Page 7 of Legacy Elite

"Right." I set my plate down. "And when will you?"

"Hopefully soon."

"That's very comforting."

"It isn't," he agrees. He shrugs the coat on. And then, at the door, "Lock this behind me."

"Sure. Wouldn't want the bears getting in."

He doesn't laugh.

He's standing in his own doorway looking back at me, completely serious.

My smile fades.

"Do I actually need to?"

Jon pauses.

"For tonight," he says, "I'd prefer it."

Then he's gone down the path. Cold slips in through the open door before I close it, cross the room barefoot, and turn the bolt.

It's louder than it needs to be.

Behind me, Renzo is apparently still stuck on this.

"Was she really bigger than the couch?"

"Renzo," Sophia says.

"I'm asking."

"You've been asking."

"Because nobody has answered me."

"Knock it off."

"Fine." He pauses. "But she was, right?"

"Renzo."

"Done."

Torres comes up beside me at the door.

I look at the door. At the bolt I just turned.

"What now?"

Sophia makes an exasperated sound behind me.

"Now, you're just Jessica. Forget you shifted."

I look at her.

"Seriously," she says. "I don't care if you're a direwolf or a regular wolf or you wake up tomorrow and find out you're a fucking dragon. You're still you."