Page 62

Felix

As I listen to Aubrey read the latest email from the administration, I marvel at their incompetence. Another five students are missing since they left their homes to return to Apex for the spring semester. It took a week for professors to raise the alarm because the entitled shits who attend school here frequently show up late, especially in the upper classes. The five are all fourth and fifth years, so no one spoke up until now—likely to keep from incurring the wrath of rich parents.

Fitz is sitting on the couch sipping a beer as I pace the floor in the middle of our circle. He’s not showing it outwardly, but I know this disappearing act is making him worry for Delores. I can tell by the fury flooding our ambush bond as he idly runs his fingers through Chess’ hair.

If he knew who was responsible, I know he’d tear them limb from limb to ensure her safety.

“Felix, when Henrietta told me we were at a missing count of ten, I requested to be part of the investigation. She’s too worried about appearances and donors to push the various parties to solve this shit. We still don’t know who tried to poison the heirs last spring or what they used. A student died on Halloween, and now we have people falling off the face of the planet; they need to call in the Sibbies.”

Renard looks up from his book, squinting at Aubrey as if he just started paying attention. “The Supernatural Investigation Bureau? That witch leading the Council will never allow them inside Apex—not anymore than your father would Bloodstone, tiger.”

“The Council may not have an option if too many more kids get snatched, Ren.” I scratch my chin, pondering how irritating that turn of events would be. “None of the major families have lost anyone, but the second they do, it’s going to be like an unpleasant episode of that dance parent show.”

“Hey, good one, bro!” Fitz says, holding his hand out for a fist bump. “I’m going to pull you asshats into the modern era even if it kills me.”

I roll my eyes at him, but I walk over and give him what he wants. He beams at me and in that moment, it hits me how carefree my twin is since the princess entered our lives. He’s not out boozing and drugging it up every night. He pays attention to shit, and he’s even less hyper unless he’s really excited.

Score another goal for the cheeky rainbow bunny; she’s made Fitz almost normal.

“Have we considered maybe the poison isn’t poison, but magic?”

The abrupt change in topic catches me off guard, but my tiger isn’t having it. “I don’t care what the hell it is if we don’t know who’s doing it. They could use fucking phoenix shit and it wouldn’t matter if we don’t know where to find them!”

Chess blinks, looking thoughtful. “Either idea is about as likely as Aubrey joining the cheer squad, Raj. But I see your point.”

“Magic is more prevalent in this world than the Council leads the supes they control to believe,” Renard murmurs as he turns to pin us with a serious expression. “It may only thrive in rural areas of this country, but overseas, the people who wield it are simply keeping themselves hidden from the assholes governing us.”

Aubrey frowns, taking his glasses off to clean them as he often does when he’s perturbed. “That sounds plausible, old friend, but would any of them work with the people you claim they hate? Even for a promise of money or power?”

The gargoyle shakes his head. “No. Even rogues know better because the previous versions of the Council sought to exterminate them. Anyone caught doing so would be on their own, as the magical community would turn on them as a whole. But they might work for powerful magic users with less than honorable intentions—especially if there are factions working towards overturning the rule of our dictators.”

“Aw, man,” Fitz sighs as he leans against the cheetah. “Now I’d feel bad for fighting against them. Those fuckers need to be taken down and have for a long time, just like dear old dad. But killing our kids isn’t the way to go about it. Fucking Catch-22.”

“How do you even know that phrase?” Aubrey asks incredulously.

I agree; my brother isn’t known for his literary prowess.

“Baby Girl is reading it for a project for that dickhead,” my twin says as he hooks his thumb at Ren. “We like to read aloud. I can focus when it's auditory—I wish I’d known that years ago. Would have made school a hell of a lot easier.”

Giving him a curious look, I can’t help but ask, “Delores figured that out?”

“Yep. Our girl is a smart cookie and I love her creamy center,” he says with a sigh that’s almost dreamy.

“Fitz!” Chess admonishes him with a chuckle. “Can you behave for five minutes? While I’m a bit stunned that you’re listening to classics and actually retaining the information, we’re getting off topic again.”

I nod, looking at the librarian and our host. “He’s right. Ren, you may need to do some poking around in the magical world since you’re the only one who believes it exists. Aubrey can help with the old texts that may refer to it.”

“Thanks for your permission, Raj,” the dragon grumbles as he shifts in the chair. I can tell his dragon is pushing at him as much as the animal in me is sliding through me.

They don’t like the idea of our girl in danger, even if she shouldn’t be our girl.

“The missing kids—as well as the dead one—are all smaller preds with lesser family ties. Does that help my angel or hurt her, do you think?”

“That’s a good point, Chess. She’s not defenseless, and I have proven it in public. Her family is the highest ranking at the school, so she’s not from shifters without the means to hunt and destroy a kidnapper. But… Everyone knows she’s been disowned and is prey. I don’t know if it makes her more or less attractive to potential danger.” I frown as I try to run the scenarios in my head, but it’s useless because nothing has appeared to give us motivation for the awful shit on campus.

Without the why, we’re floundering.

“She’s defended herself against other heirs, but that doesn’t mean shit. Most of them are soft and refuse to damage themselves in fights. It may not deter someone looking to cripple the Council.” Aubrey gives me a pointed look before he continues. “You may need to pit her against more formidable foes. Is it time to revive the student games?”

Motherfucker. I ended those when I arrived because they were so pathetic.

The only person who can convince Henrietta to restart them would be me, and it would mean we’ll have to enter competitions with the other schools worldwide again. Apex will have to have a real team or no one will fund it—which also means a long chat with my ex, Zhenga. The Leonidas pride will have to approve the re-entry to the league and fund the endeavor.

“Z will say ‘yes’, bro. She’ll even help coach the girls’ team. You know that chick is always looking for a way to shove it up her old man’s ass,” Fitz says helpfully. “I suppose I could help coach the boys.”

Something about the way he says that makes me suspicious, but the dragon is right; if we don’t get the princess known for kicking ass publicly, she might remain a target for her entire tenure here. That’s especially true if the Council blocks Sibbie investigations, and they will until they don’t have an option.

“Fine. I’ll chat with Zhenga later this week, then Henny. What else is on our agenda before the princess shows up?” I rake a hand through my hair, considering purchasing a giant fucking whiteboard on wheels to manage all this shit.

There are too many fronts we have to wage war on to lose track.

As if he read my mind, Renard tilts his head and says, “Perhaps we need to track these leads and enemies, mon ami . Chess, you and I can look into finding something we can use, yes?”

“Yes, but we have to talk to Angel about being escorted when she’s out and about. She won’t like it, I know, but I think it’s necessary,” Chess says softly. “Her friends will want to help and I think if we all work together we can make sure her entire schedule is covered.”

“Not it!” Fitz yells as he looks up from his phone. He’s definitely texting with her while she’s in class and I roll my eyes. “I took the hit for the group dating thing; it’s someone else’s turn.”

“I’ll do it,” the broody gargoyle says as he crosses to drop onto his throne. His tail swishes, and I watch as he considers his words. “I want to take her out on the 14th and I can speak with her then. It’s only a week away. We’ll manage until then.”

The book dragon snorts smoke rings as he laughs, looking at our host in amusement. “A date on Valentine’s Day, huh? Should she expect French cuisine? Don’t forget the red roses and beret, Monsieur Laveaux.”

Chess and Fitz snicker and I can’t help joining in. It’s funny as fuck when the stodgy librarian goes after the broody botanist. The two of them rib each other in ways none of us could get away unsinged for.

“Simmer down, Flames. If you’re worried she’ll find me more entertaining than your usual bar-be-queue, you’ll have to think of a better idea for your date.”

Fitz stops texting for a moment to grin at me and I feel my stomach drop. “What about you, bro? Got big plans for our girl? You’re going to have to outdo Chessie and me—we scored big points.”

“I don’t know,” I admit as I pace back to the balcony. “I’m still working through all of this and I can’t decide if I’m just not right for?—”

“Stop it,” Aubrey says in a low, dark voice. “We have all watched you torture yourself since you arrived, Felix. The past is the past, and the snack sized bunny seems to be our future. No one has said it before and it’s time you hear it… Get. Over. Yourself. ”

My eyes widen and my tiger leaps inside of me, ready to take the grumpy asshole out for impertinence. I step forward menacingly, only to hear a loud voice echoing off the walls as it approaches.

“Hey, assholes! Which one of you wants to tell me why your dumbasses haven’t explained barbs and knotting to your goddamn girlfriend? You’re all too damned old for this shit!”

Renard narrows his eyes. “Hello, Zhenga. Welcome to my home—uninvited.” He shifts in the throne and mutters about the Captain’s guards, likely deciding to increase their watch on our doors.

Z stalks up to me and stabs me in the chest with her finger. “You are supposed to be a Raj; act like it! If that Council heir had your dick stuck in her for any length of time, there should have been a conversation long before you chickened out and sent her to my remedial classes!”

Damn it, that’s twice today someone has suggested I’m shirking my fucking duties and I’m going to…

“She told you?!” Chess chokes out with wide eyes. “Holy shit…”

Fitz jumps up, wagging his fingers at his lover. “You, too?! What the goddamned hell is in her pussy? I mean, it stopped but…”

Hades, strike me down, here and now. This is humiliating.

Zhenga looks at them, then me, and bursts out laughing. She laughs so hard she doubles over, holding herself up on her knees, and by the time she’s caught her breath, the winged wankers are laughing, too.

Fuck my life.

“Just how many of you morons are chasing this bunny’s tail?” Z asks curiously as she looks around.

“All of us!” Fitz yells before turning back to Chess. “And you should have told me, baby.”

Before I can cut in, she shakes her head, “Then every single one of you dumbasses will be in my class on Wednesday. You obviously need the reminder of remedial level shifter sexuality if you failed to discuss the possibilities when top tier shifters fuck.”

I frown. “I’ve never been told anything about it being different because of our lineage…”

“And I need Cliffs Notes, babe. What can Chessie and I look up? I refuse to look stupid in front of a bunch of newbs in that class…”

“That’s because it almost never happens anymore, Raj. Most groups think it’s an extinct fairy tale,” Zhenga says smugly.

Aubrey tilts his head, looking at her in interest. “People think what is extinct, Leonidas?”

“Fated mates!” she says with a gleeful wink. Saluting us, she turns and stalks off, leaving us with that bomb ticking in the middle of the room.

Absolutely fuck. my. life.