Page 60 of Eat. Prey. Love. (Apex Academy Capers #5)
My heart thrums in tune with the electric buzz that’s vibrating through the stadium. Seats are filling up fast, a sea of eager faces and jittery anticipation. I can’t help but find it odd—this many preds swarming to what’s essentially a glorified scrimmage? But then, Dolly’s not just any player, and with Zhenga’s marketing genius at play, it’s like we’re at the epicenter of the shifter world’s latest craze.
The college level Pred Games are the Prednet’s biggest craze, according to my twin.
“I cannot believe a college scrimmage in the off-season is packing this place,” I murmur, my eyes scanning the packed stands from our front-row seats. “This is like the blood matches at Bloodstone.”
“Z’s outdone herself,” Fitz agrees, his voice a rumble beside me. The faint scent of his excitement, a tangy spice, mingles with the popcorn and sweat-soaked atmosphere. He loves violence; it makes his ADHD zing with happiness, especially when it’s our girl doing the deed.
Chess leans forward, elbows on knees, grinning as he takes in the sight. “Feels more like a championship than practice. But you’re right, Raj… I’m having mini-flashbacks to the punishment pits at our previous home. Everyone in this place seems hungry for blood and gore. I can’t decide if it’s that good or bad yet.”
“ Je n’aime pas ca, mon ami ,” Renard says, his tone edged with the steel of his darker instincts. As a gargoyle, he’s always watchful, and this is no exception. “The vibe in this place is bordering on feral, and if something happens, the entire place could go off.”
There’s no fucking way to contain that mess, no matter how many allies we have standing sentinel.
To our left, Cori’s laughter blends with Rufus’s deeper chuckle while the Kavarit triplets exchange knowing glances. I suppose they’ve grown used to the badger and the bear behaving like the college kids they are, much like we have grown used to their antics with Dolly. On our right, Farley and his enormous associate, Skelly, banter quietly with Raina the raccoon. Their hushed tones are barely audible over the crowd’s roar, but I smile when I notice the Captain’s steady gaze sweeping the arena like a lighthouse beam. He’s sitting with us, but also keeping his eyes on the bigger picture so he can communicate with his crew on Fitz’s earpieces.
I catch the occasional glint of metal from Holliday stationed with his rifle at the top of stands facing us. The broad backs of hulking badgers stand out amongst the throng of revelers—a reassuring reminder that our allies have us covered. Yet, nestled beneath the surface of that security, concern gnaws at me. I can’t shake the unease about those we can’t control: Dolly’s family, the elusive Fae, vampires lurking in shadowed corners, and those who’d relish in seeing her fall.
“Look at this fucking place...” Aubrey’s voice is almost lost as another wave of fans pours into the stands. “Every predator for miles must be here. What in the crispy fuck did Zhenga do to draw this kind of mass attendence? I highly doubt it was a fucking Fangbook ad.”
“These people are drawn by the lure of watching the Princess beat the snot out of something,” I say, my pride for her battling the worry that coils tighter with every new face that could hide a foe. “Zhenga’s flair for the dramatic probably featured the bunny who eats predators for breakfast, which brought every damn pred in the area out of the woodwork. I don’t like it; we weren’t prepared for this .”
“We’re here to enjoy the matches, big bro, not worry constantly,” Fitz says, clapping a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm, grounding. “We’ve got the best seats in the house, so if anything pops off, we’re in the perfect position to help.”
“These are the best seats to watch her back,” I admit, my resolve hardening as my eyes scan the crowd again. “But we’ll also have a perfect view of her kicking the shit out of some geeky U Aubrey slaps his knee while Chess grins widely. Ren tilts his head back, howling above the AC/DC anthem blasting through the speakers. None of us have love for any of the Council families, and knowing the Leonidas pride is probably regretting their foolish decision to promote a raging moron is delicious.
“She’s really shoved it in their faces,” Aubrey yells, and we nod, the roar of approval from the stands echoing our sentiments. “This will be hard to top during the regular season without upgrades to the facilities. There’s not an empty seat in this damn arena.”
“Nothing like sticking it to the people who rejected you to heat up the blood.” Fitz smirks, a glint of wildness in his gaze. “Can’t wait until we do the same to dear old Dad. ”
Cori’s lively voice cuts through the chaos, bright and eager. She leans in, her hands animated as she recounts the weeks of preparation for this match. “Dolly’s next, guys. Just wait for it.”
“Seeing you this keyed up again is baller, Cococabana,” my twin says with a grin, his eyes softening at her enthusiasm. “I was worried about you hiding out lately, especially after…”
“Please,” Cori scoffs, waving him off but clearly pleased. “Giselle was yesterday’s news. I’m all about new horizons now.”
I wonder what the hell that means?
Fitz reaches out, playfully tousling her hair, which earns him a mock growl and an eye roll. Rufus chimes in with a snarky comment that has us all chuckling, though the exact words are lost to the cacophony.
“The follies of youth,” one of the Kavarit triplets muses, earning a chorus of snickers from the group.
“Speak for yourself, old man,” Rufus retorts, his eyes then turning to his partners, murmuring something that makes them blush—obviously, a private joke filthy enough to make ancient Sphinxes turn red.
Good for him.
I can’t help but smile at our motley crew. We’re an odd bunch, but here, amidst the noise and fervor, we’re united by more than just our Drew Fluffle jerseys. Before I can comment on how much I appreciate them all supporting the Princess, the music changes to the thrumming bass of our girl’s favorite T. Swift song and my lips curl up.
Oh, I’m definitely ready for it…
The stadium trembles with anticipation, the song pulsating through the air as Dolly makes her entrance. As she strides onto the green, her smirky grin slices through the electrified atmosphere, commanding attention without uttering a word. She’s a vision in the uniform Cori crafted, each step a testament to the design that clings and accentuates every curve and muscle honed by relentless training.
“Hot damn , Baby Girl!” Fitz shouts as he whistles, echoing the sentiment of every pair of eyes that feast upon Dolly’s confident poses. He turns to the polar bear, his eyes dark with lust as reamrks, “Cococabana, you’ve outdone yourself with those alterations.”
“Girls like us deserve to look hot, sporty, and like supermodels,” Cori replies, basking in the adoration for her workmanship. “I’m going to show the whole world that curvy preds don’t need to hide under a fucking tent.”
“Dollypop looks stronger and fitter than ever,” Rufus observes, his tone laced with pride. “Not skinny, mind you, just toned and ready to rumble. She’s really filling out.”
“Credit goes to my bro and Zhenga’s brutal sessions and Chessie’s culinary magic,” Fitz adds, clapping me on the back. “I only take credit for keeping her moaning and doing yoga.”
“Protein-packed meals that she’ll actually devour aren’t easy to find,” Chess admits with a crooked grin.
We all nod, watching as Dolly takes her seat beside Zhenga, her aura of readiness infectious.
Tonight is going to be her night; I can feel it.
As the undercard matches commence, my sense of ease begins to fray at the edges. The competitors from U something’s fishy.”
We exchange wary glances, the joy of Dolly’s imminent match now twined with a thread of uncertainty. With each clap of the crowd for the alternating victories and defeats, speculation simmers among us.
“Keep your eyes peeled,” I murmur to the group, “especially when it’s Dolly’s turn to shine.”
The roar of the crowd crescendos, nearly tangible in its intensity as the U it’s clear now that it’s a statement, a challenge on a level we hadn’t anticipated.
“Watch closely,” I say to the others, my voice low and urgent. They nod, each face etched with concern and a readiness to leap into action should things go south.
Chess leans closer, his expression grim. “She’s going to need every move you guys taught her and maybe a few we hoped she could keep under wraps. Hopefully, those meditation exercises helped after the last scrimmage. ”
“More than that,” I reply, my gaze fixed on Dolly as she squares her shoulders, meeting the gaze of the creature before her. She might be a bunny amidst wolves, but she’s no prey.
The question is whether she can convince her opponent of the same before the match even begins.