The Queen Of Zombie Hearts. Gena Showalter

What do you think?” he asked.

      I studied the boxing gloves and smiled. They looked like they were made of tattered brown leather, with a bowed string holding them together. “Perfection.”

      “As if I could do anything less.”

      Men and their egos.

      I approached the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Hand trembling, I lifted my hair and turned to the side while glancing over my shoulder. My breath hitched. The bird’s head was light green and came up to my hairline. The wings were a rainbow of colors, each crackling with golden flames, wrapping around both sides of my neck, stretching toward my ears. The belly was a mix of red and gold and centered on the ridges of my spine, while the tail was shaped and shaded like peacock feathers, stopping between my shoulder blades.

      “It’s...it’s...” I gasped. “I don’t even have words.”

      “I know,” he replied. “I’m amazing. It’s the best work you’ve ever seen. Blah, blah.”

      Cole was going to flip out.

      “You remember how to prevent infection?” he asked.

      “Yes.” I paid him and joined Mackenzie in the lobby. Her reaction to the ink was similar to mine. Total shock and awe.

      “As much as I’d love to stay and stare, we’d better go.” She gestured to the outside world. “Darkness is rolling in.”

      I glanced out the window, and sure enough, the sunlight was muted. Well, crap. Night came earlier and earlier. We hardly had time for rest and relaxation anymore.

      When had we ever?

      But we were trying. All slayers—including our mascots, Reeve and Kat—had recently enrolled in a home-study program, leaving the classroom behind. With our schedules, we’d been missing class or, when we had shown up, falling asleep. Our grades had been slipping. Now we had a little control.

      Out of habit, I searched the sky for a rabbit-shaped cloud. Anytime my sister noticed zombies stirring in their nests, preparing to brave the wild and hunt a meal, she created one just for me. Right now, there wasn’t one. Good.

      Tonight I would go through one neighborhood after another, searching for Z’s, protecting homes. If all went well—and that’s how it was looking—I’d finish around 3:00 a.m. Boys’ day out would be officially over.

      “Let’s go,” I said.

      We piled into Mackenzie’s truck and headed to the gym, where we would begin. Along the way, I texted Cole.

      U’ll B home 2nite, yeah?

      His response came lightning-fast. Yeah. U got plans 4 me?

      Me: If there aren’t any Z’s 2 fight, guess I’ll have 2 settle 4 getting my hands on U.

      Cole: Settle away. I’ll B w8ing.

      Me: BTW, I have surprise 4 U.

      Cole: Naked surprise?

      Me: Better.

      Cole: Nothing better.

      Me: Prepare to have UR mind blown!

      Me: I MEAN CHANGED. CHANGED.

      Cole: Hahaha. I prefer blown. & right back at ya, babe.

      I stored my phone away.

      “You’re practically glowing with happiness.” Mackenzie pretended to gag. “Tell me you’re still capable of killing zombies and that you’re not considering spraying them with rainbow dust.”

      As if I’d waste rainbow dust on zombies. “Don’t you worry about me, love bug. You want to know why there’s no sign of life on Mars? Because I’ve been there.”

      She tried to hide her grin. “If you tell me Death once had a near–Ali Bell experience, I think I’ll risk a little pirate role-playing and just go ahead and stab your eye.”

      “Why would you want to eye-gouge the girl who’s counted to infinity—twice? The girl who can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves? The girl who can start a fire by rubbing two ice cubes together?”

      “Definitely going to eye-gouge you,” she muttered.

      I laughed. “All’s I’m saying is that I’m ready for tonight...no matter what happens.”

Chapter 2

      BY THE SKIN AND THE TEETH

      It was 3:04 a.m., and, as expected, there was no sign of zombies. I was now off duty, but not expected home until 7:00 a.m.

      Life couldn’t get any more perfect.

      Oh, wait. It could. Mackenzie and Bronx lived with Cole and his dad, Mr. Tyler Holland, and they’d decided to spend the rest of the night at the gym. I hadn’t said a word about my plans with Cole, but my ear-to-ear smile might have given me away.

      Gavin offered to take me home. Ever the gentleman, he opened the passenger side of his car for me.

      “I’ve got people to do and things to see.” He motioned me inside. “Hop to, cupcake.”

      “Thank you.”

      “Don’t get used to it.”

      He meant that with every fiber of his being. Shouldn’t laugh. I adored the guy, but I wasn’t blind to all of his faults.

      One of my faults: I found every one of his charming.

      He settled behind the wheel and gunned the engine, the ice on the window melting. He eased onto the road and said, “So, when do you get your license?”

      “Next week.” There’d been a time I’d wanted to vomit blood at even the thought of controlling the metal death trap known as car, but battling an evil zombie-twin version of myself—don’t ask—kind of put things in perspective. “Why? Are you tired of chauffeuring me around?”

      “Nope. Just want to make sure I move to another state in time. You’re a tragic accident waiting to happen.” He cursed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to go there.”

      “Don’t worry about it. We both know I make the geriatric crowd look like NASCAR champions.” I had a love/hate relationship with speed. I loved slow and hated fast.

      “Exactly my point,” Gavin said. “There’s such a thing as road rage, and I has it.”

      “You has a whole lot of other things, too,” I muttered.

      “True, and they’re all awesome.”

      I rolled my eyes. “By the way, you’re not taking me home. You’re taking me to Cole’s.” At least, I hoped. I texted him, praying he hadn’t fallen asleep.

      No Z’s, I typed. U ready 4 me?

      His reply came within seconds. Ready? Ali-gator, U have no idea. Hope UR in the mood 2 play Hungry Zombie & Helpless Human, because I want a nibble. How soon can U get here?

      Me, my heart fluttering with excitement: 10 minutes.

      Cole: Make it 5.

      Me, my heart fluttering a thousand times faster: Done!

      Cole: Bro and Mac w/U?

      Me: Nope. They love us enough 2 give us nite 2 ourselves.

      Cole: Perfect. I’ll turn off alarm & unlock my window.

      Gavin winked at me. “So tonight’s the night, huh? Finally gonna get that cherry popped.”

      No way. There was just no way he’d gone there. “You are such a pig.”

      “Pigs are cute.”

      “And filthy.”

      “The