Page 99 of Prey It By Ear

She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she twists a corner of the comforter between her fingers, then says, “Partly. Z called me last night and said the twins were sniffing around, and she didn’t want them to think she was hiding something. She said it would be better if you heard it from me before it turned into drama. But also, I just wanted to see you.”

It takes me a second to process all of that, but when I do, I hug her again, this time tighter, and she hugs back. Over her shoulder, I say, “Is there a second secret? Because you still look like you’re holding something.”

She snorts. “Damn you and your developing pred instincts. Okay, yes, there is, but this one’s worse.”

“Just tell me.”

She takes a deep breath. “Z’s family found out, too, so they’re punishing her in surreptitious ways to get her back in line to continue the Leonidas line with her girly bits, as she’s been told.”

“That’s…” I don’t have words, not even the snarky ones. “That’s fucking cruel, Cori. I’m so sorry.”

She shrugs, but the effort of not caring almost breaks her. “It’s whatever. I’ll live with fighting off two sets of assholes who can’t understand that the old ways are long gone. At least Z’s not embarrassed to be seen with me, and won’t not show up. I’m the one who insisted on secrecy so the heat would die off on her.”

I nudge her. “You have us and the crew and Rufus, Cori. Fuck all those idiots. We’re forming our own extended family and alliance. You know that.”

We sit with that for a while. I hear the clatter of bowls outside my door and the faint, ridiculous sound of Fitz’s voice carrying down the hall—probably still griping about being excluded. I don’t know how to make it better for her other than to say we will support them both no matter what, and she knows I’m being truthful. Unfortunately, that’s about as far as we can go right now.

Chess pops in without knocking, a glass of something in each hand, as he smiles. “I brought you refreshments and I have dinner, too, if you’re ready, ladies,” he says, a little awkward but with genuine warmth. “There’s also a dessert in the kitchen for afterward.”

She smiles at him as he walks over to give us the drinks, and he lingers just long enough to see us both smile back, then slips out. I watch him go, and something in my chest unclenches.

“Thank you for telling me,” I say, meaning it more than anything else I’ve said today. “I knew it felt like I was missing something, especially when you guys were working on the uniforms.”

“Thank you for not freaking out,” she says, sipping. “You’re the best friend a polar bear could ask for.”

I smile as we sip our drinks, leaning into her with a sigh. “Besties forever.”

“Forever is right.”

But that doesn’t mean I will not talk to Fitz about how to absolutely fuck the entire world up for the Leonidas dicks and eventually, the Bouviers.

No one hurts Dolly Drew’s chosen family…. no one.

Bodies

Felix

The campus is an icebox at this hour—the sky a smeared gradient between black and gunmetal. If there’s an official start time to the day at l’Academie, we’re about two hours ahead of it. Most of the lights in the dorms are still off, not that you’d know from the way the cold ricochets across the stones of the quad and then off your skull. The air is so sharp it gives your breath a visible presence, and even I’m feeling it in my bones—which means my princess has to be freezing. Yet she doesn’t shiver or complain, just walks beside me with her bag pressed tight to her chest like it’s a riot shield.

No one can accuse Dolly Drew of being a whiner; that’s for godsdamn sure.

We’re not speaking at first, and that’s fine. I enjoy these walks in the dark, especially because it’s just the two of us and the campus is so empty you could pretend the world belongs to you for a minute. I time my steps so I’m slightly ahead of her stride, enough to cut the wind, with my hand at the small of her back. I’m scanning the quad for any odd morning threats, but also for any movement that could mean trouble. One thing the first two schools taught us is that not all threats are on the clock, nor are they from where you’d expect.

We’re halfway to the Shird when Dolly finally says, “Did you hear anything from the crew or Farley last night? I felt a little guilty leaving you all alone, but I definitely had a very good reunion with my friend.”

I turn and shake my head. “Raina checked in once, with nothing new on that front. Fitz worked on his ‘special projects’, but he located nothing on Sterling. Farley has been silent.” I know this is not what she’s actually asking, but sometimes you have to let her circle the runway for a few extra miles before she can land.

Her eyes are fixed on the frosted grass, as if she’s expecting to see a crime scene outline. She swallows, and there’s a little white puff in the air that marks the beat. “She always said her family was okay with it, and I thought that was true. I think she did, too.” My mate trails off with a heavy sigh.

We cut left to avoid a cluster of glassy-eyed freshmen, probably just now staggering home from wherever the fuck they were. I flash them a dark stare and they part around us like sheep, which is always a thrill. My hand never leaves Dolly’s back, and I feel her shoulder blades through the hoodie, stiff as steel. She doesn’t stop, though; she just talks more softly, as if she’s afraid someone will hear.

“They’re punishing her. She didn’t say how, and she won’t, you know. Zhenga’s in trouble too, but her family is more about the silent treatment and cutting you off than making you disappear—at least, for now.”

I know them better than that, but I let her believe it anyway. We will have to deal with the Leonidas heir and family before it becomes an issue that is much more serious than being left out. However, that’s something I can keep off Dolly’s plate, and she can worry about one less issue. Between the rest of her mates and myself, we have enough experience dealing with that kind of bullshit to cover many lifetimes. Zhenga should have simply come to us for help rather than let the problem get out of hand.

Dolly glances at me, and there’s this weird mix of determination and embarrassment, like she hates herself for being the one to bring bad news. “Can you tell the others not to tease them? Especially not Cori—she’s scared it’ll go public, and she doesn’t want Z’s people to escalate shit. Her parents are being assholes, but I think she believes they’ll come around, eventually. I feel Zhenga is more concerned with the Leonidas pride.”

She should be, and I plan to work on it.