Page 73 of The Magic of Betrayal
Bram had a point. A very good point, but he still shouldn't have gone about it the way he had. We could have had a discussion, like normal people. You don't just grab someone and disappear with them to another realm.
My breathing slowed, returning to normal, and I was surprised when I realized that my wings were weightless. If I hadn't seen them with my own eyes, I wouldn't have noticed they were there at all. The back of my nightgown was shredded, the front of it wasn't much better from the force of my shift. I may have horns, but at least my tits were covered.
Finding the courage inside, I lifted my hands and felt the sharp little points on my head, just peeking out from my hairline. They were only about an inch long, and Bram's were more like four.
"I think I want to see what I look like," I murmured, thinking that maybe seeing my new form would help me wrap my head around everything.
"Let's get you cleaned up first and then I'll tell you everything you need to know and answer all of your questions. I know you have them," Bram joked, smiling shyly at me now, his cheeks red.
The fuck is he blushing about?
"Okay. But can you wash my hair like last time?"
Bram belly laughed and got to work.
Afterward, he left me in the bathroom and I’d been standing in front of a full length mirror for the past twenty minutes. Every time I thought I’d stared long enough, I stared some more. I was never going to get used to this. My wings moved with ease— if I thought it, they responded. The same was mostly true for my tail, though it seemed to have more of it’s own mind. It was the same color as my wings, a sea foam green color with silver markings that almost looked like outlines of scales. My eyes fluttered shut and I searched for my anchor.
His purring calmed my racing heart. Baggie’s yellow eyes flashed as he moved closer to me in my mind.
‘I’m different, Baggie. So different.’
The big cat shook his head, like he was disagreeing.
‘Can’t you see my horns? The wings and tail?’I asked, spinning in my mind so he could see.
‘Still ours, Cub,’he assured me, and I was still not processing how I was able to communicate with a panther in my head.
Just accept it, Saige. Stranger things have happened.That’s what I told myself. It’s what I had to tell myself to avoid some kind of psychotic break.
‘You shouldn’t abandon Kai, Baggie. Go back to him. I’m fine.’
Baggie sat his huge ass down and his tail flicked behind him.
‘Don’t be stubborn. Please, I’m sure he’s struggling. I know he is. I can feel him sometimes. Take care of him, Bagheera. Go.’
He padded over to me and bumped his huge face against my stomach, my hands sank into his soft dark fur. The volume of his purring raised goosebumps on my skin.
‘Thank you, my dark knight. Take care of him.’
Blinking, I felt Baggie’s presence fade from my mind and while it hurt, I felt better knowing Kai would have him. Sure, I was still hurt and pissed, but I wasn’t heartless.
Staring back at myself in the mirror, my waist actually looked a bit thinner, probably from hardly eating the past several days, but my hips were still large and in charge. Leaning closer to the mirror, I eyed my little horns and tentatively felt them. After almost cutting a finger, I realized real quick that they were quite sharp. I really needed to go get dressed, Bram was going to teach me a whole bunch of demon stuff this afternoon and for the first time since I arrived here, I actually felt excited about something. There was no changing this, it was who I was. Now I just needed to know what all I was capable of.
* * *
"First rule of Demon Fight Club?"Bram smirked, flexing his muscles and I rolled my eyes.
He'd jumped us out to the pine forest, we were in a clearing that gave plenty of room for whatever he had planned. He was still staring at me and I realized he actually wanted an answer. Of course he did.
"Uh, we don't talk about Demon Fight Club?" I guessed, distracted by my tail that kept winding around my leg.
Bram chuckled. "Good guess, but that is not correct. First rule is, always wear comfortable clothing." He snapped his fingers and I gasped as I took in his new look. Knee high purple socks, a pair of Nikes, really fucking short neon orange shorts, and no shirt. Oh, and of course, he had a fucking orange sweatband over his forehead.
"What in the name of moon beams are you wearing?" I laughed, and he grinned, striking a pose.
"Not to fear, dear warrior woman. We can be matching, all you had to do was ask!" He snapped his fingers before I could shout at him and then I too was wearing the same shoes, socks, and shorts. At least he'd given me a sports bra.
"Bram Winston Carlisle," I scolded. "Shirt. Now."
