“The seer or my mate could kill me. Anyone else—including myself—can’t do shit to me. I come back alive and whole every time. Even if a bomb exploded on top of my head.”
I rubbed at my forehead. “Am I supposed to be taking this all seriously?”
His black brows furrowed, and he rubbed at his own forehead. “I think, if I showed you something first, it would help you believe me.”
I snorted. “Give it your best shot. Because this is fucking twisted.”
He placed his hands on the back of the couch and pushed off the back of it to stand to his feet. His muscles rippled on his bare flesh while he pulled a t-shirt off over his head. “First, my people are shifters. We shift into certain animals—one animal per person. And all shifters are male.” He kicked off his shoes and started unbuttoning his dress slacks…that had his dried blood splattered all over them. “Second, when I do this, don’t be scared. I’m still me. Just a little furry.”
My gaze traveled up and down his frame. Now bare. I gradually sat up on the couch, firmly planting my feet on the ground while I ran my fingers through my tangled black hair. I shook my head, genuinely wondering at his sanity—not that I already wasn’t. I muttered in exasperation, “Do you want to have sex or something?”
He held up his hand for patience. “Remember, I’m still me.”
I gurgled deep in my throat as a twister of white sparkles exploded in front of my eyes.
Then Iscreamedat the top of my lungs. I scrambled over the back of the couch, gripping the leather. My eyes barely peeked over the upper part of it as I whispered in a shaky breath, “Nice kitty. Just stay there… or I’m sure there’s someone else around here you might want to snack on.”
The enormous black panther, sitting on its haunches, lifted its golden eyes to the ceiling and shook its head a little.
Alaric and Wolfe raced into the room, their chests heaving. Two sets of eyes scanned the living room, blades in their hands. Finn skidded to a halt behind them, a long sword flashing in the light.
Alaric ran his eyes up and down my frame, appraising how I was hiding behind the couch. Then his attention turned to the black panther, who stretched his mouth open wide and yawned…showing lots of sharp teeth. Alaric snorted and began putting his blades away, muttering, “That went over well.”
Not moving from my squatting position, I blinked at Finn. “You’re alive too?”
Finn just shook his head and walked away. “This day ranks right up there with dog shit.”
“Wait!” I shrieked, holding up my hands when the other two men started to leave. I pointed one digit over the top of the couch when they stopped and turned around. “There is a fucking black panther right there. Don’t you see it?”
Alaric snorted. “Megan, it’s Rune. Believe me, he won’t hurt you.”
Then they both sauntered out of the living room, leaving me alone with the feline.
I blinked in confusion. My eyes traveled back to the black panther.
My head jerked back, and I froze.
His face was an inch away from mine, resting on top of the couch. His big body sat fluidly on the cushions, and his tail swung back and forth. Like he wanted to play with me—no teeth showing this time.
My mouth bobbed until I sputtered, “Is that really you, Rune?”
The big furry head nodded, crushing the leather beneath his chin.
“Close your eyes twice.”
He blinked. Twice.
Instant. “Stick out your tongue.”
The black panther’s tongue flopped out of his mouth.
My eyes opened wide on my face. “Oh, my freaking fuckity-fuck.”
The cat huffed a few times, its body vibrating.
Ever so slowly, my head cocked. “Are you laughing at me?”
He nodded again. Still huffing.
