Page 14

Dark Night, Bright Future

Chess

None of us expected her to say that .

I’m not saying it didn’t occur to me or any of the other guys, but Dolly admitting that her mother is just evil enough to do something only talked about in rock ballads?

It wasn’t on my bingo card—not that I doubt Lucille Drew is ambitious and desperate to control the entire world—because my angel doesn’t look at the world the way the leopard does.

But here we are, staring at her in shock, and it’s definitely not the time to be gentle with her feelings.

It’s a turning point for Dolly, just as Felix, Fitz, and I had those moments on Bloodstone.

She’s having a ‘train wreck’ style realization that will change her view of her family forever.

“Did… did you all know that was a possibility already?” she whispers.

I can’t help it; I take the bullet. “I considered it, Angel. But it wasn’t my place to suggest and?—”

Dolly whips her head around, looking at the others. “And you guys? Did you suspect that, too?”

Felix sighs, his arm going around her as he tugs her close to his side.

She lets him, but the silence hangs as our mate waits for answers.

“Once she killed the croc, I had suspicions. Lucille has been gunning for you since you were sent to Apex, and if he was your father, she’d need him to try again.

But… she didn’t try for a spare when you were a child, nor did she when you turned out to be a rabbit. It felt very likely.”

Her head falls to his shoulder and her eyes close, as if she’s trying to process his words.

Aubrey and Renard look at one another, then at me.

No one says anything while Dolly hums to herself softly, but her reaction worries me.

She’s had to deal with so much in her life—things no kid should have to.

And I absolutely know how that is, but I had Felix and Fitz and Grandma Khan to help protect me.

Dolly had a nervous, small pred employee with no power to clean her up after the bullshit went down.

Now she has two groups trying to kill or possess her; it’s just not fair.

“Baby Girl, these dickheads are too scared to say shit, but I will.” Fitz thumps his hand on the table, his expression fierce.

“You will probably need time to get over this, but for now? Your abusive ‘paper’ dad is gone, and he’s not coming back.

You don’t have to be sad or conflicted about it anymore.

And your bitchtastic mother? She’s exactly who you feared she was and just because she gave you DNA doesn’t mean you owe her shit. ”

“Fitz…” Aubrey rumbles as he slaps his hand over his eyes.

Dolly lifts her head, her eyes opening to look at the tiger.

“No, he’s right. Bruno was nothing but an abusive bully who delighted in every bad thing that happened.

He was only hanging onto Lucille for wealth and power; he didn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself.

That hurt as a kid because I think I knew neither of them gave a damn, other than using me as an accessory. ”

Renard smiles at her softly. “ Oui, ma petite . Letting go of your guilt will make healing easier and the possibility that he is not your biological father has to be a relief. While none of us has that comfort, I am glad you might. As for your mother? She will be dealt with, eventually.”

Felix snarls as he squeezes Dolly close. “Oh, she definitely will be.”

“Hey! Our chaotic queen called first dibs, bro.” Fitz grins crazily, his eyes full of dark promise. “I definitely cannot wait to watch my mate tear that cunt limb from limb. If I‘m lucky, she’ll let me have a piece of the leftovers.”

Dolly’s face splits into a happy, yet slightly terrifying, grin as she nods at the tiger. “Of course I will, baby. I promise you’ll get your licks in, too. And anyone else who wants to kick her ass can have a piece when I’m done.”

“If there’s anything left…” Aubrey smirks as he looks at her. “I am quite certain your decades of pent-up rage may push your bunny to heights that are unexpected. You may not be able to keep that promise, and if not? That’s okay, too, snack size.”

I nod when she looks at me, and so does Felix. We’re definitely with the dragon on that statement. “Angel, I can’t say we’re going to be any less vicious with the Raj when the time comes. He’s evil to the core, just like your mother, and he will get what he deserves as well.”

She sucks in a long breath through her nose, then lets it out slowly. “Okay. Now that we’ve plotted vengeance and unraveled my fucked up conception…”

Fitz laughs as he snatches her from his twin, planting kisses all over her face.

Dolly giggles and when he pulls back, my mate beams with happiness.

“The murder part is my favorite, but I agree. We have to move on to other topics like what the Council gains by hiding the attacks. Wouldn’t terrorism make it easy to get all the preds whipped up in some ‘rah-rah’ frenzy? ”

That stops us again and Felix squints at his brother. “Rah-rah frenzy?”

“He’s talking about using war to evoke hyper-nationalism, like in dystopian novels.” Dolly beams proudly, while Fitz snaps his fingers as she gets it. “We read more than spicy stuff, you know. He likes 1984 and I’m fond of The Parable of the Talents .”

Aubrey’s jaw drops again, and Renard has to pat his hand. “If you don’t stop surprising Flames, he’s going to unhinge his own jaw. I don’t know if I can handle him on a trip and injured. It would be torture.”

I cut my eyes to the laughing pair, then shake my head. “I don’t know if I can help you with that, guys. These two seem determined to shock the boxers off of us every chance they get.”

And I will not complain for a second, even if it is weird as hell.

“Being in public is exhausting,” our mate says as she leans on Fitz and I. “Between wondering if anyone around us is reporting to the bad guys and feeling like I’m being paranoid. It’s a full-time fixation. I can’t turn off my hyper-awareness.”

“That’s probably good, Angel,” I reply as Felix opens the door to our cabin.

The winged warriors wave as they head for their room, and I chuckle at the dragon grumbling as we usher Dolly inside with us.

She pulls away for a second, popping back out to kiss each of them, then comes back in.

“I wish we could stay together. But, c’est la vie , as Rennie would say.

Trains aren’t meant for families like ours. ”

“They get you on the next train, Princess. The fiery grump is only making a thing of it to lure you into switching.”

My angel laughs as she stretches up to kiss Felix on his jaw. “Probably, but that doesn’t mean I can’t encourage his silliness. I enjoy all your antics; it makes me feel special and wanted.”

“You are definitely wanted,” Fitz says, as he tugs his shirt over his head and prowls toward her. “In fact, if I could figure out how, I’d keep you naked and wanted twenty-four-seven, Baby Girl. Alas…”

“Fitz, you do not want me naked all the time. What would the other people in the world say?”

He shrugs, flashing a fang playfully. “Not much once I poked their eyes out and cut out their tongues. You are not for their lusty gazes—only for our families.”

Felix grins and peels off his shirt as well, cocking his head at me. “Come on, Chessie. If those two weenies get our girl tomorrow, we should make the best of tonight.”

Dolly holds her hand up, her eyes bright as she faces the three of us advancing. “Hey, now. We only have like six or seven hours left on this train. If you start this, we’re going to be so tired when it’s time to disembark…”

“You’re the one who made the big deal about railway sex, Angel.” I grin at her playfully, enjoying that she backs up against the bed even though I’m the least intimidating cat in the room. “We’ve been waiting since we left the house.”

Her rainbow hair splays over the light colored linens as she flops back onto the bed to look at us. “You’re right, Chessie. I totally did, and I hate to disappoint you.”

Fitz springs forward in a flying leap, covering her with his body as his hands roam all over the curvy bunny. “Now, my vicious little fighter… the only question you need to answer right now is… who goes where?”

My lips curve up as she meets Fitz’s smirk with a wickedly playful look of her own. “If I’m greedy and get everyone, I would have to say… Felix behind, Fitz in front and Chessie in my mouth. I love how you taste, my knight.”

Her eyes flick to mine, and I shiver with anticipation. “You always get what you want, my queen.”

“Good, because I also want to watch Fitz take you later on while Felix fucks me. I’d hate to waste even an inch of this expensive as fuck space he booked. I mean, there’s lots of furniture to christen.”

“Less talk, more naked!” Fitz declares as he lifts and tugs her shirt off as well.

His move reveals a sexy little purple lingerie set that I’m sure the dragon picked because it has shiny scales embedded in the lace.

“Oooh, I have to compliment the Lingerie Lizard on his taste… Chessie, look at this!”

The elder twin rounds the side of the bed, climbing up next to her as I take the opposite side. “I like this one, Princess. The dragon did well—even if he doesn’t get to enjoy it.”

“I’m sure you’ll all tell him.” She grins as she grabs the waistband of my pants. “But you’re all way too dressed for this party. Off you go, slacks. Come on now.”

Fitz cackles as he looks at me. “You heard the lady… get those pants off and that delicious cock in her mouth. She’s hungry, and it’s one of the few things we know isn’t poisoned.”

“Very nice gallows humor,” Felix rumbles as he gives his twin a little shove. “Move so she can roll on her side. That will make everything easier.”

As I undo my belt and wiggle out of my pants, Felix tugs Dolly’s down until she can kick them off. Fitz follows them, burying his face in her pussy immediately. Watching him get her ready makes my cock drip eagerly, so I rise to my knees so I can get closer to her mouth. “Ready, Angel?”

She doesn’t answer—she just lets out a low moan before wrapping her gorgeous pink lips around me to swallow me down. My eyes close as she works me over, and I inhale deeply. The scent of my two mates’ arousal blends with Felix’s, and I sink into the cocoon of pleasure without a second thought.

“Princess, I will not go full out in this tiny room, but you’re doing very well.”

Dolly hums when he praises her, and I have to grit my teeth. She loves that as much as I do when Fitz does it, and that makes me purr happily. “Angel, keep doing that… right there…”

I hear Fitz growling hungrily as he works our bunny toward a peak to get her nice and wet for his twin. The combination of that, her mouth, and Felix’s stream of dirty whispers is fucking amazing.

I’m going to be lucky if I last longer than her—at least for this first round.