Rhosyn’s lips parted in awe before she stepped forward and pulled Sorcha into a fierce hug. “You did it,” she murmured, pride thick in her voice. “You finally let go.”
But Sorcha barely heard her. The power still buzzed beneath her skin, demanding more. She stepped back, lifting her hands again, and this time, she willed the light to bend.
Threads of light spun from her fingertips, coiling and twisting like sun threads. She shaped them, wove them into something tangible. The air crackled with power as the threads took form. A creature slithered into existence.
It emerged from the golden strands, a serpentine in shape, glowing like a creature born from the heart of the sun. It coiled, its shimmering body pulsing with raw energy, rows of gleaming, translucent fangs lining its mouth. Its eyes flickered like embers, and when it openedits mouth fire roared to life within its throat. Sorcha’s gasped. The fire grew, surging forward aimed straight at Rhosyn.
Before she could react, a blur of movement cut between them.
Cat.
But not as he was before. Where the small feline had stood now loomed a massive, jaguar-like beast, nearly the size of a human on all fours. His sleek black fur shimmered, the silver markings along his body pulsing with an ancient power. His tails, long and whip like lashed through the air as he let out a thunderous roar that shook the ground. The force of it shattered the construct.
Sorcha’s creation exploded into embers, threads of light dissolving into nothing. The fire that had threatened Rhosyn vanished in an instant.
Cat shifted his enormous form back into a house cat. With a final flick of his tail, he sat primly at Sorcha’s feet, licking his paw as though nothing had happened. Sorcha wide eyed and stunned looked at Rhosyn and Cat.
Sorcha opened her mouth and began to apologize “I’m sor— “
“I really shouldn’t have to save you from yourself,” he interrupted, his tone exasperated. “Honestly, Sunshine, I thought we were past the accidental murder stage.”
Sorcha let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “I didn’t know that was your true form, I thought it was just part of the dream…You didn’t tell me?”
Cat smirked, eyes flashing silver. “I didn’t think you’d all handle it well if I started the journey by being the size of a horse. Humans tend to panic.”
“Panic?” Rhosyn scoffed. “I watched a serpent made of pure light nearly incinerate me, only for you to explode into a gods damned shadow beast and roar it out of existence. I think I’m entitled to a bit of panic.”
Well,” he mused, “it was dramatic. Another second and you would’ve become the next verse of my favorite nursery rhyme.”
Sorcha’s breath was still ragged as she stared at him. “What?”
His silver eyes gleamed as his voice dipped into a lilting sing song. “Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.”
Rhosyn stifled a breath, brushing soot from her sleeve. “Charming.”
“You’re welcome, by the way,” Cat added, flashing a lazy grin before stepping back. Sorcha swallowed, still feeling the remnants of her magic buzzing beneath her skin. She turned to Cat, her voice quieter. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Cat tilted his head, as if genuinely considering. “I could have,” he mused. “But where’s the fun in that?”
Sorcha gave him a deadpan look. “Fun? I nearly burned Rhosyn alive.”
“Yes, and it was terrifying. You should be proud,” he said smoothly, then yawned. “Besides, I did stop you. So technically, no harm done.”
Rhosyn, who still looked a little winded, eyed Cat again. “So that is what you are. A Cait Sídhe. And a powerful one, if I had to guess.”
Cat’s eyes gleamed. “TheCait Sídhe, darling,” he corrected smoothly, his voice silk and shadow. “And you haven’t even seen the half of it.”
None of them had ever truly questioned what Cat was capable of. He had always been clever and knowing. But this?
Cat stretched, flicking his tail, and turned away. his usual casual demeanor sliding back into place like a well-worn mask.
Rhosyn exhaled, rubbing her temples. “Right. Well. That was horrifying. But also… effective.”
She turned back to Sorcha. “Your power is raw, but I can teach you to control it. No more accidental summoning of light serpents with a god complex, alright?”
Sorcha huffed a laugh, shaking off her lingering unease. “No promises.”
Rhosyn rolled her eyes. “God’s help us all.”
