7. Caliel

7

Caliel

I did my best to alleviate my worry as I sang to Bree.

After she had finally slipped deeper asleep, I was able to focus on what tormented me. Because we were contemplating doing something no healer would ever condone.

There was no guarantee that his idea would even work. Isobel had chosen Centaurs for her super-shifter mission for a reason—eons ago, when they had been shapeshifters, they'd possessed an innate ability to embrace partial changes. They had spent their time not only as humans, or as equines, but they had combined the two forms to develop the creature we knew today.

Even though it had been many generations since they had been shapeshifters, Isobel had theorized that their unique ability to alter only parts of their bodies, and hold them to that shape for as long as they wished, would enable them to take on other forms too.

She may have been a Bloodwitch and inherently evil, but she had also been right. The unique Centaur physiology enabled them to take what Isobel implanted, and then use it. Including me.

Another form, even if it was a shifter, would not be capable of housing more than one life essence within it.

It would have to be dead for me to inhabit it. But even if I were successful—right now, I could use Bree's talent to shift to Gryphon. Transferring to another would mean I would never again feel the whistle of wind through my feathers…

But Bree needed me to do this.

It isn't just Bree's honor that is in deadly danger. Riggs's voice dropped, unwelcome, into my reverie. I had assumed the man would be resting, and it sounded as if he needed to. Even his mindvoice dripped with exhaustion.

I know, I responded. Bree's life only had value until she had produced what Victor wished.

Unless he plans to repeat the breedings. Rage permeated Riggs's words. To treat her like that, and create an army of Drakes… the man is a monster.

To what end? My mind raced. He already has the demon spawn, and Finn. Why does Victor need the Drakes?

I do not know. His frustration carried through the words. If I ever knew anything about the Drakes, that knowledge is gone, Riggs said.

I dredged up what I remembered. They were supposed to be extinct. They were wiped from the realms by the Dragons after the Dragon-Torshin war, well over a thousand years ago.

He hesitated. I wondered if he remembered any of his Dragon shifter history. They were on the Torshin side? he asked.

Yes. The Torshin created them by magically blending biology with Elementals.

I sensed Riggs's confusion. But is Victor that paranoid, that he needs more Drakes on top of the Trinity? He's already one of the most powerful underlords out there. Why does he need them?

I did not know. But it bothered me, because something told me that the answer was an important piece of all this.

I can ask Cara, Riggs suggested. She might have some ideas.

My stomach twisted. Ask Rafael.

Rafael?

I struggled to hide my hostility. He was with Isobel when they created their supershifters from the Centaurs. He might know what Isobel had planned for Victor and the Drakes.

Very well. I will ask him. Riggs sighed along the link. All we can do, is try to stop the mess this is becoming. We need that proof. And we need Breana out of there. You are the only one in a position to accomplish either.

It was amazing how, even though I did not have a body, I still experienced the sensation of ice traveling down my spine.

If you still had the sword— I hedged.

But I don't. The two-faced traitor does. So there is no sense in debating what is lost to us. His anger blasted along the link, and Bree stirred in her sleep.

Stop it. She needs rest, I snarled .

What she needs is for you to step up, he retorted. Because I can't help her from here.

I mentally recoiled. Not just because I did not want to hear it.

But because he was right.