Page 11

Tried to Rock’n Roll Me

Delores

By the time they call for us to board, Fitz and I have delved into my book far enough that I’m disappointed to have to stop. He jumps to his feet while I put my Kindle away, then holds his hand out to help me up. I dust myself off, rolling my eyes when he leers at my hands running over my ass.

“You’re incorrigible, Fitz Khan,” I mumble as I pick up my things. “Absolutely, completely incorrigible.”

He mocks a bow, and I laugh, waiting for the other guys to join us. “Baby Girl, I’ll be anything you want me to be, other than far away.”

Aubrey reaches us just as I kiss the calmed tiger lightly. “You really are a miracle worker, lunchable. Fitzgerald is almost still compared to earlier, just in time for boarding.”

“Hey! It’s not just her,” Fitz says as he socks the dragon in the arm. “I’m very invested in her scrappy heroine finding her power with a bunch of sexy dudes. It’s fascinating.”

My fiery boyfriend turns his head, looking at me with a smirk. “I can’t say I blame you. That sounds very interesting indeed. Perhaps we should all read this book while we work on knitting. Does it have audio?”

My eyes widen and I turn bright red as I mutter, “We read it out loud to each other. I like that better than actors.”

Felix joins us, his head tilted. “Are you ready? We need to board. Let’s move. Chess and Renard are bringing up the rear.”

“They’re reading dirty books to one another, Raj. I feel left out; don’t you?” Aubrey waits for Chess and Rennie to catch up, then he moves to the door of the lounge, pulling it open.

“Now I do,” the older twin says with a frown.

“But we can discuss how we remedy that once we’re on the train and settled into our cabins.

The best we could do was two grand suites on the Venice Simplion , but they’re adjacent to one another, which means the Princess can flit between the two of them. ”

The gargoyle grins as he looks at me. “They are quite beautiful, ma petite . This leg of the trip will go overnight until we reach Vienna. Then we will have a short time to explore before we swap for the train to Budapest. It will be smaller since it is regional, but that’s only a couple of hours.

We’ll bed down for the evening, then take the longer jaunt to Bucharest.”

I think about the map, picturing the dotted line traveling from point to point like in a cartoon. “So we’d be in Transylvania, then?”

Our group moves out of the lounge, following the confident stride of Felix as he walks up to the boarding area for the supernatural cars. Aubrey answers my question before Rennie can respond. “You don’t have to worry about vampires just because that’s where we’ll head into the mountains.”

Snorting, I roll my eyes at his broad back. “I wasn’t thinking that before, but I’m not fucking going anywhere near the baggage car and if I so much as see one speck of dirt on the carpet, I’m going to start whittling furniture legs.”

Chessie laughs, moving up to flank my other side. “Except for the ones Ren thinks are still active near l’Academie , we don’t even know that they aren’t extinct, Angel.”

“He and the Captain’s crew didn’t even find any live vamps on campus, so let’s hope they’ve all had very bad luck and tripped onto fence posts.

Or if not, they do by the time we get back.

” I heft my bag up on my shoulder higher, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I am about a species I’ve never seen or read about.

“I haven’t been to this part of the world for a very long time,” Rennie says, changing the subject. “I doubt Flames has, either.”

“You know I haven’t,” the dragon grumbles as we hit the platform. “I haven’t left the area around Apex much since it was built. I take occasional trips to the hoard locations, but otherwise… you’re well aware that I’ve been sedentary, love.”

I grin wider, chirping, “That’s why this vacation-slash-work trip was the best idea.

Sure, we could have people hunting us all along the route, but we also get to stretch our metaphorical wings as a family.

You guys haven’t been here in forever, I have been nowhere, and the Khans get to go somewhere they aren’t expected to kill someone. It’s perfect.”

Felix stops and we all pump our brakes so we don’t run into his back. “Pay attention.”

“Yeah, well, a little warning would be nice, bro,” Fitz shoots back. “Baby Girl was telling us how much fun we’re going to have ducking assassins and spies. I agree with her personally, but that’s because it’s been a while since I ripped a throat out.”

Our beleaguered leader looks like he’s going to clap his brother on the back of the head, so I move between them carefully. “Gimme my ticket, Sir . I want to hand it to the guy myself. I’m excited about the little things, even if it’s silly.”

“It’s not silly,” Chessie chides as Felix gives us the tickets. “You’re adorable when you’re eager, and it shows us regular things in a new light. Go ahead, Angel. Get your cute butt on the train and lead us to these fancy rooms Felix booked.”

I grin again, snatching my ticket and striding over to the man at the doors to our car.

Even if I’m a little nerdy, this is still the best summer ever, and I’m going to savor every second.

“Is it normal to have a guy who takes us to the rooms?” I whisper to Fitz as we follow the bear shifter. “They don’t show this in movies except maybe like old timey set ones.”

Aubrey turns his head to give me a reproving look and I smile sheepishly. He huffs as we walk towards a set of doors to an adjoining car. “Watch it, snack size. The two of us were definitely alive when trains were conceived and our parts work just fine when you want to play.”

Making the big guy huffy is becoming one of my favorite sports, and that’s probably Fitz’s fault.

“You and Rennie are not old… just aged finely for maximum enjoyment,” I reply as I bat my lashes prettily. “Experienced and skilled, too.”

“Niiiiice ego stroking,” Chessie says playfully. “That should do it.”

He’s right because both of the ancients preen a little and give the others a smug look before they return their focus to our journey.

Renard is looking around as we move, doing that weird ‘sensing’ thing he’s been on since the vampire nests at l’Academie .

My gargoyle is convinced they're walking among us, not just a small leftover of a forgotten time at that old ass school. I’m not sure what I believe because no one has seen any; he’s felt them and the crew witnessed what they believed to be an active living area.

It could be something created to distract us, or even a tiny, inconsequential trace of the past.

I’m hoping for the second, but my luck does not lean toward that direction.

“So, again, is this normal?”

“Not really,” Rennie says. “This is because we’re rich assholes who booked expensive rooms.”

I war with my need to grumble and my desire to have a comfortable sleeping space until the latter wins. “As much as I hate to say it, thank you for that, especially since we’re doubling up. I like a nice pile to sleep in, but I don’t want to be canned tuna or anything.”

Aubrey snorts as he tosses a glance over his shoulder. “You’re telling me, bite size. The poet and I together are more likely to be crammed than all four of you. Kitties are very bendy, they say.”

Fitz pumps his fist with a sound of victory. “Fuck, yeah, I am. Baby Girl has me doing advanced yoga poses and harder acrobatics. I’m going to make you cheese balls look stiff and creaky soon.”

“I could make you burnt and crispy instead,” the dragon mutters. “Watch your back, Fitzgerald.”

Our guide looks a bit concerned at their sniping, so I interject cheerily. “They’re just playing. Our family lives on snark and insults. It’s very Gen X, as the humans say. I suppose that’s because the cats sit right at the top end of that, hmm? Not me, though.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, but I definitely think he’s still worried. “We’re almost at your accommodations.”

I nod, grateful for the update. This is an extensive train and even the pred section is pretty extensive.

I don’t know if this is actually how most of them are or not—but I’m assuming no.

Rennie alluded to this being super swank, and I bet that extends to the entire vehicle rather than solely our rooms. Even though I dislike being too showy, I bet this atmosphere will be calmer and easier to monitor because of the cost. That means it’s not only comfortable, but likely safer than a regular train.

The guys absolutely consider every angle and that’s why I trust them to arrange stuff without feeling too anxious to let go.

When the bear finally stops, he’s in front of two sets of doors that are at opposite ends of a car with no other compartments.

This must literally be only our space because of the size of the two rooms. That makes everything fluttering in my gut feel much less active, and I let out a long sigh of relief.

We’ll definitely know if someone is nearby, and I think I saw him wave a card at the connector doors to the car.

“The security seems really tight,” I say to Felix. “It makes me feel better.”

“I knew you would, Princess. You’re not as safety conscious as the rest of us, but you’ve grown more sensitive to our concerns. I’m proud that you noticed.” His hand reaches up to goose me lightly, and I have to swallow a squeal.

“Felix!” His grin is wicked and I pretend to huff as the valet bear opens the room doors.

The guy coughs when they slide open to get our attention. “Your other baggage will be along shortly, ma’am and sirs. Is there anything I can order from the bar for you as you settle in?”

“Five scotches and a Dr. Pupper,” Felix replies as he prods me into the compartment. “Thank you…?”

“Blane, sir. I’ll be the valet for your family during this trip.”

“That’s awesome, Blane,” I reply quickly. “Maybe just bring ice and a bottle. They’ll enjoy having it here, and then we’ll be set for a bit.”

“Of course.”

The guys raise their brows at me like they’ve been programmed to do so simultaneously, and I roll my eyes at them. “Don’t be ridiculous. Five dicks are more than enough—way more than enough. How many times do I have to say that?”

Fitz shrugs. “As many times as you want random flirty assholes not to die?”

Groaning, I flop onto the much smaller bed in a starfish as the cats join me in our room.

“If this is huge for a train, I’m so fucking glad we don’t travel this way often.

Or in the stupid planes. I need you all nearby, and this sucks ass.

No way can Rennie and Aubrey crush into here, so I’ll have to move between them. ”

“Baby Girl, this is only like twelve hours or something. Do you really think that’s necessary?”

Smacking his arm, I growl softly. “Yes, I do. You guys can’t hog me the entire ride. It’s not fair. Don’t be stingy, Fitzy.”

“ Fine ,” he pouts as he flings his bag down and leaps onto the bed with me. “But they get to wait their turn because I call dibs.”

Oh, that’s just fucking perfect; I’m the pot of gold at the end of their rainbow.