Page 142 of Centaur Bolt

Stop being a big baby.

Lightning hit the lake, illuminating everything around us.

I’m not—

You are. Cut it out. Focus on your breathing.

I reached the forest just as the skies opened, the rain coming down in sheets. Iskar’s desperation finally got through to me.

I hunkered down beneath a tree. My arms had thickened, the spikes in the center of the black scales covering my skin flickered in response to the lightning. The rage beat at me as I took a deep breath, and then, another. Iskar’s warm presence ricocheted around inside me, pushing on the demon breaking through.

Think of something calming,coached Iskar.

Calming. I closed my eyes and thought of home. Of the forge where Emmanuel and I worked, of the physical effort of hammering metal into shape, of the artistry of coaxing it into intricate designs…

That’s it. Breathe.

Home. It seemed like years since I’d left it to take the wagon to the Irkil market with Varek. Back when I’d been whole.

Don’t think of that. Think of home.

When I glanced down, the scales were receding on my arms. I took another deep breath and thought of the knives Emmanuel and I had been working on, a new design which was largely mine. I also thought of my mother’s beautiful features, smiling as she sparred with me in our courtyard.

Good, good,purred Iskar. My fingers returned to normal with excruciating pain, the glowing talons dropping to the grass at my feet.

The rain tapered off, and then ceased altogether as the storm moved on. I pushed myself upright and headed back.

Only to stop where the trees ended, and the meadow began. Because someone was using the gate at the far end of it.

I saw a cluster of individuals—recognized Tyrez with them, just before they stepped through the gate, and vanished.

Havoc must have told them,Iskar said.

That was hardly an army,I stated.

They’ll send a recon team first, to see if she’s still there.

Of course. No sense in assembling an army, and then finding out it wasn’t needed.Do you think Isobel’s still there?

She hasn’t survived this long by being an imbecile.Iskar sounded resigned.

Maybe, just maybe, they’d catch her. I wanted to be in on it when they did.

You cannot be serious. I can’t keep this thing locked down when you breathe heavy. In battle? Impossible.

My fingers itched to fold around a hilt, and lift it against the true monsters. So badly it threatened to trigger everything all over again.

Cut it out, Marcus. We need to find someplace quiet to recover. Not go marching into battle.

With Riley in Cara’s suite, there was only one place that fit that description. I turned away from the building.

In my mind, Iskar sighed.This is not a good idea.

I can’t stay here.

You can, but you refuse to see the truth.

I pushed him away as I approached the gate, and the Bellati guarding it. The last time I’d asked to go through, I’d been going to Isobel.

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