Page 2 of Lyric

“Ringing?”

A nod.

“That’s probably just the heat, too. But when you shift back we’ll make an appointment to talk. I’ll run a few simple tests. Gotta keep you in shape if you’re going to keep winning the gold at all these races.”

I smiled with all my teeth showing again. Lyrican did not usually smile unless I forced it, which I often did. We had an image to maintain. Always upbeat. No complaining. This was my career. I’d made a fortune off it, plus I was still young. I had more races ahead of me and enjoyed the high that came from it, as well. It was what I was good at. I never wanted to stop.

After the treatment, I stayed in dragon form and flew out to the forest to my private roost. It was peaceful and cool out there. I loved being a dragon. Though I had a fine house and all the modern amenities, I spent a lot of time in my dragon form. I wanted for nothing as a human, but as a dragon I was somehow freer, more at peace.

From my high nest in my favorite tree, I stared at the night sky for hours imagining myself flying through the stars, thefastest alpha dragon in the world, before falling asleep curled up, comfortable and un-bothered by the demands of humans.

I slept for hours on into the next day. I left my roost only for river water and a fish or two. I wasn’t too hungry. I slept some more, nuzzling my snout into soft leaves and moss.

Night came again.

My agent, Tolen, was used to my routines. He didn’t bother me much about them, but the longer I stayed out, the more messages there would be on my phone. People always wanted to interview winners. News shows, talk shows… everyone wanted comments. Or promotional ads. From me.

Other than racing, I pretty much lived a boring life. And I’d said just about everything I could about racing and how it felt over the years. But people wanted new appearances, new sound bytes.

Tolen wanted me to write a book. Offers came for movies, even though I didn’t know a thing about acting.

It was all a lot of noise, and I stayed at my dragon roost as often as I could for as long as I could. Until the next race.

This time, I slept a lot. I had gone all out for this race. My competition was excellent. Some of them had beaten me in the past. I still held the record for most wins, though.

But this race had cost me. I’d stretched myself far in the summer heat and the distance of this race, which was longer than I was used to.

After two days on my roost, my wing joints still hurt. I was recovering in my way, my beast’s way. Good sleep and fresh air.

My beast spoke very little after a race, if at all. But days later, when I shifted back to my human form he let himself be known. He didn’t care about interviews or money. But I did. The races themselves paid nothing but the trophy or medal. I had bills. Promotion and ads were a part of the job.

I flew back to the hills of home, landing at the rear of my estate. A soft, warm rain coated my naked body before I could get inside. The parched trees and grass lapped it up. The surface of my rock-bottom swimming pool simmered.

A package of my clothes, wallet and phone that I’d had before the race had been delivered and sat on the kitchen counter. Tolen had been here. So had the housekeeper. The place was pristine.

I picked up my phone to see text messages. One was from my brother, congratulating me yet again. The rest were from Tolen. He had compiled a list of twenty places that wanted to interview me, and another twenty that wanted to pay me for promoting their product. I would pick three, as I always did.

Another message held information on upcoming races.

Suddenly, the kitchen dimmed as if the lights had entered a brownout. The tips of my fingers tingled. I grabbed the edge of the marble countertop as a loud inner voice blew through me.

No more.

Lyrican spoke with a power I’d never heard. Not that he wasn’t powerful. He simply had few opinions on human matters.

“We’re done for a while. We’re resting. Okay?” I kept my voice calm as the dizziness receded.

His voice boomed again, rattling my every sense.No more!

The words crashed through my mind as if to break it. My voice shook. “You love to fly. Remember?”

Fly. Not race until my body breaks.

At least he didn’t yell so loud in my head this time. I regained my balance and said, “We’re the best. Doesn’t that mean something? Athletes suffer through pain.”

No more pain!

The statement ended with a low-pitched groan that shuddered my heart.

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