10. Sebastian

"You said Jewel has never been on a real rollercoaster." Gemma and I are riding the private elevator on our way to Jewel"s room for breakfast. "What if we take her on one?"

I picture Rare Jewel"s face lighting up with glee but Gemma shakes her head sadly.

"The doctors won't allow it." She sighs wistfully. "The Wish Foundation offered to fulfill Jewel's dream and foot the bill for a visit to Funland Park so she could ride the Dragonback Coaster. But Jewel's doctors think the trip will exacerbate her condition too much."

Dragonback rollercoaster?

I perk up at that, the wheels in my head spinning. We can't take Rare Jewel to a rollercoaster, but we can bring a rollercoaster to her. Oh, yeah, it's on.

"Why do I get the feeling you have something up your sleeve?" Gemma side-eyes me as we enter Jewel"s room.

"Who me?" I give her my best faux-innocent look and press a hand to my chest in mock affront. "You wound me, truly." Gemma just rolls her eyes.

After a lively breakfast filled with more rollercoaster trivia than I can absorb before coffee—seriously, this kid is a pint-sized theme park encyclopedia—I catch Gemma's gaze.

"Do you trust me?" I ask, my eyes searching hers intently.

She hesitates a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "I want to," she says slowly. "But you have to admit, you"re kind of a wild card, Sebastian, always springing surprises on me."

Oh, boy, she ain't seen nothin' yet.

I grin, unrepentant. "I promise, I would never do anything to put you or Jewel in danger. You have my solemn word on that."

Gemma studies me a long moment before finally nodding. "Okay. I trust you."

"Excellent!" I clap my hands together and scoop my little Rare Jewel up from her bed. "We're going on an adventure, ladies."

Fifteen minutes later, the three of us are standing on the hospital roof, a pair of XXL scrubs at my feet. I "borrowed" them from a supply closet. For reasons.

"Seriously, Sebastian, what is going on?" Gemma demands, hands on her hips. Jewel just looks on with avid curiosity, her eyes bright and eager.

"Alright, before we get this party started, I need you both to understand that what you"re about to witness is one hundred percent safe, okay? I would never let any harm come to my best girls. That"s a Seb guarantee." I thump my chest for emphasis, ignoring the skeptical eyebrow Gemma aims my way.

"Sebastian, I swear to all that is holy, if you don"t tell me what"s going on in that scheming head of yours..." Gemma fixes me with a look that could melt steel beams.

Meanwhile, Jewel bounces on the balls of her feet. At least someone appreciates my flair for the dramatic.

I hold up my hands. "Remember, no matter what you see, you"re totally secure with me." They both nod, a current of electric anticipation zinging between the three of us. Gemma still looks dubious. That"s okay. Trust will come with time.

Without further ado, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, reaching for that ancient, primal magic that thrums through my veins. With a shuddering exhale, I release it, feeling the change ripple through me like a tidal wave.

My skin prickles and shifts, hardening into glistening scales the color of obsidian. Bones pop and realign as my body lengthens and expands, growing to enormous proportions. Leathery wings unfurl from my back with a mighty whoosh, spanning an impressive fifty feet from tip to tip.

The tattered remains of my clothes flutter to the ground. Usually, I remove my clothes before I shift, but with Jewel here… well, letting the kiddo see my dragon burst my seams and shred my clothes to ribbons just adds to the effect.

When the shift is complete, I rear back on my hind legs and let loose a blast of flames that shoots to the heavens. Behold, the magnificent beast in all his glory!

Realizing I might have overplayed, I lower my great horned head to peek at Gemma and Jewel, hoping I haven"t scared the living daylights out of them. To my immense relief and delight, Jewel is practically vibrating with glee, her eyes wide as saucers.

"A dragon, mommy!" she squeals, clapping her hands. "Daddy Sebby is a dragon!"

I preen a little at that. Damn straight, kid. Your new dad is a badass motherf?—

Uh-oh. Gemma looks like she might pass out. Or run for dear life.