Page 10 of Prey It By Ear

“Well hello there, friend,” the lynx says.

I turn to face him, taking in the longish, smooth beard, round glasses, immaculate three-piece suit, and scally cap that matches perfectly. This guy looks like he’d fit in at any college, and he’s smiling broadly. “Hello. Nice day for a beautiful train trip through the countryside, yes?”

“Indeed,” the lynx says as he accepts the drink as it’s delivered. “Can I buy you another round? You seem like you’re running low.”

Nodding, I take the last sip of my glass. “Thank you. It’s always a good time for a good drink.”

“Wyatt Duskstride. I was on vacation with my friends for the past week, soaking in the whole ‘vampire’ culture. It’s amusing that humans are so easily convinced that none of us exist because some of their tales no longer do. At least, I think so.” He chuckles as he takes a drink, and I have to pause to consider how I want to respond.

I have no idea if he just happened to land on something we’re interested in or if that’s how he’s making conversation to lure me to their table.

“I’m Chester Khan; nice to meet you,” I reply as I hold my glass up in a ‘cheers’ motion. “But humans being gullible is nothing new. The history of the Preds once the Treaty was enacted makes this area quite nice for tourism, though.”

His eyes widen, though I don’t think Wyatt wants me to notice that. “Khan, huh? I knew you looked like our type of guy. You should bring that drink over to my friends’ table and sit with us.”

I hedged at giving my real name, but, as usual, it opened all sorts of filthy doors.

“With India Shirdal? Are you sure?” I pretend to be flattered, so he lays it on thick. I don’t want anyone over at the corner table full of targets to think I accepted too easily once we get there. “I’m not on that level, surely…”

“Oh, what level?” Wyatt says, his smile charming as he hops off his stool. “C’mon, new friend. India gathers all her closest confidantes like this in the beginning. She or one of us finds interesting people who run in our circles, and we invite them to be part of our group. If you fit in, you’ll end up on every premier guest list you’ve ever dreamed of—eventually.”

That’s how they recruit, hmm? It makes sense to play to my ego if they’re hoping to rope me into keeping their secret.

“That sounds like a lot of fun. Lead the way, man,” I finally say as I rub my free hand over the back of my neck. “I could use some fun on this trip.”

Wyatt gives me a supremely pleased, feline smile I recognize immediately. He thinks he’s got me, and his invitation is going to draw me into their web as planned. “Alrighty then, Chester. Follow me.”

I get up, jerking my head at the table we’re headed to, so the bartender knows where I’m headed. He’ll bill the room anyway, but I don’t enjoy feeling as if I’ve left a bar tab without paying. I guess I’m just a bit more moral than most of the rich preds in the room, though it’s only by chance. I could have ended up worse, or dead, so it’s not really a flex to say so.

“So, you’re actually from the island of doom or are you one of the extended family?” The lynx says it casually, and I laugh, purposefully not answering as we approach his friends.

“Wyatt, you’ve made a new compadre!”

I blink as the black bear I identified speaks in a distinctly American, Southern style. She bats her lashes, and I have to wave silently so I don’t laugh. The woman is blond, beautiful, and obviously friendly, but she’s huge. It would be like my Angel as a tiny bunny next to Aubrey in dragon form for me to be close to the size difference of the woman as she seems interested in. I don’t know that I’d survive—not that she’d survive Fitz and Dolly tearing her into meat confetti. “Hello. I’m Chester.”

“Don’t be shy, buddy,” Wyatt says as he pulls two chairs out for us. “His name is Chester Khan, so he’s one of us. I can’t imagine what kind of family tales this guy has, can you?”

Not liking the amount of pushing this dude is doing on my family name now—time to dance.

“Well, as many as you, I suppose,” I say as I duck my head in faux shyness and shrug.

That gets India’s attention. “Well, Chester, you’d be right. You may know that I am India Shirdal, purveyor of entertainment and future CEO of Shirdal Entertainment & Arts.”

“Everyone knows who you are,” I reply as I pin her with a starry-eyed look that I hope will reel her in. “But I’m sad to say I don’t know anyone else other than Wyatt.”

“Daisy Faust,” the bear says with a brilliant smile. “I’m from the American wing of the family, obviously.”

I nod at her. “Very nice to meet you, Ms. Faust.”

India waves her hand, looking annoyed. “Boring. This is taking too long. That is Hawthorne Hanson, and Claude O’Leary. The four of them often accompany me on my travels abroad. Did Wyatt tell you we came to gawk at the mythical birthplace of the vampire? It’s almost too campy, is it not?”

That’s when I realize that this will not happen quickly, and I’ll have to play along to figure out why this group of Society family members is actually on this train.

Put On A Happy Face

Delores

I look at Aubrey eagerly, waiting for him to show the others. My foot has the strongest urge to thump excitedly, and I scold my bunny internally until she calms the hell down. I don’t want anyone to pay attention to us because I have a weird piece of prey energy making me fidget.