Page 44 of Outshone

“Often times it happens and we do get worried and check in with her, so it’s a good idea to let him know,” Deryn said.

“I think they’re just over protective and nosy,” Jolie muttered. “Still, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a heads up.”

“I’ll text him,” Triston said. “Since your hands are … well, not hands.”

I flexed my hands and large claws slid out. “Whoa,” I breathed. “These could do some serious shredding.”

“Can you purr?” Jolie asked. “I bet you would sound super cute purring.”

“She can purr,” Triston said with a nod, his head down as he typed on his phone.

“What?” I asked.

“You’ve purred a few times, before with the connection we had, and at night when you’re sleeping now.”

“Is it adorable?” Jolie asked.

Triston smiled and nodded. “It is.”

“Anyway,” I said drawing the word out and distracting them.

“Okay, you’re good to go,” Triston said after his phone pinged with a message.

“Should I shift back to human or –”

“No, try it now. I’m curious what your body will automatically change on you.” Nico cupped his chin as he watched me, clearly curious and excited.

I tried again, this time focusing on Branson’s bond. As I drew on his powers, there was an odd poof sound and everyone gasped.

Opening my eyes, I looked down to see I was covered in brown bear fur. I still had Triston’s tiger paws, which were his brown color, and when glancing over my shoulder, confirmed I still had my white rabbit tail. Reaching up, I felt atop my head for ears and felt my long, rabbit ears.

“Well, that’s certainly … interesting,” Jolie commented.

“What form would she get from Caleb?” Triston asked.

“He can take both wolf and dragon forms,” Nico answered. “Though, he prefers the wolf.”

“As he should,” Deryn boasted.

“He doesn’t have an elf animal form?” I asked Fox.

Fox shook his head. “Nope.”

“So, I should be able to shift into a wolf or dragon, too?” If I tried all of their powers at once, what would I shift into? “Okay, new experiment,” I said and reverted back to my base human form.

“What are you going to do?” Rhys asked with a frown.

Closing my eyes, I imagined grabbing all four bonds at once and let my body shift.

“What the fu—” Deryn gasped, but grunted a second later.

Opening my eyes, I found I was taller than all of them, and could see much better. Colors were more vivid and I could hear sounds better.

Triston’s mouth hung open as he stared at me, lifted his phone, and snapped a picture.

“Let me see,” I said, then covered my mouth as my voice had deepened and there was an odd growl to it. Moving my hands back a bit, I saw they were once again tiger’s paws and there was brown bear fur along my arms.

“You are slightly frightening,” Jolie admitted as she walked closer to me.

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