“Hey, yourself.” I beamed at the cheerleading squad's captain and then leaned down to whisper to La La. “What’s her name again?”“Jackie.” La La slung her jean satchel on her right shoulder and exhaled noisily. “I can’t wait until you get out of your Shapeshifter horny phase.”“The proper name is Season.” I drank in Jackie’s image as she jumped around, doing a cheer. Those round melons bounced with each movement. “And it usually takes Shifters seven to ten years to mature out of it, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.”La La snorted.”

“Zulu, we do this quick and easy,” Ray said. “No ripping his chest apart, taking out his heart, and painting his blood across the pavement.”“Come on. I did that once, and you still won’t leave it alone.” I shrugged my shoulders and leaned back in the van’s backseat.”

“She needs her freedom, but I won’t let her have it.”

“Is it wrong that I see those creamy white legs and just want to mark them with my fangs?” he whispered.“I think if I thought about it for a long time, it would be a bit frightening.”“What is it now?”“Tempting.”

“His eyes went to predatory mode, following my every movement. The gold flecks in his eyes gleamed. I was going to have to burn him again. I could see it in his eyes. Were-cats and their constant need to poke and bat at things.”

“Zulu!” I raced up to his side and stopped him. “I can explain my weird behavior.”“So you’re not just crazy?” His blond eyebrows rose as he grinned.“Well, that’s the point. I am crazy.” I raked my fingers through my hair and blew out a long breath. “I set my ex-boyfriend and the two women he was cheating with on fire. They were all in the hospital for several months.”He didn’t say anything and just continued to stare.Feel like running away yet?“So,” I said. “I’m not the sanest person you could spend your time trying to be with.”He flashed me a huge smile. “If someone touched you now, they would be lucky to have only one month in the hospital.” Oh, my goodness.“Okay. I don’t think you understand me.” I held my hands out to my sides. “What I am trying to say is I’m insanely jealous and act on it in violent ways that are frankly detrimental—”“You have a few more weeks.” He tapped his watch. “And then I’m coming for you.”Coming for me?”

“You see how good I’m being for you? I haven’t ripped out any hearts or anything.”