. We just need to ask Raina.” Cori grins and ducks her head, flushing for a moment. “My big project is Z’s uniforms and thank fuck for Dolly suggesting it to her. It’s perfect for making a big splash. ”

I arch my brow at her for a moment, sensing something off. She doesn’t continue, though, so I move on. “Well, that’s your biggest piece checked off. What’s the big one you need help with Ru-Ru?”

He rolls his eyes to the sky and groans dramatically. “I have to make an entire short film! It’s absolutely insane how much work that will take between shooting, scripting, editing, costumes… I feel like I’m going to die by the end.”

Coco and I giggle as he rambles on for a minute, pulling his best Oscar-worthy histrionics, then she finally smacks him in the arm. “For the love of sparkly sequins, Rufus, calm down. We can all help with that. Come up with a premise and perhaps we can figure out how to cut some of the work out of the process. If it’s unscripted, that will excise a huge amount of work, for example.”

He blinks, tilting his head as we approach the doors to the Alexandré building. “Oh, shit, Coco! That’s brilliant. Let me stew on it for a while and I’ll get back to you when I have something suitably clever and avant garde.”

“See? Team work makes the dream work, guys,” I wink with a grin. “Now let me get inside to suffer through this asshole’s pompous crap and Heathers’ bullying so it’s done for the week. Ciao!”

I have no idea what my bestie has brewing in his spiky head, but I guarantee it’s going to be amazing—I can’t wait.

“The Magic Accords were necessary to keep the peace and prevent humans from discovering our existence. However, Fae and the other magical folks are simply not as evolved as shifters, especially in terms of intelligence, so the factions ended up at war before they could be signed.”

I roll my eyes as Asani drones on, weaving his shifter-loving fanfic to a rapt audience. He hasn’t presented any actual proof this is how the history went—not one non-shifter written document, art piece, or even reference book that isn’t distributed by the Councils. Yet everyone in this room—particularly my nemeses—are eating his bullshit up with spoons. I’m not typically so jaded, but… it’s pretty obvious this isn’t the whole picture.

You’d have to be exceptionally gullible and naive to accept that entire groups of people are sub-par because our glorious leaders say so.

Sighing as I scribble a few notes with my stylus, I use the time to study everyone in my classroom. I’ve caught names and I’m writing them down with little notations that help me remember what side I think they fall on. After finding out my roommate was a planted poisoner last year, I’m not taking chances with classmates. I want Fitzy including them in dark web searches and finding out their backgrounds and connections before I have to deal with them individually. Professors are insane and I can’t guarantee one of them won’t?—

“And that will be the topic of your first group project this semester!”

Damn it. This is exactly what I was worried about.

I pull up the messaging screen, hastily firing off a group message to the guys.

BabyGirl: Guys, your dick cousin is assigning group projects.

TigerWoody: Never fear, BabyGirl, I’m on it. Gimme names.

BabyGirl: I don’t have them yet, but I will once I do.

TigerKing: I don’t like this.

EmoBatman: I find this much too convenient, petite lapin.

LustyLibrarian: What will you do if he puts you with one of your ex-friends, lunchable?

BabyGirl: I don’t know, big guy. If I complain, he’ll know one of my weaknesses. If I don’t, it will be Hell on earth.

TigerKing: Who says it won’t be anyway? Group projects are rarely balanced in terms of effort, and the lack of participation can make or break grades of all involved. It feels like a trap to ensure your grades dip.

BabyGirl: Shit, I hadn’t considered that, Felix. Thanks for making me even more nervous.

TigerKing: Sorry, Princess. I’m being realistic.

BabyGirl: It’s okay. I have to tune back in now. Talk later, boys. Behave.

The rapid-fire exchange only took seconds, but I’m relieved to see both Heathers already have partners moving their seats to gather with them. It appears this is a duo project and my eyes flick around the room to see who’s left. Hopefully, it’s a female because honestly? I don’t know if I can deal with some rando douche guy trying to skate off of me and Fitz might actually kill the dude when he finds out even if they don’t flirt.

Priorities are important—no dead people, no panic attacks, and no slackers.

“Delores Drew, you will be paired with Amity LaPorte.” Asani gives me a smug look as I recognize a girl from my Ballet class making a pissed off expression. “I expect great things from you, cheries .”

I have to swallow back barf as his use of French makes me want to hurl. When Rennie does it, it’s lyrical and romantic which makes my thigh clench. This guy sounds like he’s mimicking the chef from the Little Mermaid and it makes me dry as the Sahara. Sucking in a deep breath, I gather my things, moving from my seat to be next to Amity. She hasn’t moved a muscle except to sneer as Asani continued on, so I don’t have much choice.

“You’re in my Ballet class, right?” I say as I sit down. My face is bright with my ‘socializing’ smile and I’m actively trying to project friendly vibes. This situation probably isn’t salvageable, but at least I can say I didn’t make it worse.

She sniffs, straightening her materials fussily before looking up at me with bright amber eyes. “ Peut-être que vous n’êtes pas aussi stupide que salope. Excellent. ? 1 ”

I blink at her, grinding my teeth so my jaw doesn’t hit the ground at her bitchy response. “Excuse me?”

“ Les Américains stupides ne parlent jamais la langue des pays qu’ils visitent. Très bien, je vais passer à l’anglais puisque tu es tellement... handicapé. ? 2 ”

The bunny inside of me catches enough of her snooty insult to push at my skin in an effort to be let loose. I grit my jaw harder, keeping the snarl of anger in so I don’t draw attention to myself. My eyes close, and I use the tricks Aubrey and I work on together to help keep our beasts from busting loose. After a few moments, I let out a long, slow breath, then look at the nasty girl with red eyes.

“I don’t know what your problem is, LaPorte, but I don’t allow anyone to speak to me that way. Show some goddamn respect or I’m skipping the professor to head for the Dean.”

She gives me a saccharine smile, batting her lashes. “Ah, there’s the lapin en colère ? 3 I’ve heard so much about. I wondered what it would take to get you riled and now I know.”

Why the fuck does that matter?

“Look, if you don’t like me, fine. You need better standards, but whatever. I don’t let that shit bother me anymore.” I tap my pencil on the desk, getting her eyes back to mine. “But I won’t tolerate being called names, nor will I put up with you being nasty. Get it together and act like an adult or I promise, you’ll regret it.”

Her laugh tinkles as she shrugs. “I highly doubt that, Delores Drew. This is my third year at l’Academie and I have the connections to sway anyone I like to my side. You can do your worst, but it will not affect me in the slightest.”

Great. Another one of those girls. Do they mass produce these bitches or something?

“Whatever. Look, I’ll take the first half of this paper—the part about the build-up to the Accords, and you take the back half. We’ll put them together and turn them in at the end after we read over it. Sound good?”

“As if my part would need you to proof it, you talentless plagiarist.” Amity sniffs again and I narrow my gaze at her nostrils, suddenly wondering if her erratic behavior is a symptom of heavy Predstatsy use.

I frown at her, shaking my head. “What the hell are you talking about you crazy woman? I’ve never copied anything in my entire life. I don’t need to. My grades are my own.”

“Not what I hear. You were caught at the school you blew up. I assume you did it to cover your tracks as you moved to a new hunting ground.” The feline shifter arches a brow. “If you think I will not ensure everyone knows of your proclivity, you are sorely mistaken.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes. I can guess who spread that gem around. Despite the many times they’ve been smacked down for slanderous bullshit, the stupid Heathers never seem to understand they’re going to eventually lose it all when I unleash on them. When I open my eyes, my gaze cuts to them, noting their tandem smirks as they see my struggles. I have no idea where the fuck they’re vomiting their bile—I blocked them and their cronies years ago on every platform possible. But it’s happening again, and I need to address it before it gets out of hand.

“Fine. Do whatever on your part, Amity. I’ll read it and give you notes, but you don’t have to take them. If you can’t take constructive criticism, that’s your problem, not mine.” Irritated beyond comparison, I grab my things and rise to my feet. “I’m going to the library to work for the rest of class.”

I swear to every deity in the sky and all the ones below, one day, I’m going to punch those girls so hard their teeth end up in their colons.