“I’ll make sure it’s not wriggling,” Declan said and followed Noth to hunt.
I had to admit Noth’s friendship was a lot more frightening than his attack on us. His single-minded focus put me on edge. The brood and the elf obliterated our laid-back pace from the start of this quest with their urgency. I turned to Ward to ask if there was any way we might slink away together for part of the day.
“You should shift. Make sure you can release your dragon at will.” His jaw clenched tight. “Reach into yourself and step through the door to your dragon.”
Not this again. Last time we tried this with my snake, a giant murder pork appeared. I was a lot bigger now but no more capable… or maybe a little more capable since I had an army behind me.
Does he think we’re dense?the smoky voice of my dragon asked.
It was still strange to have another presence in my head.I haven’t had the best track record with this, so it’s valid instruction.I would listen to Ward over Noth any day and I kinda wanted to show off since Ward hadn’t run screaming from us… yet.
I shifted with ease, stretching my long legs. Everything was much simpler in this form. I just wanted to lick my mate from head to toe and bring out his bear to play. She also thought he was amazingly cute and had no problem doing just as she pleased.
Shift.I asked rather than ordered.We can run together!
Ward laughed as he pushed her away. Though his bear came into his eyes, he didn’t shift. “I can’t teach you as my bear. I have to be in human form to build the mathematical structures of my magic. My bear just wants to eat and destroy everything. We have to at least show you the basics of magic. You’re the only shifter who can wield it in this form.”
I hung my head. Who wanted lessons when we could have fun together?
“Defend,” Ward called before he blasted a stinging ball of magic into my chest.
It didn’t really hurt, but I hissed and the world developed a film. The brood started up a chorus of anxious yowls and yips. Most of them only had the magic of their shift, or so they explained on the road, and it had to be strange to see the three of us going at it with spells and light. It was certainly strange for me.
Ward scanned the ground. “Do not take off when I can’t see you, Evie!”
I pranced around him, claws tapping the earth. Could he really not see me? I was invisible? This magic stuff was cooler than I thought. Ward whipped around and hit me with another sting of magic.
“I can see your footprints. Counter my spell.” His hand cast out, and I dodged his ball of magic but lost my invisibility as the film around the world lifted. My dragon was all instinct and self-preservation. I had no control over what I was doing.
I don’t even know what your spell is, let alone how to counter it.
“Concentrate. It must be instinctive for your dragon. Try again. Form the structure of a counterspell in your mind and let it flow out.”
A what?My dragon didn't understand what he meant, either.
I only just made it through math class. I don't think I can use magic like you do.
Ward had his hands on his hips. Lovely. Why weren’t we frolicking in the fields on either side of us? I wasn’t prepared for magic 101, but Ward was relentless. As I tried to block or counter his baby spells, I realized I sucked at it. He tossed more magic my way. I only dodged. Nothing I did neutralized his spell and my dragon and I were getting pissed.
Aren't you out of magic yet?
He didn't look winded. “I'm only limited by memorization of the mathematical structures and I've had a hundred years of practice on you. Again!”
Thank the Godds Noth chose that moment to bring back dinner. Two whole forest oxen—blessedly dead—dragging behind him.
Ward pointed at his friend. “Now test your light against Noth’s darkness.”
Thatmy dragon understood how to do. I opened my mouth and poured forth a crackling, charged light along with my frustration. Noth surprised me with a large, inky-black portal that sucked in every drop of light I produced until both of us were panting.
“No fair making me do that in the light,” Noth complained, sides heaving, hair sticking to his brow.
“Good. You ended in a stalemate because Noth’s magic comes from darkness and yours light. If you realized how to use it, you would win against him because you are an Original level monster, even though your magics naturally counteract each other. He’s also confined to magic involving plants and shadows because his magic is innate, not learned.”
My head drooped. How did Ward learn so much?
He barely paused for breath. “Magic isn’t just slamming power into your opponent. You have to understand what they can do to counter.”
I don’t even understand what we’re doing,I grumbled to my dragon.
