Page 59

Chess

The time between our lovely Yule celebration and the night of my date with my angel was excruciating. Fitz insisted I spend New Year’s Eve with her because, according to him, ‘what better time to lose your lady cherry than ringing in a New Year?’

His logic was hard to argue with, especially when Dolly made that adorable shy expression as she agreed with him.

I’ve been working off my nervous energy with endless projects in my studio—suffice to say, no one needs a scarf for the winter weather anymore. Felix has rolled his eyes so much at Fitz’s eager advice that I thought he might get them stuck facing the back of his skull. Renard and Aubrey are more amused than anything, so they rib me gently when I get flustered.

It’s given me such a feeling of family that my chest aches when I slip into slumber at night. I doubt the rest of them understand how incredible the formation of this small, tight-knit group is to an orphan who always felt like a ‘plus one’ to the royal twins.

Not that Fitz or Felix ever made me feel like that, but children are sensitive and I overheard a lot of nasty commentary from adults at Bloodstone when I was a cub.

Sighing, I finish the last couple lines of the piece I’m working on, and look at the clock on the wall. I know my brothers will be at the townhouse when I go back and Fitz will be bouncing off the damn furniture, waiting for me to get ready for my date. He wanted me to take her to one of the Khan businesses like he did, get all dressed up in fancy clothes and show her a better time than she had at that wretched prom.

It’s more the twins’ style than mine, but the idea of replacing that awful night with a more pleasant memory appealed to my cheetah. He practically purred with approval when I let Fitz make the reservation at Le Joyau de la Couronne ? 1 —his father’s ritziest spot in the area. Knowing where we were going made me even more nervous because I know Khan flunkies, Council members, and other species leaders might be there on a night like New Year’s Eve.

My angel would be safer going to that tiger’s den with one of my brothers or the ancients.

As that thought echoes in my mind, I lock the door of my oasis behind me. My cheetah pushes at me, not appreciating my dismissal of his ability to take care of our girl if we need to. I swallow hard, placating him as I walk down the hall of the Shird. My cat has never been as present in me as he is since we met Delores Drew and despite my efforts to manage his sudden dominant behavior, he refuses to listen.

That’s probably because he’s certain she’s our mate.

I have no idea what to do with that information because I didn’t think we could have more than one mate—and Fitz sealed that deal not long after we came to Apex. He’d talked about it before, but once we were away from the protection of Bloodstone and the crown, my tiger was determined to ensure I stayed safe. His father is an evil, old bastard obsessed with power, so he might well have sent someone after the disposable orphan to teach his sons a lesson.

Fitz never once hid me from his family, nor did he entertain going anywhere without me—even if they forced him to get married for political reasons. I haven’t ever questioned my place in his life because he tells everyone everything in an endless stream of consciousness that isn’t unlike our fluffy rabbit.

Maybe that’s why she’s entranced him so easily? They’re cut from a very similar cloth.

My lips curl up as I cross the lawn and head towards the staff housing. If I’m correct, the vicious streak in my angel is much bigger than frozen snowballs and ass kicking in Felix’s classroom. The more time she spends with my morally translucent mate, the more of her natural tendencies will come out.

I’m not sure the world is ready for Fitzgerald Khan to have a twin and a soulmate.

If it is true, tonight is my night to find out where I fit in with our girl and why she makes my animal want to burst free every time we see her. I don’t know if his whispers about her also being our mate are true, but I’m excited to see what the evening brings.

Even if that means getting my nerves under control in a room full of the biggest preds in town.

It’s my turn to wait in front of the admissions building, though I’m leaning against Felix’s Jag. The sleek convertible is as similar to its owner as Fitz’s bike is to him. My brothers picked out a ridiculously expensive tux for me and I yank at the bottom of the jacket nervously.

I’m not the flashy type and I definitely don’t wear couture almost as expensive as a normal car, but they insisted.

Fitz bought my angel a gorgeous designer gown for Yule and he declared our date the perfect occasion for her to show off her curves in the slinky Ostrich De La Renta. That meant he and Felix trussed me up in the latest winter fashion for New Year’s: a black satin leopard print tuxedo with a dark bronze shirt and matching bow tie. I tied my curls up into the messy bun I prefer, but chose not to struggle with contacts.

Of course, my love almost mauled me before I got to the door and that would have made us late. Felix winked and assured me it meant I looked good before he rushed to the kitchen. When he returned, he was holding a black velvet box and a stunning bouquet of pastel roses.

Now I’m sitting on his car as I wait, my nerves jangling from all the trappings around me, including that blasted box containing one of the fucking Khan tiaras. Between it, the car, and this outfit, you could pay two professors for years. It’s making me twitchy, but neither of them looked even concerned when I waltzed out the door.

I’ll never get used to the way the most elite preds operate, no matter how long I live among them.

A scent catches my nostrils and my head jerks up to gaze at the woman crossing the parking lot. Suddenly, I'm very glad we’re on break and the other students haven’t returned yet. If anyone gave my angel shit right now, I’d probably kill them myself.

How odd.

Delores is a vision in the long black dress that appears to be cut to fit her form perfectly. I know my lover bought it for her, and his precision impresses me. The De La Renta gown dips low between her breasts, exposing the luscious curves, and it has slits from hem to waist on both sides to reveal her long legs and thighs. I guarantee it has little to no back—Fitz planned to show off as much of her skin as possible without being totally indecent.

I pick my jaw up long enough to smile at her glossy pink lips, artfully messy up do, and smoky eyes. She’s been learning quite a bit from her two friends during classes—everything from costuming to makeup and hair—and it shows. Everything about my angel looks grown up and sophisticated tonight, right down to the sky-high ‘fuck me’ pumps. She’s rocking it all with confidence.

No one would mistake the woman walking towards me with the girl who toured our school last spring.

“Angel, you look luminous,” I say when she reaches me. I open the car door with an exaggerated flourish, loving her giggle as she lowers herself to get in.

When I round the car and hop in, Dolly smiles shyly. “Thank you, Chess. You look rather handsome yourself. Did Fitz coordinate us?”

I chuckle and nod. “Of course he did. I’ve never seen my consort so invested in playing Cupid, but he’s definitely jumped into the role with both feet.”

She wiggles in her seat, then frowns and reaches under her bum. “Hey, what’s this, handsome?”

My cheeks flush bright red at her words, and I cough to clear my throat. “Felix sent some bling to complete your outfit. If it’s too much, let me know and I’ll lock it in Felix’s box in the trunk.”

“His box in the trunk?” Her brow arches, but she opens the jewelry box anyway, letting out a loud gasp when the pink diamond encrusted tiara is revealed. “Holy fuck, Chess! This thing is… expensive looking.”

“I try not to question the price tags on shit the twins do, angel. It makes my blood pressure rise. But yes, it’s a Khan heirloom, so I’m certain it’s damn near priceless, anyway. Want me to help you put it on?”

Her lips purse as she takes all of that information in, but the siren song of sparkly bling gets the best of her. “Yes. Make me a princess as intended, Chessie.”

Oh, that sneaky son of a bitch. Well played, Raj.

I smile, taking the tiara from her and wait for her to bend a little so I can settle it on her head. When she raises up, the picture takes my breath away. She truly looks like they made it for her and I reach for my phone quickly. “Let me take a quick picture to send to the guys and we’ll be off, angel.”

Biting her lower lip impishly, Dolly mocks a couple adorable poses while I snap and once I hit send, she buckles her belt. “Okay, let’s hit the road, handsome. I’m ready for snooty people and weird fancy-ass food.”

“It’s good to have accurate expectations,” I say, winking at her as I put the convertible in drive. “Good thing I didn’t put the top down.”

* * *

Le Joyau de la Couronne is further out than Fitz’s date location. It’s halfway between Apex and Cambridge, nestled at the front of a sprawling piece of land owned by the ambush. Patrons not part of the Khan family would be shocked to know that the Khan family uses the rest of the land for various training, deals, and extractions to Bloodstone. The fanciest restaurant around is sitting on the same land as a landing strip to transport Eastern seaboard prisoners and train future staff for the reform school.

The current Raj loves the irony and I wonder if the Council even knows what he’s doing under their noses.

Regardless, we won’t be heading anywhere besides the top of the Khan Tower to our reservation. I don’t even want to get off on another floor in this place without having the twins along, much less take our girl there. We haven’t heard from their father or her parents since break started, which makes my fangs twitch. I don’t like not knowing what those evil fuckers are doing.

“This place is so modern looking,” Dolly says as we hand the keys to the valet. “I wouldn’t have expected that based on the decor of The Jade Sceptre or the pictures I’ve seen of Bloodstone in our history books.”

My eyes dance. “Bloodstone looks a little like the Temple of Doom, I admit it. But Sceptre is more of a mid to lower-level joint—it’s not geared towards attracting the rich and powerful in the supe world. Khan Tower houses more than our destination.”

Her eyes widen, and she leans into me as I guide her inside. “You mean Khan business happens on some of these floors?”

“Yes, but don’t think you’re going all Nancy Drew here, angel. Fitz designed their security, and it’s nothing to shake your finger at. After we were exiled, they likely revoked all his access, so it would take a lot of preparation to get to anything incriminating.”

“Mmm. But it’s good to know for future escapades, Chessie. I wasn’t joking when I told Fitz I’d take down the entire fucking lot of them if they threaten my guys.”

Delores pauses as we stand in front of the elevator, and I can see the ferocity in her gaze. She means it; she’ll take on the entire Khan ambush if they come for us. It makes my heart skip to see the determination in her gaze and I take her hand, squeezing it with a soft smile.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, angel. But thank you for caring about us,” I murmur as I pull her closer.

She shrugs, her eyes flashing with a red tint for a moment as she practically growls, “We take care of our own.”

Fuck the princess thing; this girl is going to be our queen.

The bell dings and I feel emotions swamp me as we head into the tiger’s den—literally.