Page 49 of Prey It By Ear

Chuckling softly, Chess rises and heads for the kitchen. “I’m getting some comfort food for when you’re ready, Angel. I’m sure the twins will be back soon, and we’ll all discuss the insanity of that woman’s tantrum then.”

I held my tongue and dealt with my fury, but I’m certain Fitz and Felix will be even less happy, especially with Chester involved as well.

Bullet with Butterfly Wings

Delores

Even though I’m surrounded by three of my mates, my blood won’t stop pumping hard. I wrap myself in the blanket Chess tucked around me and pretend it’s enough, even though we both know it isn’t. His arm is tight around my shoulders now that we’ve all settled in to wait for the others. I keep replaying the scene at the admin building, hearing Rockland’s meltdown-induced banshee shriek echoing in my skull. Then comes the fiery anger about the audacity and the frustration of being this freaked out, although I could have taken her.

My bunny and my magic are displeased at being bound when the woman so richly deserves a violent lesson.

In the background, I hear Ren and Aubrey murmuring, their voices a low, soothing rumble like a distant storm. Chessie is trying for normalcy, flipping through his phone with the steady, methodical rhythm embodied in doomscrolling. He keeps peeking at me in the screen reflection and not bothering to hide it. Eventually, my knight just gives up and smooths my hair like I’m a traumatized kitten. I almost want to laugh, but my stomach is doing backflips and the rest of me feels as delicate as a shitty meringue.

The slam of the front door makes us all jump; this should be good.

I instinctively curl in tighter, which is not very rage-filled bunny of me, but today is a fuck-it day. The noise from the hall confirms it’s the twins—sneakers scuffing, the familiar ‘do you ever lighten up, bro?’ back-and-forth, and the sarcastic tone of the rejoinder. They sound normal, but they won’t soon enough, because today is not a ‘normal day’ and what happened will piss them off as much as it has everyone else.

Chess tenses, his whole body going from soft comfort-blanket to granite post in two heartbeats. The cheetah’s eyes flick to the hallway, then back to me, and he tilts his head in silent question. I manage a chin-dip nod that says I’m fine and this will be okay once they’ve blown off their steam. He gives me a knowing grin and ruffles my hair again.

Now that feels normal, and it helps a lot; I think I can corral myself and all their tempers now.

The twins round the corner, and I try to force my face into something approximating a smile, but it doesn’t work. Felix looks annoyed as hell, so his meeting must have gone terribly. Fitz looks even more feral than usual, his hair wild as he rocks a shirtless chest under an unzipped hoodie. Both of them have been through the grinder today somehow, but they freeze instantly when they see my face.

There’s a microsecond of silence as they process the scene in our living room. I’m burrito-wrapped and flanked by everyone; Chess is on high alert, and the big guys are smooshed in like bookends around us. Fitz’s bag hits the floor, its contents scattering, and in a breath, he’s crouched in front of me faster than you can say ‘flipped switch’.

“Who dies?” His question is not a joke, not even a little. His gaze is so full of panic and murder that it’s almost funny. I don’t laugh though; I just give him a sheepish expression. “Not the time to be cute, Baby Girl. Whoever did this is going to die painfully, and I’ll collect my trophies while they still breathe.”

Can’t complain about your mate offering that, especially not if you were raised like I was.

“Maybe wait for the explanation before we start the culling, psycho,” Felix says, but he’s also switched into ‘serious Felix’ mode. His eyes scan my hands, the pulse in my neck, and the way Chess’s body is acting as a support. “What the fuck happened, Princess?”

My mouth moves, but the words are still locked up behind the emotion clogging my throat. I look at Chess, hoping he’ll just give them the executive summary and save me the agony of repeating it, but he just keeps his hand on my shoulder and shakes his head.

“You told Aubrey and Ren we had to wait for everyone, Angel,” he says softly. “Now we’re all here, and you need to get it out. That will help you process your anger and upset, but also give the others the details of what happened.”

He’s not wrong, but I hate having to recount it. My cheeks burn, and I close my eyes, using one of Fitz’s techniques to even out my breathing. The tiger in question looks like he wants to bite someone, but settles for resting his hands on my knees, his gaze warm and steady as he waits for me.

“I assume it had to be Rockland given your behavior,” Felix growls, and the way he says her name is filled with venom thick enough to drown in. “That woman is a goddamn menace, and I’m so tired of her shit.”

I nod, and immediately Fitz lets out a low, guttural sound that is not remotely human. My lips curve as I reach down and run my hand through his locks.

“How did she fuck with you when the damn semester hasn’t even started yet?” Fitz asks in annoyance, and I know he’s mentally mapping all the arteries to slice and dice when he gets a chance. “She’s like a bad case of the clap—keeps coming back over and over to ruin your life.”

I arch a brow, the corner of my mouth quirking. “I hope you don’t understand that metaphor personally, Fitzgerald Khan.”

That gets a snort and a chuckle from Aubrey and Rennie, followed by the tiniest choking sound from Felix. Fitzy rolls his eyes and sighs hard before he replies, “No, I do not. But I watch documentaries sometimes when I’m coding, and they cover lots of shit. Now, spill.”

“Everything was fine at first,” Chess says, his voice low. “I picked her up, and we went to the Dupree. It was a bit nerve-wracking to be back, I think, but we had it covered until the damn door flew open.”

Felix’s nostrils flare, but he says nothing. He just moves to the kitchen and pours a scotch as if that will bolster him. His younger twin doesn’t move from his spot—if anything, he moves closer, putting his forehead practically on my lap as he looks up at me.

“Whatever happened, you’re safe now, Baby Girl,” he says. “So you can tell us about it, and we’ll all be mad and rage and whatever. No one will be upset with you, though, and we know you didn’t do a damn thing to provoke it.”

I know that, but being from my household, hearing it is always important, and Fitz never forgets that.

My mates cluster around me as I get ready, forming a wall of body and intent. Fitz is the closest, kneeling, and Chess is glued to my side. Felix leans against the back of the couch, while Aubrey and Renard stay close enough to block out the entire room from anything bad ever getting in again.

“Okay, snack size,” Aubrey says, his voice velvety with concern. “Whenever you’re ready, we’re all here.”