Page 27 of The Power of a Myth

“What?”

She pointed her walking stick up at Hayden as he roared again. “Meet the man I fell in love with in Vietnam. He died and was reborn for this moment, and I won’t stop him.” ”

“This is the man you lost?”

“Yes,” she replied. “

“Get us out of here,” Nuka’s grandfather shouted at Ciaran, but it was too late.

Hayden directed his head toward Samuel who was throwing firebombs at him. Molly watched as Hayden inhaled and then expelled a large blast of fire toward Samuel. Nuka, Ciaran, and his grandfather disappeared into thin air, but Samuel couldn’t. He was no longer alive. Hayden had burned him to a pile of ash with his dragon fire.

The magical barrier of protection around Molly disintegrated when Jessica realized the time for worry was over. They may not have destroyed Nuka, but they’d struck another fearsome blow against him.

Hayden roared into the air. His wings flapped, and he lifted up from the ground as the sirens grew louder.

“Change back,” Ethern shouted out. “We need to find Selene. She should be in the multi-shifters’ cave.”

Hayden landed on the ground. He shut his eyes and grunted. Molly could tell he was trying to change back, but the enormity of what he’d become was preventing it. The power of his dragon was colossal. It was fearsome and stronger than any of the shifters present.

“Shit!” Ethern exclaimed.

“What is it?” Molly questioned the man who was previously a multi-shifter.

“There isn’t time to explain, but he can’t change back. He’s rarely transformed into a full dragon because it’s too hard to control. I fear the emotion and killing Samuel has left him unable to control the power. Jessica, we need you to teleport us all out of here.”

The witch stepped forward, but Molly put her arm out to stop her.

“Wait.” Molly used her walking stick to get closer to Hayden. She stood beneath his head and looked up at him. He sat down on the ground and curled his body around her.

“This beats my secret. You just had to get one up on me.” She laughed at him. His bright green eyes looked down on her with great sadness. “You’ve just come back to me. Destiny be damned, Hayden, you fight this like the strong man I know you are. Please.”

She reached out and placed her hand on the tip of the dragon’s nose. She felt the heat of its breath against her palm.

“I never stopped loving you. Please, Hayden, I need you.”

A lone tear tumbled down her cheek. She felt like all she did at the moment was cry. Her emotions were all over the place.

“Please,” she repeated.

Hayden shut his eyes again, and she watched as slowly he returned to his human form.

“It really is you.” She stared up at him.

He pulled her close to him, and she welcomed the feel of being in his arms after so many years of longing.

“We need to go.” Ethern touched her shoulder.

“Molly’s coming with us,” Hayden demanded.

She looked up to where Ethern was standing, and he nodded. “No longer will we keep the two of you apart.”

Brayden walked over to them. “If Selene is where you’re going, then I’m coming as well.”

Brayden held out one of his hands to Hayden to shake. Hayden let go of his full embrace of Molly and started to back away, but Jessica held up her hand to stop him.

“It’s all right, Hayden. It’s safe. Not only did I cast a spell to prevent you and other multi-shifters learning my power, but I’ve also given you the ability to touch again without fear of losing control of your dragon.”

Hayden now offered his hand to Brayden who took it in his. The multi-shifter didn’t feel the power of a snow leopard going through him. Hayden looked over at Jessica and she winked at him.

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