His eyes narrow. “You’re sure?”
“No more half-truths.”
A long pause. Then he steps back. And changes. It’s not slow. Not dramatic. One second he’s Archer?—
The next?—
A massive tiger stands where he was. Gold and black and terrifyingly real. My breath leaves me in a rush.
“Holy—”
The tiger watches me, intelligent eyes tracking every reaction. Then, just as quickly, he shifts back. Archer stands there again, chest rising and falling steadily.
“Well,” I say finally, voice a little shaky. “That’s… new.”
He huffs a quiet breath that might almost be a laugh.
“You’re taking this better than most.”
“I’m still deciding if I’ve lost my mind.”
“You haven’t.”
I pace once, twice, trying to process. “Okay. Okay. Shifters. Fine. Sure. Why not. That explains… a lot, actually.”
He watches me carefully.
“You said most of the town?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“And the guy tonight?”
“Rogue.”
“Meaning bad?”
“Very.”
I stop pacing.
“And now I know,” I say slowly.
“Yes.”
“And that makes me…”
“A target.”
The word lands heavy. I meet his gaze.
“Because of you?”
Pain flickers there. “Partly.”
I nod once, absorbing it. Then I straighten.
“I won’t be intimidated into leaving.”
