Page 103 of Shaped By Discovery

I can see him tiring with every swing and step as we circle around the ring. Finally, I’ve had enough and take pity on him. Spinning, I kick him hard in the side, and he goes down, but I knew he wouldn’t stay down. He pushes back up, his eyes blazing as fur begins to sprout from his arms. He’s losing his grip, but he quickly shakes it off, pushing his beast down.

It’s a bad choice. He should have leaned into it instead of away.

Before he can get to his feet again, I strike again, slamming my knee into his face hard. I feel his nose give and hear the crunch of it breaking a moment before the blood warms my knee, and I pull back.

Still, he doesn’t stop. He pushes up, spitting out a mouth full of blood that’s steadily running into his mouth.

Gross.

“Had enough?” I ask, even though I already know his answer.

He doesn’t respond, instead lifting his arms and calling fire. Judging by the look on his face, this is the first time he’s done this as well. He seems shocked that it worked, but sadly, it won’t help him. Of the four main elements, fire is my main, the one I’m strongest with and being a fire wyvern also gives me the ability to withstand the heat without needing to fight against it.

Something I take advantage of him not knowing.

The flames divide us, but even with them, I can see him and the look of triumph on his face as he stares through them.

I dive through them, catching him around the waist, and we go down to the mat. The second his back is on the ground, he shifts. I’m not sure if it was by choice or a reaction to his anger, but one second I’m holding him down, and the next, I’m damn near riding him.

There's no way I can hold him like this, but that’s fine; I don’t need to. I leap off of him, landing above his head, dropping down to my knees, and letting the shift take over just my hand. In the blink of an eye, my hand morphs into my beast, a giant claw that cages him in, digging my claws into the ground.

“We can do this all day, Lyle,” I tell him, keeping my voice low so that only he can hear me. “But we both know this isn’t really about me. You have to share her, and I didn’t do that. Fate decided it. We can’t fight fate, but you’re welcome to try.”

He doesn’t say anything, instead staring up at me as he heaves heavy breaths either from our fight or what I’m saying.

“Just know that most of those who try to end up facing the consequences.”My mind goes to my grandfather, who fought against the future my mother saw and how much the kingdom lost of it. This isn't exactly the same, but it could be.

With that, I release him, standing and stepping around him.

I half expect him to keep going, so when he stays down, I hesitate momentarily, unsure if I should say more or not.

Fuck it, might as well.

“I’m not a fucking pigeon,” I tell him before leaning down to offer him my hand the same way I had with each of the others.

He stares at my hand for a moment, and I debate pulling back. Right before I do, he shifts back and slaps his hand into mine. I pull him up and he gives me a nod before stalking off right to Rena, who throws herself into his arms while giving him an earful.

It’s not friendship, not even close, but it’s more than before, and for now, I’ll take it.

Serena used to be able to use her shadows to mimic Garrett’s shift. I’d had a hard time imagining it, and in the end, Garrett showed me. As crazy as it might sound, there’s no way to deny that. Now, it’s as if she’s starting all over; her shadows are here, ready to be called on, but it’s almost as if they are out of tune with her.

She works with them daily with whoever she can or even alone. At first, she spent most of her time with the queen. Serena hoped that she might be able to offer more information about her shadows, but even she couldn’t help. Her beast has yet to return, and the only reason we can think that might be is the shadows. Before, she had her beast and not her shadows; here, it seems to be the opposite.

With every passing day, Serena becomes more frustrated. We all want to help her, but we can’t, and that has tensions running higher than before. Add in the threat of Draven, training, and Serena’s bonds, and I’m surprised Lyle hasn’t gone off the deep end already.

“So you used to mimic his shift. How did you figure out you could do that?” I ask.

We’re sitting in the library, looking through the endless sea of books in hopes of finding something that might lead us to answers. The queen has gone through most of the materials herself, but not all of it. Apparently, running a kingdom doesn’t leave much time for leisure reading. She also read them in search of information regarding Salona and healing, not for information about lost beasts and shadows.

It’s a long shot, but it’s something, and that’s enough for Serena, so it’s enough for us.

“I’m not sure, honestly,” she sighs, closing the book she’d been searching through.

“We were young, and it’s a bit foggy. I just remember wishing I had wings like him, and then I did. But I can’t tell you what we were doing, and even after that first time, it wasn’t a sure thing I could do it.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, and dropping her head into her hands, fisting her fingers in her hair.

I’ve never seen her look so defeated. Serena has always been strong, almost larger than life, even when the world beat her down. She said she found comfort in us, but I think we found guidance in her. Even that first night we met, burned and crying alone in the hallway after what Harlow did, the fire in her eyes was bright. It pulled me in like I was a moth to the flame, and I’ve been trapped ever since, happy to burn if it meant being close to her.

“Was there a sure way? Were you able to make the shift happen on command, eventually?” The question seems silly. Obviously, if there were, I’m sure she would have tried it already, but I need more information. I keep feeling like we’re missing something.

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