Page 25 of Leif

“This is so interesting. Who knows?” She ran both hands down my neck and stared up at me.

I shifted back, and she jumped away. “It’s a secret. You’re one of very few humans that know.”

“Are you the only one?”

I lifted both shoulders. “I’m not at liberty to betray anyone.”

“I’m one too!”

We both glanced over in time to see Hitch shift into a black and gray dragon. I could see the stunned look in her eyes and knew it hadn’t even occurred to her.

He shifted back and began to talk. “Did he tell you about our talents?”

“Talents?” she glanced at me, and he got a hangdog look on his face.

“Sorry. I’ll go.” With that, he took off back toward the house, leaving me with a very curious Mel studying me.

Thanks, kid.

13

Mel

He was a freaking dragon.

That was not at all the kind of secret I was expecting. And it didn’t explain what had happened to me with the gun going through me. There had to be more to it.

I stared at him, noticing that his golden eyes stayed the same no matter what form he took. Those incredible eyes were a constant. They didn’t change.

That was the only reason I didn’t try to stab the monster. Seeing him become a dragon was terrifying, but his eyes were they eyes of the man I’d fallen in love with. I didn’t have time to analyze the revelation. Yes, I was in love.

His golden color, though… he was beautiful. Like a sunrise, all gold and incredible.

I glanced over my shoulder, where Hitch had taken off toward the house, then glanced at Leif. It was strange to see the teen turn. He was a black and gray dragon with gray eyes; totally different than Leif. Which only made me more curious. Were there more colors? What was the difference? I had so many questions.

And Hitch had said something about talents, and I was curious if that was the last part of this that still didn’t make sense. Because I hadn’t figured out howI’m a dragonwas connected the moment I became a ghost.

“So, there are talents?” I studied Leif, and he gave a nod, his handsome face turning toward where Hitch had disappeared to. I could see the bitterness mixed with warmth in his features.

“Yeah. I can make people intangible. Or step into limbo.”

“That’s why the first shot missed, and why the second guy put the gun through me like I was a ghost.” It seemed impossible. All of it. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have thought it was all a bad, sick joke. Or that I was losing my mind. Heck, maybe I had lost my mind. Maybe I’d been shot after all, and this was the afterlife. Maybe I was dead, and this was all the last few flashes I’d have before eternal darkness.

He nodded.

“Show me again.” I held an arm out to him, then realized maybe he didn’t need to touch me to do it. But I wanted him to touch me. I wanted the comfort of contact.

He took my wrist, his large fingers closing around me without effort. Suddenly, his hand went right through me, and I reached out to touch him, but didn’t make contact. It was as if I was standing before him as a ghost.

“So, what do you mean limbo?” I asked.

He pulled me into his arms, and suddenly the world inverted. All the light became darkness outlined with light.

I jerked away and stared where he’d been, but I was alone in the woods. Underfoot, the soft mosses muted the sound of my footsteps as I backed up.

He reappeared in front of me, and I jolted.

“Limbo makes us invisible as long as we’re there, but there are limitations.” He spread his hands, and I moved into his arms.

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