Page 42 of Shifter's Dream

Khain opened his hand and displayed what was in it for Grey to see. The booted wolf and the angel on the other side. Khain had gotten stronger. He could hold the pendant now.

Grey did not move to take it. Khain didn’t want him to. Khain would belt him across the room for taking it before Khain was ready. Grey kept his eye-roll to himself. Working with megalomaniacs was so tiring.

He did inspect it carefully though. It had been… melted a little. Twisted ever so slightly, so that it curved around its very bottom, which had been made into a point. Khain undulated his hand and the pendant rolled slightly, letting Grey get a good look at how sharp that point really was.

“Touch it,wolf,” the demon said.

Grey only stared.

The demon laughed at him.

Grey lifted his chin at Rex. “That was a pretty good evil laugh he’s got, are you taking notes? I notice you don’t have one yet.”

Rex moved in close to clout him in the back of the head. Grey stiffened, taking it like a wolf, barely moving. He shook his head ever so slightly.Bad fucking idea, Rexie. Don’t you know we’re going to be working together soon? Better watch your back.

“Bind it,” Khain said.

Rex moved in quickly, pulling what looked like a very long knife from a pocket. He got in between Grey and Khain, bending over the pendant in Khain’s hand, working in short, tight movements. When he moved out of the way, the pendant had been fastened to the end of what was a very fancy ceremonial knife.

“I should do it,” Rex said from the side, with a sniveling tone that told Grey that Rex would rather be licking Khain’s boots than dealing with this pesky angel-killing business. “What if all of this is a trick?”

Grey shook his head. “No trick.” It was on the tip of his tongue to say the rest of it.But you, demon, should be the one to kill the angel, then you will be as powerful as he is.

He didn’t say it. He stayed quiet. When Khain jabbed the pendant in his direction, Grey took it.

With no warning, not even a, “stand back,” Khain grew himself to massive proportions, the castle swelling with him to allow his new size. Grey’s stomach swayed with what his brain hoped was an optical illusion.Whoa, that could take some getting used to. Grey moved closer to the circular cell where Azer was being held, kept his eyes down, and waited for what came next.

“You, and you,” he said to Rex and Soren, “And all of you,” he said tofoxenwho were appearing from cracks in the walls and hidden hallways. “Prepare yourselves.”

Grey readied himself to fight if he had to, not knowing what he would do.

I won’t do it,he told Azer.

You must, came the reply.

I don’t want to.

You must.

Khain waved a massive hand between him and the smooth enclosure Azer was being held in. When the hand moved away, a doorway had appeared.

Grey peered inside.

I’m ready, Azer pulsed in light waves.Do it. It’s never too late to take the right path, Grey, even when your past sins are unforgivable. Every day is a new day and a new chance to choose.

Grey rolled his eyes.Don’t you remember? I’m unredeemable.

He bolted forward and sliced the pendant through the light, unable to help himself from whispering,“bye”to his only friend in the world.

Thank you. I love you, was the message that came in response, breaking Grey’s heart just a little, surprising him. The light coalesced into one brilliant point that Grey could not stand to be near. He tried to run, but he fell over onto the ground and curled up instead, protecting his belly and balls.

Power swarmed and swelled. Azer’s power, Azer’sbeing, expanded exponentially, and Grey felt the ability the demon coveted rush over the top of him.

The demon took in a breath and made a guttural cry, then doubled over, fire covering him. He twisted, then stood abruptly, shaking himself like a dog, sparks flying.

Grey shook his head, unable to believe it.Azer, you big dummy, why did you give it to him anyway?He’d thought for sure the angel would go back on his word. There was noreasonfor him to give Khain that ability.

Stillness and silence fell onto all of them. Grey tried to catch his breath on the floor where he’d fallen. That had been … something.

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