Page 34 of Laid Bare

I don’t have the time or energy for petty squabbles between my mate, the professor—even if he is an asshole—and my babysitters.

“Alright, line up and shift.” His words come out in a garbled command, but every shifter here seems to understand what he says. Even me, much to my own surprise.

The formation—all of us lined up in a straight line—is reminiscent of my first class, sending a sliver of fear racing down my spine.

But no. This isn’t anything like my first class. My eyes dart to the three men at the edge of the field, their eyes focused solely on me. Just seeing them there, knowing they won’t let anything happen to me, gives me the confidence to close my eyes, focus on my magic, and let go.

As always when I look inward, my magic gives a happy zip around my heart in the semblance of a hug at being acknowledged. Being seen. Being used. I make my intentions known of what I want it to do while imagining the rune on my thigh—the silhouette of a person with two wavy lines radiating from the figure.

The grunts and groans and the sounds of bones breaking fade into silence, giving me a moment to ground myself to this moment. To build my confidence thatthistime, I’ll show that stupid professor that I can do what he said I couldn’t.

Heat lances across my thigh, the familiar burn of my rune being infused with my magic. Goosebumps pop across my flesh as the warmth chases away the slight chill in the air. A deep, ardent ache begins to build in my bones, arcing higher with every second that passes. But it doesn’t stop there.

A scream pierces the air, the sound so sharp it knocks the wind out of me and brings me to my knees. I want to help; I want to find out who’s hurting, but pain ripples through my soul, bringing about another scream. This one louder, higher, sounding like someone’s being murdered.

My mouth opens, a plea on my lips to stop the senseless cruelty, but all that comes out is a cry—a scream of anguish. It’s then I realize the screaming is coming from me. There’s no violence, just endless pain tearing my soul to shreds.

Strong arms wrap around me, and I can vaguely hear my name being yelled, but it sounds far underwater, distorting the voice until it’s unrecognizable.

“Fuck, she’s convulsing!”

“Lay her down!”

“Dammit, Bailey. Let go of your magic.”

Let go are the only two words that penetrate through the agony, so I do.

I let it all go.

My back arches on the cool grass beneath me, and a loud crack resonates through the field. With one last deafening scream, all pain flees my body, multi-colored spots dancing in my vision. I expect to pass out from the toll of whatever just happened, to fall into the void of nothingness to heal, but I don’t.

All around me is silence, not even a whisper from those that surrounded me moments ago. But I know they’re there. I can feel them, watching me, waiting for something.

“Please tell me I shifted into something badass like a dragon,” I croak, refusing to open my eyes.

“Not exactly, goddess.”

“Oh gods, I’m a rabbit, aren’t I?” That would totally be my luck, and something I called back when I first learned I had the possibility of shifting into an animal.

“Open your eyes and find out.” Zane. Even without opening my eyes, I know it’s him. His voice has a breathy, husky quality to it that Bane doesn’t.

I shake my head, not wanting to, even as I peek an eye open. Only it’s not the blue of the sky that greets me, though. Nope. It’s a pink horse’s muzzle and blinding white teeth.

“What the fuck!” I shriek, scrambling across the grass, putting distance between me and the pink thing in front of me. “Where the hell did the horse come from?”

There’s a stiffness in Bane’s gait as he walks over and reaches down, picking me up off the ground and setting me on my feet. He doesn’t say anything, but places his large palm on my lower back, directing me back over to the small group hovering around the animal who hasn’t stopped watching my every move.

Now that I’m standing, I’m wholly aware that this thing isn’t a horse. From the size alone, it’s easy to see that it’s a pony. A very bubblegum pink pony. White hair makes up its mane and tail, pink eyes—a mirror to my own, right down to the dark spot in the iris—and shit… Are those… wings?

“What the hell is that?”

“That, goddess, is a Pegasus. A very rare animal only ever found in the god realm.” The reverence in Luka’s voice is unmistakable. This animal—this Pegasus—means something to him. So how is it here? Did I…conjure it?

Shit. I’m so confused.

“Is it mine?” It has to be because there’s no one else here with freaky ass magic that seems to have a mind of its own.

“Yep,” Zane pops the p, eyeing the creature like it might attack him without warning. But for some reason, I don’t feel it’ll happen. No. I don’t feel, I know it won’t happen. Deep down in my soul, I know this animal won’t hurt him. Any of them.

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