Page 7 (1/2)

"I’ll see you later, then" She strode toward the cafeteria

The noise inside was deafening Children were chasing each other around tables Balloons were popping Adults were in s Every time Constantine opened a new present, a cheer erupted Caitlyn eased through the crowd till she reached her sister

Shanna grinned at her, then her sht?"

"I need to talk"

Shanna took her arlass of water "You look hot and flushed, which is odd since it’s chilly outside"

Caitlyn sipped solass on the stainless steel counter "I’ the job with Emma’s security company"

Shanna’s face lit up "That would be wonderful! We would see each other all the time"

"Yes"

Shanna studied her sister’s face close up "You look like you’ve been kissing someone"

"Maybe becauseI have been kissing soasped and stepped back "My God, Caitlyn You just got here You’re already - isn’t that kind of quick?"

Caitlyn gave her an annoyed look "Believe me, I don’t usually throw uyswell, they’re really attractive"

"Who was it?"

"Carlos"

Shanna’s lass to drink ulped down a fes "You kissed Carlos?"

"Yes"

Shanna drank some more water "Are you sure?"

Caitlyn snorted "Yes I did e to learn his name before I jumped hilass on the counter "I want you to stay away froave her a stern look "Don’t get involved with him"

"How can you say that?" Caitlyn’s teh for a vaot a vampire Why can’t I have one?"

"Cait!" Shanna reached out to her "Sweetie, he’s not a vampire"

"What?"

"Carlos is not a vaainst the counter Her attraction to him wasn’t caused by a supernatural allure? She could have sworn he wasspecial souy?"

"Not exactly" Shanna winced "Souys ork the day shift for MacKay Security and Investigation aredifferent They’re shape shifters"

Caitlyn stared at her sister The rabbit hole had just reopened She collapsed onto a stool "Carlos is a?"

"Shape shifter They can change into aniulped "Like a olf?"

"Phil and some of the boys are olves," Shanna explained "And of course, Howard Barr is a bear"

"A bear?" Caitlynroom "There’s a bear over there? Where?"

"There" Shanna pointed at Howard "A were-bear"

Caitlyn touched her brow "I’ my mind"

"I should have warned you" Shanna shook her head "It just never occurred to me that you would"

"Lock lips with the first man to cross my path?" Caitlyn asked dryly

"You have to understand We shouldn’t anger Dadto be pissed if you take the job with Emma He’s already furious that I’m married to a vampire If he finds out that you’re involved with a shape shifter - "

"I know," Caitlyn muttered "He’ll have kittens"

Shanna snorted "No, Cait You would have kittens Carlos is a were-panther"

Chapter Five

"Here" Shanna set a plate of birthday cake and a cup of punch on the kitchen counter, then perched on a stool next to Caitlyn "The all-natural re with stress: chocolate"

Caitlyn slipped a small bite of chocolate cake into her mouth

"Better?" Shanna asked with a strained smile

Caitlyn nodded No doubt her sister orried about her She’d sat on a stool for fivea sound She ate another bite of cake The rich, gooey texturetaste of blood His blood From his kiss

A were-panther She’d kissed a were-panther A Brazilian were-panther

She sipped soar rush Her heart was already racing "I’iant Mr Foofikins," she whispered

"Excuse one over the edge "When I was young and you left home, I wasreally loneso soccer, and he didn’t have time for a little sister Mom was always kind, but detached, like she wasn’t quite there"

Shanna nodded "I know I’m sorry"

Then why did you leave me? Caitlyn had wanted the answer to that since she was nine years old, but she didn’t ask it now She was afraid she would hear what she’d always suspected You’re not good enough

"About a month after you left," she continued, "a little black kitten caht, but as usual, Dad insisted we take it to a shelter It turned out that the kitten had feline leukemia, and the shelter wanted to put it down"

"How terrible," Shanna ed Dad to let me keep it I told him I had no one to love So he relented I adored Mr Foofikins I gave him all the love I could, but he died about a year later"

Shanna touched her shoulder "I’m so sorry"

Caitlyn wiped a few tears from her cheek "Why don’t you know about him? Didn’t you read my letters? I wrote all about him for months I even sent pictures"

Shanna sat back "You wrote to me?"