Page 6 of Lyric

“You can command a shift.”

“I can. Yes. But I've never had to before. I ask or he asks. There's never been a moment of needing control in that way. Respect is shared.”

“Well, this is your career. Your talent that you both share.”

“But if he's hurting--”

“In that case, you need to see the doctor again and force a shift.”

“Just give me another couple of weeks. Please.” I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled hard.

“All right, but your fans and the press want to hear from you. They want to know when you'll be back and where. Can I at least book you for a couple of TV interviews?”

“I wouldn't know what to say. I'm asking you, Tolen, please don't do anything right now.”

“All right. I'll check in with you tomorrow.”

The connection broke before I could tell him not to call me every day. He was a good agent, but he could also be a real pushy pain in the ass.

“Lyrican,” I said aloud. “Please talk to me. Tell me what's happening with you.”

Silence.

“If I go back to the doctor, will you shift for him?”

Silence.

“I don't want to force it, but if you won't talk to me I'm going to make an appointment for this week.

No more racing.

“I know. You've said that a dozen times in the last few weeks. Are you afraid you will feel pain again?”

No more racing.

Doctor Tsu wasan expert in sports medicine. He'd been seeing me for five years through various pulled muscles and other aches and pains that came from pressing the body, dragon and human, beyond its normal limits.

Today, he led me through the door to the shifting yard. The area was bare dirt surrounded by a twelve-foot privacy fence.

“Lyrican,” he said to me, addressing my dragon. “I hope you will shift for me today so I can help you to see what might be wrong. Why don’t you want to race anymore?”

“He's not responding,” I said.

“Will he shift for you?”

“Not so far since I returned from our roost.”

“Have you tried forcing it?”

“No.”

“I have medication that might help make it easy on you both. Lyrican will feel no pain.”

“What does it do?”

“It puts your beast into a mentally suppressed state. When you shift, he will be able to follow easy instructions without getting upset. Then I can examine him fully. I have all the equipment out here that I’ll need for that.”

“You mean sedate him?”

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