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“Not just like me. You guys can shift. That’s as close as I ever got. A little smoke, my eye changing color…”

“What happened after?” Legend says.

“I froze. I just sat there, trying not to think about it. I was so scared. I didn’t want to change into a… a…”

I don’t want to offend them by saying monster.

“You repressed your dragon side,” Legend says, without judgment. “Then you got stuck.”

“So now I can’t shift? Forever?”

Day smiles, a beam of beachy sunshine at Halloween. “No negativity here, bro. No such thing as impossible. Give it a try.”

“How?”

“Shut your eyes and imagine yourself becoming a dragon. Just one hand. If you shift fully, your head will go through the ceiling.”

I stare at him. “Really?”

He nods. “Really.”

“How big are you guys when you’re dragons?”

Legend smiles enigmatically. “You’ll see. Soon.”

“Can’t you show me first?” I beg. “We could go up to the roof—”

“No. You try first, baby dragon.” Legend’s voice is firm.

I don’t argue. I don’t mind the dragons taking charge. Oh, who am I kidding? I fucking love it. Legend’s no went right for my dick. Shutting my eyes, I focus on their smoky scent, hoping it’ll get me into the dragon mood. Picture my right hand lengthening. Claws sprouting. Scales appearing. I screw up my eyes tight and concentrate so hard that my head starts to ache. But absolutely nothing happens.

“I felt nothing,” I say, defeated. “Well, except for a headache.”

“That’s the alcohol.” Legend grabs my wine bottle and takes it away from me, treating my glare with serene disdain. “If you think I’ll let you drink a whole bottle of wine, you can think again.”

“Fine,” I grouch. “But it’s not the alcohol. It’s because I can’t shift.”

I slump on the stool, chin on my hands. The dragons look at each other thoughtfully.

“Do you get much action?” Day says.

“Excuse me?” I say.

“Action. Sex. How often do you get fucked?” he says.

Well, shit. I didn’t mishear. There isn’t a shred of embarrassment in his gaze. Legend’s eyes are on me, too. There’s nowhere to hide.

“Not as often as I’d like, okay?” I mutter. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“I have a theory,” Legend announces.

Of course he does.

“I know what you’re thinking, bro,” Day says.

Of course he does. His eyes are shining with a mad scientist gleam. He leans forward excitedly and almost falls off his stool.

“We need to overload your body,” Day says. “Get you out of your head so you can overcome the psychological barrier that’s preventing you from shifting.”