Caliel’s voice was weak, but I experienced a rush of relief. And he was right.Are you up for changing me to equine?I asked.
Of course.His tone indicated he was offended I had to ask.
Cas took over the narrative. “Obviously, teams that have Dragons or Gryphons as members will have an advantage, one we have done our best to mitigate. They will be flying a much longer course that we have marked for them.” He looked at Riley. “And absolutely no Jumping.” She snorted a laugh, and Cas continued. “We have also accommodated those that prefer to swim. They can shift form and enter the lake—but they will have to stick to the marked course, and they will be required to swim it twice before meeting up with the remainder of their team at the end. The start and finish lines will be the same, and the entire team must cross it to qualify.”
Eli jumped in. “So the first step is for you to strategize as a team. Can your beast teammates carry other team members? If so, how many? What will move you forward most efficiently?”
“We will give you fifteen minutes to get organized,” Cas stated. “Then the teams will be launched in the usual sequence, and timed.”
The crowd of students broke up into their groups. Team Dragon crowded together.
“I will run best as I am,” Sid stated.
After seeing his beast in action, I had to agree. It didn’t look as though it took direction easily. He was better off as a human.
“I can fly in my Faerie form.” Adilyn looked pleased at the thought.
“Or you can ride on my shoulder,” Sid suggested.
To my shock, the Faerie actually smiled at him. Sid’s eyes glowed yellow. It seemed romance might actually be in the air.
Or maybe it was just wildflower perfume. I wasn’t a very good judge.
“What is your carrying capacity as a Gryphon?” Riggs asked me.
At the present moment, not much.Caliel responded, sounding tired but marginally more engaged in the task.
“Apparently, I’m not much use as a winged ride,” I said.
“Nar and Leah will prefer to swim?” Riggs looked at them, and they both nodded vigorously. “That leaves me as a rider if we use your equine form, Breana.”
Leah grinned and traded a glance with Nar. “Do we want to swim, or ride?”
Somehow, coming from the Selkie, even innocent comments sounded not so innocent. Perhaps it was the way Nar’s eyebrows waggled.
Riggs pushed past it to sum it all up. “So our resident sea people swim for it. Breana’s equine form carries me, unless Sid wants to have a go, and Adilyn’s Faerie can hitch a ride on Sid.”
Sid grinned and said, “I’ll run. You can ride.”
“Lucky bastard,” Nar commented.
“Okay, Shades,” Cas called. “Wrap it up. We need Team Manticore at the start line.”
Caliel managed a Houdini move of keeping scales and feathers in their place, hiding assets as he changed me to equine.
Nar pulled a face. “C’mon, Bree. Showing alittleskin wouldn’t hurt.”
I ignored him as my internal guide pushed the equine forward. I tried not to notice that he still seemed weak as he didso, but my gut twisted, just a little, as my body writhed its way to equine.
It hurt, but I now expected the pain. And then Caliel’s guidance faltered.
I sensed his sudden drop in both focus and energy, and the transformation halted. Pain radiated through me, and there came a pulse of panic—his and my own.
I desperately envisioned what needed to happen…
“Are you okay?” Riggs stepped close, and placed a strong hand against my shoulder. It brought with it a boost of energy, and to my surprise, it worked.
I rose on four strong legs. But my concern was for Caliel. Before I could voice it, he cut me off.
