An expression of pure teenage horror flashed across her face. “Are you serious? Of course I know who he is. Everyone knows who he is. Haven’t you seen his Legion trading card?”

I hadn’t known who Nero was when we’d met, but then I didn’t collect Legion trading cards. Well, at least I hadn’t until today. I pulled the Nero card out of my boot and slapped it down on the table.

“You mean this card?” I asked Tessa.

An impish smile twisted her lips. “Gods, Leda, did you just pull that out of your boot?”

“Yeah. And?”

Tessa’s eyes darted to Gin. “She keeps his picture in her boot. That’s like the Legion’s equivalent of a locker.”

“Do you keep that card on you at all times?” Gin asked me.

“Ever since I nabbed it off some paranormal soldiers on the train an hour ago.”

Tessa crossed her hands in front of her heart. “How romantic.”

“If you say so.”

Tessa caressed the outer edge of the playing card. “Are his muscles that big in real life?”

“Oh, much bigger. They’re like totally enormous,” I told her, taking the thick slice of turkey Calli had cut for me.

“Really?” Tessa wet her lips.

“Yeah, so big he was always bursting out of his uniform, so now he just goes around the Legion office naked.”

A pout displaced the euphoric smile on her face. “You’re mocking me.”

“Just having fun with you, little sis.” I glanced at Bella. “So, when we’re back in New York, we should go out to celebrate your academic triumph. How about cheesecake?”

“That sounds divine.”

“You know what else is divine? Angels,” Tessa said with a smirk. “Tell us more about your angel, Leda.”

“There’s nothing to tell. How about you tell us about school? What’s new?”

“I won the Winter Queen pageant,” she said. “And I’m in charge of the prom committee. Dani Wilkinson wanted the theme to be Witches, but we already did that for homecoming three years ago. I mean, seriously, what would these people do without me to keep track of these things? I told her we’re doing Angels this year, and of course everyone loved it. Who doesn’t love angels?”

No one apparently.

“How are classes?” I asked Gin.

“I got an A in Steam Tech,” she said, smiling.

Calli beamed at her. “Gin has been helping me in the garage. Remember that old motorcycle we found last year in the Junkyard just outside of town, Leda? She managed to get it working.”

“That’s fantastic,” I told Gin. She was really gifted. People just didn’t see it because she was living in Tessa’s shadow.

“It really is,” Tessa said. She might have been an attention hog, but she did love Gin. “All the guys at the wall were really impressed. I think that cute one with the dragon tattoo is going to ask you out.”

Gin blushed a lovely shade of pink.

“And how is your paranormal soldier, the one whose name you wanted to tattoo into your skin?” I asked Tessa.

Tessa pushed out her lower lip. “Don’t even mention his name.”

“I think you’re safe there. I don’t even remember his name.” It was impossible to keep up with Tessa’s revolving door of boyfriends.

“He left town when his time was up. He said he’d write to Tessa, but he never did,” Gin told me.

“Whatever. I met someone who is ten times the man he will ever be,” Tessa declared.

“Oh, really. Who is this wonderful fellow?”

“Uh-uh. I’m not telling.” Tessa zipped her fingers across her mouth.

“Why not?”

“Because I can tell from the look in your eyes that as soon as I do, you’ll go find him and give him a speech about staying away from your little sister.”

“Unfortunately, little sister, I don’t have time to play hot potato with paranormal soldiers right now.” I sighed, looking at Calli. “What’s happening here? The town feels different.”

“The government cut funding to the sheriff’s offices in several Frontier towns, ours included. The resources are being diverted into the Legion, the wall, and the fight against the beasts. Sheriff Wilder didn’t have the money to keep paying us bounty hunters to track down criminals.”

“You’re not working?” I asked.

“We’re working, just not enough. Many of the local bounty hunters have moved on, but even with just a few of us left, there’s not enough work to go around. And your friend Jinx has made a habit of letting us do all the work, then snatching our marks out from under us.”

I gritted my teeth. “Where is he?”

“Don’t even think about going after him. I know the Legion has rules about interfering in local affairs.”

“The man is a vulture,” I growled.

“He’s a lot worse than that, but most of all, he’s not worth it, kid. Leave it be. Thanks to you, we’re getting along all right.” She met my eyes. “You didn’t have to send us so much money.”

“After what you said, I’m wishing I’d sent more.”

“It’s your money, Leda.”

“The Legion feeds and houses me, and I don’t have the time to spend money anyway.”

“I could help you with that,” Tessa offered.