There’s a prodding in her head, against her mental barriers. Taught from a young age how to protect her mind, she looks at the Dragon with intention. A question. He huffs in response, sending warm air rushing over her.
Smiling, Aerin opens a small door in her mind. The Dragon immediately speaks in her head, a booming rasp that is nothing like Malice’s voice.
[Let me see you.]
He demands it.
Aerin wants to argue, fire off her own demands. But the longer she stands in front of him, the more she’s sure this is not Malice at all. And if it isn’t Malice, then she definitely doesn’t want to piss him off.
Taking a few steps backward in the grass, Aerin does a slow spin before him, her breath sitting tight in her chest. She’s ready to protect herself but she hopes it doesn’t come to that.
[Let me see you.]He demands it again, curling his talons deeper into the ground. It oddly reminds Aerin of how Malice opens and closes his fists. Aerin starts with her sneakers, kicking them to the side. He seems placated by this.
Aerin can’t let herself wonderwhyshe is about to strip naked in front of a Dragon in the middle of the forest. Now is not the time to question her gut. Aerin pulls her tank top over her head, unbuttons her shorts and shimmies them off her hips. They fall to the grass at her feet.
The Dragon’s orange eyes appraise her.
[Let me see you.]He says it one more time.
Frustration rises.
“You’ve seen me!” Aerin snipes back, folding her arms over her chest. “Tell me who you are. Tell me how you exist inside of him.”
The Dragon narrows his eyes at her before speaking again.
[I have existed inside the strongest of his bloodline for thousands of years. When he dies, I will go to the next. What is your name?]
“You haven’t been paying much attention, have you? I’m the one he came to Valtara for.”
[I don’t find much interest in his daily life.]There is another pause as he seems to examine her.[Who are you?]
“I am Princess Aerin Tolvare.”
[You are more than that. More than a Tolvare.]He narrows his eyes at her again, accusing.
“What does that mean?” Aerin demands.
[You could be like me. A Dragon.]
Aerin has never considered using her magic to turn herself into something so formidable. It would take a massive amount of power, which feels beyond her grasp, especially when her magic has been locked away for so long.
[Trust yourself,]he tells her, as if reading her thoughts, though Aerin knows he hasn’t. Her barriers are up tight.[Let me see you.]
Sighing, Aerin examines her toes. She figures it can’t hurt to try. Letting magic wash over her, Aerin reaches for the water inthe lake, pulling at it, manipulating it into what she wants it to be. She sees the form she wants to take, only vaguely, and allows her magic to do the rest.
The first time she takes the shape of something is always a surprise, a lot of herself often shows through. It takes practice to make herself truly indistinguishable from the creature she becomes.
When Aerin opens her eyes, she finds her gaze level with the Dragon’s. She looks at her own toes again, only to find pale opalescent talons. She digs them into the grass, relishing in the feeling. She flicks her clubbed tail. When she meets his stare again, he lets out a noise that can only be described as a purr.
Something inside Aerin’s Dragon brain rejoices.
He nuzzles her neck with his face.
One-word echoes in her new mind.
[Mine.]
When Aerin wakes,she’s back inside her Fae body, her grip on the magic long lost. The creature lying beside her is no longer a Dragon either, Malice’s arms wrapped around her mostly bare body.
