Page 52 of Prey It By Ear

For a second, the kitchen is dead silent except for the faint tick of the old-fashioned clock above the stove. I squeal as Fitz, already in motion, moves behind me and hugs me so hard my face almost hits my plate. I can’t describe how goddamn relieved I am, but it’s a lot, and this will help me survive this semester without crumbling into a ball of anxiety.

“That’s fucking amazing,” Felix says, teeth bared as he grins. “You’ll be in and out of those sessions faster than she can say ‘counseling trauma’. No way she’s going to pull shit like yesterday with a rotating chain of witnesses assigned by the courts.”

I don’t know if I believe that, but if it helps him settle, I’ll let it stand for now.

Fitz looks at me—no, through me—and finally, his whole body relaxes against mine. “We’ll keep you safe, Baby Girl, even if you can do it on your own. No matter what it takes—even the army of rabid hedgehogs—your mates are always behind you.”

He says it like a vow, and when Felix nods, I know it is.

The kitchen fills up with bodies as Chess walks in dressed and ready, his face calm but hands fidgeting. My cheetah walks over to grab my mug, pours a fresh cup for me without asking, and then slides onto the stool at my side. His arm goes around my back and his fingers tap a rhythm on my shoulder blade, grounding me. The gentle calm is one of his best qualities, and I appreciate the hell out of this morning.

“Good morning, my knight. You’re all up early with me. I’m sorry for that.”

“We want to be here for your first day back, Angel.”

I open my mouth to reply, but Aubrey comes in next, shuffling in with his glasses crooked and a soft-shouldered cardigan hanging open over a shirt that is definitely inside out. He stands directly across from me at the counter, studies my face for exactly one heartbeat, and then reaches across the table to take my hand. His palm is warm, and he doesn’t let go.

“Lunchable, today will be hard, but it will pass, and so will every other day after. Dragons are masters of accepting this truth, and it’s what I’m cornily sharing with you at this ungodly hour.”

Damn, they’re sweet today; I owe them big time.

My gargoyle is last, always the final act in this parade. He enters with a grunt, picks up a heel of bread from last night’s tray, and sits at the end of the counter, looking over the group with his heavy-lidded stare. When he’s satisfied, he leans back and looks at me with a sleepy smile. “Bonjour, mon petit lapin. Es-tu prêt pour aujourd’hui?⁠*”

I realize I’m not shaking anymore as I force my brain to translate. My whole body feels loose, like I’ve just dropped seventy pounds of fear on the kitchen floor. “Yes, Rennie, I think I am. Now that Farley fixed the problem of being alone with Rockland, even the nasty, no-breaks schedule seems less daunting.”

His eyes light up as he looks to the other guys for confirmation, and once they nod, Renard beams. “Excellent. I may not be entirely awake, but knowing you are safe will make my entire day go easier.”

“We do whatever it takes, Princess.,” Felix adds as he sips a glass of water. “I will take you to ballet, and then escort you to the Dupree building where Raina will meet us. Since my run will be over by then, you will be met by Fitz to head to the next class after the counseling.”

“I’ll shiver her fucking timbers if she screws with you; I swear to all the watery gods,” Fitz says with a menacing look in his eyes. “You have no idea how many ideas I got down overnight, and most of them aren’t even lethal like the hedgehogs.”

Aubrey blinks, turning to look at the tiger with a confused expression. “I probably shouldn’t even ask, right?”

“Nope,” I say with a tiny grin. “You should leave that one be, big guy.”

Fitz nods sagely as he smirks. “I already have the escape route mapped if we kill her, though. We can be in Milan by lunchtime. I can program a fake voice bot to keep people here and even your wretched mother occupied for days thinking you’re sick and we have you quarantined in here.”

Sweet Hecate’s broomstick, he’s really in overdrive, isn’t he?

Chess grins at me. “I think he has all the bases covered, Angel.”

I grin broadly at them, my heart swelling with happiness. It doesn’t matter if tomorrow is a circus or a war zone; I know what side my people are on, and that means everything.

Delores Drew is not alone, and she does not have to suffer indignities with no recourse ever again.

“You need to go soon,” Chess says, and his voice is soft but final, like the closing bell in a championship game. “You don’t want to be late for the first class.”

Before we head out for the day, I actually eat a few bites. Felix gives me the look—eyebrows up, slightly judgmental—and I shovel in enough protein to make him happy. Aubrey steals the last of my coffee when I’m not looking, and Fitz snags the corner of my toast like he’s entitled to half of everything I own.

This right here is perfection, and no one will convince me otherwise.

* Good morning, my little bunny. Are you ready for today?

BURN IT DOWN

Renard

It is always a little surprising how quickly a kitchen can revert to entropy, even in a house full of people who aren’t slobs. Our annex’s main room has the shape of a luxury ski chalet, with stone-tile floors, exposed wooden beams, and the comfiest cushioned furniture I could find for relaxation. The kitchen island, however, often turns into a staging ground for miniature disasters after meals. There are plates stacked, forks clinking, and a half-collapsed pyramid of cut berries bleeding out over a napkin like a dietary crime scene.