Page 15 of Shadow Wings
“It’s an antique pill box that once belonged to an esteemed baroness.” He tossed the pill box in his hand. “Wantit?”
The gold beckoned me. It was just what this cave needed. A bit of sparkling wealth. Actually, I needed it. I got to my feet and murmured, “Yes.”
“Come for your flying lesson, and it’s yours.” His silky voice wrapped around me, pulling me to him with a warm undercurrent toit.
I narrowed my eyes and studied him. Tyrrik’s face was smooth, his impassive mask on, and I couldn’t help my suspicion. His offerseemedfair. I walked toward the gold and said, “Flying lesson, and it’s mine; notricks.”
At least, Imeantto walk, but I went faster. A lotfaster.
I shrieked as I blurred toward Tyrrik, my arms flailing. He caught me around the waist as I crashed into him, the air whooshing out of me as my silver hair fanned aroundus.
“Sorry,” I managed, brushing back my locks. Was all of the brown gone? My Drae transformation must have burned the dye out of myhair.
He snorted and slowly withdrew his arm. “Nothing I can’t handle.” He brushed the rest of my hair over my shoulder. “I like it bettersilver.”
Right. We’d better not go throughthatagain. I straightened, pulling on my rumpled aketon. “Show me theshiny.”
“Not until after the lesson,” he said with a sardonic smile. “First things first: You’ll need toshift.”
I glanced around the clear area outside the cave. “Is there enoughroom?”
Tyrrik nodded. “Female Drae aren’t as big asmales.”
“Whynot?”
“Because they play different roles. They have different strengths andweaknesses.”
“Likewhat?”
“The females are the calming balance to the male’s volatile nature,” Tyrriksaid.
Lame.“But I’m stronger and faster, and I have claws, wings, and fangs,right?”
His eyes softened. “Yes, just not to the same degree as a male. Except speed, thatis.”
“Then what cool powers do Iget?”
The Drae cleared his throat. “Enough questions, Ryn.” He lowered his voice and stepped closer. “Shift.”
Apprehension filled me, and my heart fluttered against my chest. What if I couldn’t do it? I opened my mouth to ask, but the question evaporated as Tyrrik ran his finger over my right shoulderblade.
“Shift,” he said in a deepvoice.
Something primal took over, led by the unrelenting power in the baritone of his Drae voice. Dark energy caressed me, and I cried, “Tyrrik.”
Except the cry came out as a roar. A shimmering blue light exploded around me. Brilliant-blue scales erupted up my arms and neck, down my legs, and over my face. My fingernails became black hooked talons. My face lengthened, a thick bi-curved plate growing over the front of my chest. The blue energy pulsed from within, and I swelled in size, snorting in alarm as Tyrrik shrunk on the ground beneath me. Gigantic wings burst from my shoulder blades, the blue leathery skin stretching between the hollow bones still strong enough to keep this form in the air. Pain pinched at my lower back as I curved over to rest on all fours. The pressure there continued until a horned tail curled around to rest by my side. Razor-sharp fangs slid down over my powerful jaws, and I arched my Drae spine. I felt invincible and couldn’t help the deep satisfaction in my chest rumbling out in a deeppurr.
The shimmering energy surrounding me settled and faded. The thoughts of my normal mind, my Phaetyn mind, settled into a corner, and the foreign, instinctual thoughts of the creature I’d become filled myhead.
I was Drae. My race was as old astime.
Tyrrik approached with care, hands turned up in a gesture I recognized as deferential. I surveyed him down the length of my snout and decided to let the man touch me, but the decision was calculated. He was a Drae and far more powerful than me. The closer he came, the more I could feel his prowess and strength. Yes, this wasn’t one to anger. If anything, he’d be an excellent mate to provide strong young. My human mind broke out of its tiny corner.Whoa. Mate? Where did that come from?Me and my Drae form needed to get some thingssettled.
He rested his hand on my foreclaw.You are perfect,Khosana.
You just called me princess.That’s what Khosana meant? He’d been calling me princess this entire time?DoI speak Draenow?
In this form,yes.