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“Because I love you and you’ve waited too long for good things to happen to you.” Sybil gives me a quick squeeze, then pushes me out of the circle of witches.

I stumble away, flashing her a betrayed look.

“What are you—?” But Sybil has already turned back to Olga, who is only too happy to resume her conversation about last words.

I take a few steps away, chewing on my lower lip, my heart racing. I glance down at my beer. I’m going to need at least three more drinks before my confidence is anywhere near high enough to approach my longtime crush.

“Hey.” That deep, masculine voice nearly makes me drop my red cup.

I turn toward the voice, and there’s Kane, looking larger and stronger and altogether hotter than my memories of him.

“Hey back,” I say. I’m proud the words actually came out because I am drowning in adrenaline. I’m pretty sure the same people responsible for heels and iron maidens and the Spanish Inquisition also invented crushes because there isnothingpleasant about this feeling. Which, to be fair, is probably why it’s called acrushin the first place, because I’m positive Kane is about to pulverize my giddy little heart beneath his boot. I can’t imagine this ending any other way.

“Selene, right?” he says, those lupine eyes a little too intense this close. I can practically feel the power radiating off him. Now I do want to bare my neck and look away.

Surprise has me raising my eyebrows instead. “You know my name?”

I can’t believe Kane Halloway knows my name.

His own brows furrow. “Of course I remember your name.”

I’m screaming inside.

He’s so much bigger than I remember—not that my memory is to be trusted. And his voice goes straight through my ears and down to my pussy.

Why are you thinking about your pussy? Pull yourself together, woman!

“I’m glad you came,” he says. “I remember you from Peel Academy.”

I nearly drop my drink. “You do?”

I feel like the entire history of my infatuation with him shifts on its axis. I always assumed I blended in with the wallpaper.

Kane gives me a strange look, then leans in conspiratorially. “Ididask you out on a date,” he says. “But you never showed.”

“No,” I say, my voice hushed with horror.

I never showed? Why, universe, why?

“You don’t remember?” he says.

I’m still agonizing over the fact I could’ve been dating this mansince high school.

“Um, about that…” How to explain my power? “I have this thing, with my magic—”

Before I can finish, some of Kane’s friends come up to him, one of them slapping him on the back.

“Kane, man, great party.”

One of the other shifters with dark hair lifts his chin at me in greeting. “Hey,” he says, flashing a smile.

Hand to the goddess on high, Kane growls. It’s so low, I’m not entirely sure I heard correctly, but then Kane’s friends back off.

“Easy, boy,” the man with dark hair says, even as he backs away. “I meant no harm. Just wanted to tell the witch she has nice eyes.” He winks at me, even as Kane growls again.

I guess that’s how you fuck with your friend if you’re a shifter—you make him seem weirdly possessive of a girl he just started chatting with.

And maybe if I hadn’t been pining for Kane for years, I would’ve let those growls scare me off. But my happy little heart finds the whole thing thrilling, self-respect be damned.