Page 45 of Into the Dawn
“Wow. Could he be my mate?” Layla whispered hopefully.
“Sorry, young one. I am Silas, God of the Sun, and I am already mated to the Goddess of the Moons.”
Layla grinned as she shrugged. “Oh, well. She’s one lucky goddess.”
The massive male threw his head back and laughed. “Actually, I am the lucky one.” Turning back to Kylie, he said, “I am glad to see you are fully healed.”
“Thank you for the magical tonic and for sending my mates to me.”
“You are welcome. I am glad to see that you convinced your friend to join you here.”
“Thanks for the invite?” Layla said it more like a question than a statement, making him grin.
“Although you do not sound convinced yet, I am sure you will end up being happy here. And if your mates ever cause you any distress, they will have to deal with me.”
“Do you know who they are yet?” Layla asked.
“Nay. We do not. You will have to wait to find that out.”
Layla shrugged. “Well, at least I have a place to stay in the meantime.”
“My home is your home, bestie,” Kylie said.
“You seem like a fun pair. I cannot wait to see the havoc you wreak once you get settled in. Even better, when the two of you meet up with Raven and Allie,” Silas said mentioning the other two former human females who had been brought to Arcadia. “Now, down to business. The young ones are in trouble. Your mates will be as well since they are walking into a trap.”
“Can you help them?” Kylie asked.
The Sun God shook his head. “I used up too much energy sending your mates to Earth and bringing you back here. But you can save them if you shift.”
“I tried, but it didn’t work. You said I was doing it wrong?”
“You were thinking about becoming a different creature. Your dragon spirit is a part of you, not a separate entity. You just need to embrace that part of yourself to bring upon the change. Now, close your eyes and try again.”
Following his instructions, Kylie closed her eyes. She was the dragon, she repeated to herself. Her dragon spirit was just another part of herself, just like the part of her she called on toperform in front of thousands of people. It was just another facet of herself that she needed to tap into.
Initially, there was nothing but silence and stillness. Then, without warning, an excruciating pain tore through her as the transformation started. A dazzling light exploded behind her closed eyes, and it felt as though her entire body was being crushed in a relentless vice, making it nearly impossible to draw breath. Summoning all her willpower, she forced herself to relax, surrendering to the inevitable change. She welcomed the surge of magic from her dragon spirit, allowing it to flow through her veins.
Rather than overwhelming her, pure energy surged through her, infusing every fiber of her being with immense power. Her dragon spirit, ancient and wise, began as a small spark within her. That spark grew and expanded, spreading its radiant energy and light until it permeated every cell in her body. The transformation was profound, elevating her to a state of existence far beyond anything she had ever known before.
She felt more powerful and complete than she had ever been, as the essence of the dragon spirit became an integral part of her very soul. The spirit of the beast was timeless, without a beginning or an end. It was a fusion of wisdom and raw strength, an untapped reservoir of power that elevated Kylie beyond her wildest dreams.
The magic flowed through her, transforming her into a being that was one with the very essence of the land she stood upon. She could feel the heartbeat of Arcadia pulsing through her veins, and she instinctively sensed the life force of every living creature within miles.
When the light faded, Kylie looked out at the world with new clarity. She saw everything, felt everything. In her dragon form, she was a guardian and defender of the land. Arcadia was her home now, and the people who lived there were hers to protect.
Shedding her human self, she had evolved.
She was now Kylie Karos, Dragon Warrior and Princess of the Western Forest.
And someone was daring to threaten her mates.
“Holy shit, Kylie,” Layla breathed out. “You’re a dragon. You’re a really, really freaking big dragon with red scales and glowing green eyes.”
Kylie’s large head swiveled until she was looking at her friend. Layla looked tiny compared to her much larger form. When she glanced down at herself, she confirmed that her dragon form had blazing red scales that had a golden sheen to them. Strange, yet the color seemed fitting.
“Can you hear me?”
Layla winced. “Yes, very well. It’s good to know you can still talk in this form, but you are projecting loud enough to make my ears ring.”
