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"What if it does?"

I crouch so we're eye level.

"Listen to me."

He does.

"The thing inside us isn't who we are."

I tap his chest lightly.

"This is."

He looks uncertain.

"But what if I lose control?"

"You won't."

"How do you know?"

Because I spent years afraid of the same thing. Because I have hurt myself trying not to hurt others. Because I know what it feels like to believe you're dangerous.

Instead, I say:

"Because you care."

He doesn't understand. Yet.

"People who don't care about losing control don't worry about it."

That lands. He looks away.

Carys watches silently. Then:

"What happens when you shift?"

I stand.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Control."

"That's a convenient answer."

"It's the true one."

She looks toward Sayer.

"And what are we doing today?"

"Teaching him to trust what he already knows."

I turn back to him.

"Again."