“It wasn’t until someone kicked his legs that Nik woke up. Alek, snoring beside him, his head resting on his shoulder. Ban snoring on the other couch, the noise rivaled only by the dog. He looked into the impossibly cranky face of Zach Sheridan. “Y’all get food?” “We had a full refrigerator before you three got here.” “Where I come from, we don’t let the refrigerator get empty.” “Where you come from, you marry your sister.”

“The full tigers watched him silently. All females. Thankfully. He would be less than happy if he had to take on some territorial male.Well, this little adventure was only going to last through today. As soon as night came, he would get his furry ass out of here. Even if he had to scare some poor security guard to death. Then he would be heading to California. He had some dog butt to kick.Sighing, Nik looked up to find a small child staring at him. A small child busy picking his nose.Could this get any worse?The females stirred restlessly near him and he caught the scent they had.Oh no. Please. Not that.They stood in front of him, completely unaware of his presence and arguing like two ten-year-olds.Nik didn't bother searching for a way out. There was no way out. Those two evil witches trapped him. Trapped him in hell.Throwing up his hands in anger, Alek turned away from Ban, facing the tiger display. Alek's gold eyes stared at Nik for a moment, a frown of confusion pulling his brows down. Then he smiled. And then he just became plain hysterical.Bastard! This wasn't and never would be funny!Ban stared at Alek for several confused moments before catching sight of Nik.As his brothers literally rolled on the ground laughing hysterically--and freaking out all the zoo visitors--Nik seethed”

“Dear God in heaven.” Nik and Ban turned away, but Alek stood. Transfixed. “My God, y’all. She’s the worst goddamn dancer I’ve ever seen.” “Turn away. It’ll hurt your eyes. Turn away!”

“It’s all right.” He stretched his shoulders out, the flesh between his blades sore, which meant his grizzly hump had grown while he was still human. Rare and not good. “Really. It’s all right. And I can understand if you’re not comfortable staying here tonight.” He looked up at her. “Or if you want some space or…if you…if you…why are you getting naked?”

“That’s a shitty thing to do. It’s almost catlike in its evilness.” “See, your problem is you underestimate dogs. There’s a reason many of us are let up on the couch, while they keep y’all in a zoo.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a question, darlin'?""Only if you stop calling me darlin'""Now where I come from that's a term of endearment.""Really? Well, where I come from motherfucker is a term of endearment. Want me to start calling you that?”

“No, he wasn’t letting Dez MacDermot get away. He’d take her down like his ancestors took down full-grown zebra.”