Page 53

Felix

Being on trial at Bloodstone wasn’t as nerve-wracking as being grilled by Delores Drew. If we’d raided a distillery, there would not have been enough alcohol for her sharp questions and fierce determination to get to know us. Fitz spent most of the time doing his typical over-sharing, which she allowed him to do with a soft smile that made my gut clench.

How did the former playboy of Apex worm his way so thoroughly into her graces, and how did this girl get my brother to settle in a way I never thought he would?

It’s a fucking mystery.

Chess was quieter, offering information as she asked, but obviously still trying to come to grips with his feelings for her. He’s much more vocal about her when we’re all alone and I might have to take him aside to have a chat if he doesn’t get it together soon. It will go much smoother if I do it rather than Fitz, and I want him to keep developing these sparks of confidence I’ve been seeing.

The three royals, including me, were less effusive because we have questionable pasts. My scandal might be well known, but trusting a Council heir with more information was difficult. Aubrey and Renard rarely speak about their past, even to us, and I could tell they were answering cautiously. I hoped that after ten years, I might find out exactly what they did to end up here, but no dice.

We’ll all have to earn those tales, I suppose.

Luckily, our girl had enough sense to dance around things that shouldn’t come up at a family meal. She didn’t ask about my consort, despite Fitz sharing far too much with her on their date. No one asked about Aubrey and Ren’s hunting or their weird inability to admit where they sleep. No one asked Chess his real name or about how he came to be with us.

That impressed me a bit because it felt like all of us were being sensitive to one another for once.

As Fitz pointed out, sharing our fuck-ups makes us look more sympathetic. Delores was horrified by what happened with my exile and it explained why I’m such a closed off asshole—according to my brother. I wanted to kick his ass when I found out he blabbed, but honestly? It’s a relief that I don’t have to relive that shit again. My ex’s betrayal still smarts even though I don’t love her anymore.

My father, however, can put on a cape and get super fucked.

Looking over at the gang of preds in the Tower kitchen cleaning, I smirk a little. The nefarious bunny is downstairs asleep in her gilded chamber, but I rousted the troops early to get this place cleaned up. If Delores is going to use it during the week to make herself food, it can’t be filled with crusty dishes and leftover crap.

“Do you all feel like she was trying to crawl into our brains to pick them clean?” Aubrey asks grumpily.

He doesn’t mind the early morning wake-up as much as his half-zombified companion, who’s barely said a word since he ambled down to the third floor. However, the frilly pink apron he has tied around his neck and waist makes it hard to take anything he says seriously.

“Look, Betty Cocker,” Fitz drawls as he pretends to dry a plate on his ass. His pantomime earns him a glare from the silent gargoyle, but he laughs, “all our girl wants is to feel like she really knows us. That jizzbag she dated before had her totally snowed and she’s afraid of making the same mistake twice.”

I snort, trying to get my shit together as I watch the dragon and my brother flick soap bubbles at one another. “Don’t make a bigger mess, assholes. But yeah, I felt like I barely escaped with my life.”

“I, too, felt a bit cornered. That was not ma petite’s intent, I’m sure, but it’s been a very long time since I’ve been interrogated so thoroughly.” Renard finally speaks, and as usual, makes perfect sense.

“Do you think she realizes what things we did not share?” Aubrey asks, pushing his glasses up as he looks at me. “There are things we simply cannot share yet.”

My brows furrow when I realize our stoic, scaly friend seems worried about upsetting her. He rarely cares what anyone thinks, and it’s interesting that he’s thought about what could happen if we aren’t completely honest with Delores.

Yeah, we’re a fucking mess.

“We did our best, given the skeletons in everyone’s closets,” Chess says as he walks in with two more steaming mugs of coffee. “I don’t know everything about the two of you, nor do Fitz and Felix. Our angel is perceptive, but I think she realizes one night of ‘truth for a truth’ didn’t reveal everything.”

“I know you douches think you’re protecting her by not spilling all your dirty beans, but Baby Girl wants to be treated like an equal partner in this. She can handle Felix’s heartbreak, my womanizing, Chess’ cheetah, and whatever the hell you fuckers are hiding from us. Stop treating her like a kid. ”

Again, Fitz is the voice of reason and it’s freaking me the fuck out.

“Do you think we should tell her about the email we got this morning?” Chess says softly. “I don’t know if telling her three students didn’t show up to their families’ homes after they supposedly left for Thanksgiving break is the best plan.”

Fitz frowns. “Why the hell do any of us call it Thanksgiving? I get the humans—all that mythos about the indigenous people and their ancestors. Shifters have been here longer than the indigenous people, anyway. Us and the other creepy crawlies that go bump in the night, at least.”

Aubrey takes off his glasses and pinches his nose in frustration. “Fucking hell, Fitzgerald. Could we please stay on topic?”

My brother pouts, and Chess leans in to whisper to him, “Because we enjoy having a big feast, dummy. It doesn’t mean anything.”

I roll my eyes and look over at the gargoyle as he polishes the glassware. “The question is still on the table—the real question, that is.”

We all look at one another, our expressions belying how torn we are. I want to protect the newest member of our ambush and something inside of me says we shouldn’t tell her. But I know my twin, and he’s going to tell her no matter what any of us say. He’s on this whole ‘personal growth’ kick with the rainbow Barbie and he won’t give a single fuck if it rats the rest of us out.

What a time to grow a conscience.

“I’m worried about her safety,” Renard admits quietly. “Aren’t you?”

Aubrey snorts, smoke rings wafting through the air as he grips a plate hard enough to split it in half. “Of course we are. Even Felix looks as if he wants to tear someone to shreds. But we have to decide if telling her will make her safer or less so. ”

“Henrietta said not to tell the students,” Chess says as he leans on the counter. “That’s why I asked. If we tell her, she cannot tell anyone else, even her friends.”

“Freya’s tits, guys. All we have to do is let my baby girl know and that it has to be a secret. I’m pretty sure she’s already keeping secrets from multiple people in this room.” Fitz glares at our hosts and I frown. “So I know she can keep her twitchy nose in place.”

The winged ancients share a look, then Aubrey sighs. “Yes, fine. I vote with Fitz. We’ll tell her, but make sure she doesn’t share the information. Maybe she’ll notice more quickly if students disappear during the rest of the term than we would.”

Actually, that’s pretty fucking brilliant. I tell him so, and the dragon snorts again.

“Felix, you do not have to take on the responsibility for this entire group by yourself as you would at home. We are all capable of contributing and definitely willing when it comes to keeping bite size safe. Stop assuming you are the only one able to lead.”

“Especially when we’ve been telling you for over a decade that women make far better leaders, anyway,” Renard mutters as he continues shining crystal. “Gargoyles and dragons allow it in their kingdoms.”

“Okay! We tell her.” I sigh and rake my hand through my hair. “On to the next topic… what do we do about Yule break?”

They look at me in surprise. None of us has left Apex for any break since we arrived—most exiles don’t.

Various species have their own traditions in the staff housing and many of them invite others to join, but usually the five of us hole up in the Tower with scotch and video games.

Bitter old recluses, that’s us.

“We’ll be here, I imagine,” Aubrey says with a frown. “Why?”

Fitz blinks, looking at me as he finally catches on. “He’s worried about Dolly. She might have to go home to the nuthouse, right?”

I nod, my expression grim as I remember what the dragon shared about her parents and their behavior at the meeting. “It concerns me, yes.”

“Hell yeah, big bro is on the D train now!” He grabs Chess, spinning him around crazily before he gives us a bright smile. “Now we have to get you to quit swallowing your tongue around her and the Flying Fartknockers to dig their heads out of their asses. Then we can all do the bunny hop together!”

Every time I think Fitz is maturing, he follows it with something like this. Sigh.

“What have you found out about the prey tunnels and the symbols on that door? We haven’t talked about it since you belched fire at everyone,” I ask as I pick up a stack of clean dishes to put in the cabinets.

The dragon gives me a murderous look and, despite his frilly attire, I feel it in my bones. “I am having difficulty locating the information we need. Renard is talking with the prey about the inside of the tunnels, but we are hitting brick walls.”

“Baby Girl found some map things in a book. Has she asked you?” Fitz flips a knife across the room and I catch it with an irritated growl.

Aubrey whirls around, looking at each of us until he hits the guilty expression on his Tower mate’s face. “She asked you and not me?”

This kitchen might turn into an Easy Bake oven if he doesn’t give the answer our friend wants.

“Yes. But she planned to ask you since she found the clues in one of the archive books she’s been working on for you.” He grins a little, winking at the angry librarian. “I’m fairly certain the dead body at the school party distracted her, Flames. ”

Just like that, Aubrey lets out a slow breath and nods. “You may be right. I’ll speak to her after and together we can try to piece together what she believes she found.”

“You have the fucking coolest lair, Lizard of Oz. I nearly pissed my sweats because our bad bunny didn’t warn me, but I definitely want to ride it again.”

And then the dragon puffs up again, wings and all.

I always knew my brother was going to be the death of me.