Zack scooted farther behind the table, using the edge for cover. He wished he’d picked a bigger piece of furniture, but here they were. “You’re making noises that do not come from people, just so you know. Regular people, they snore, maybe they fart in their sleep. They don’t sound like a jungle documentary.”
“I told you, Blue. Not going to hurt you.”
“That’s what all the creeps say right before they eat your face.” Zack threw the magazine at Colton, missing by a mile. “What are you?” he demanded again, panting, sweat breaking out despite the air conditioning.
Colton hesitated, then sat up, huge and eerily calm. “Shifter.”
Zack blinked. “Shifter what?”
“Black panther.”
A hysterical laugh ripped out of him. “Bullshit. You are not a panther. You’re insane. That’s what you are. You know what happens to people who lose it in apartments like these? Their neighbors call the manager and the next thing you know, Dateline is knocking.”
Colton stayed patient, solid, like he was used to handling crazy. “It’s true, Zack. I tried to tell you last night, but you weren’t ready to hear it.”
“Try again. I heard you. I just prefer my men not to secretly be science experiments.” Zack’s entire body buzzed. “Are you going to infect me with crazy? Is that the plan? Because if you turn me into anything with a tail, I will cut your balls off myself. There, that’s a threat you can believe.”
Eyes crinkled, like he found the threat amusing rather than scary. “It’s not contagious. It’s just what I am.”
Zack backed up another foot, sweat dripping from his forehead. Anger and fear crashed together, muddling his insides in a way caffeine never could. “Prove it. If you’re gonna stand there telling me you’re a magical panther, show me. Do something.”
Colton didn’t hesitate. Lifting his hand, he flexed the fingers, then held it out clear of the couch. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with a sound like thick plastic snapping, sharp black claws slid straight out of Colton’s fingertips.
He nearly puked. Those weren’t nail extensions or those acrylic jobs girls got in the mall. They were thick, curved, and real, dark as oil, a full inch longer than human nails.
Zack’s head spun. The world fuzzed around the edges, voices echoing in the hall outside, distant and weird. Magazine and remote on the coffee table faded to gray. Blood roared in his ears.
This was not happening in his living room. Absolutely not happening.
Then everything went black.
Next time around, he woke to the feel of cool water dabbing his brow and a big hand cradling his neck, holding him steady. Something moved over his face, dabbing again, gentle. His eyes fluttered open, but the world was moving slow.
Colton’s face swam into focus, concern tightening his jaw.
Great, so not only was he insane, he’d passed out in front of the world’s most dangerous shifter. That would haunt him forever.
He tried to sit up. “Don’t kill me, I’m allergic to death.”
Colton tucked a pillow behind him, setting him up halfway. “I told you, Blue, I won’t hurt you.”
“You say that now, but ten minutes ago you grew Freddy Krueger claws.” He eyed Colton’s hands warily. “Can you retract those, or is it like a bad manicure?”
Without a word, Colton flexed his fist. The claws slid away, smooth as anything. Normal human hands again.
Zack wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse.
He pressed his palms to his eyes for a few seconds, forcing his breathing to cooperate. The room settled. His hearing evened out. The hum of the fridge, the clack of someone in the laundromat below. Colton’s purring had gone silent, replaced by a steady, watchful silence.
A wild laugh threatened to slip out again, but he bit it down. “Let me get this straight. You, the big, hot security guy, are actually a giant murder cat. You hid this why, exactly?”
“Didn’t want you to be scared. It’s not something most people are ready to hear.”
That calm was infuriating. “You know what most people aren’t ready for? Reality shows up and suddenly your boyfriend is the star of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.”
Zack’s hands shook as he dragged them through his hair. “Fuck, I thought my brother was the worst thing in my life. Now it’s you by a mile, dude.”
Colton watched him, quiet, patient. Not pushing.
