Page 62 of Centaur Bolt

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My arms ached as I hung in the chains.

I had hoped that Finn would free me after he and Aurora sated themselves, but they’d just walked out and left me hanging.

While Laila lay curled upon my bed, I drifted in and out of consciousness, welcoming the disconnected half-dreams. Anything was better than my current reality.

I bolted.

At first, I thought I must be running from something, and my pulse accelerated. The two women running alongside me wore expressions of disgust, so I didn’t think fear was part of their equation.

My feet pounded on a gravel path that ran through dense forest. The leaves dappled the sunlight passing through the branches overhead. A peaceful scene, except for the running.

Ahead of us, others staggered along in various levels of proficiency. This seemed to be a planned thing. A training session? My body certainly felt as though it were pushing its limits. My legs trembled, and my breath came in gasps.

“Are we fit enough yet?” The tall blonde woman on my left panted. She was clad in a bright yellow bodysuit of scales—she must be a Dragona.

“Will they notice if we hide in the bushes?” the woman on my right asked. She had curved horns arching from her braided hair. A Satyr.

A Dragon and a Satyr. What was I? My arms lacked scales—I wore a black tee shirt and leggings. As I ran, my chest bounced. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and when I glanced down—

I had breasts.

In an instant, I deciphered the other difference with every stride. I was female. As dreams went, this was stranger than normal. I’d never changed sex in my dreams.

“Pretty sure the Bellatis will notice if we hide.” The person’s voice resonated clear through me. Suddenly, I was desperate to see her face. Was it the green-eyed woman?

I seemed locked in her body, so I had to content myself with appreciating the natural scenery around us. Other than the path carved through it, this forest appeared wild and unspoiled.

My avatar seemed more concerned with placing one foot before the other than admiring her surroundings. She puffed and panted alongside her cohorts as we broke free from the trees. The path curved along the shores of a lake, and I got a better look at the other runners. I recognized the brawny bodies of Dires among them.

I calculated over seventy sweating bodies. When she glanced across the lake, I saw the building.

I’d never seen it before, but there was only one place it could be—it had to be the council’s new academy. Why was I dreaming of training at the place that Isobel had complained so much about?

I stayed with my female runner as we made our way around the lake and finally slowed to a walk. My dream legs shook as she wandered in a circle.

I wanted to see her face. So I pushed, slightly, with my mind. She was hot and sweaty. The cool water would feel amazing…

She swung toward the lake. Her two friends followed as she crouched by the water’s edge.

“Are you going to throw up?” the Satyr asked.

“Just hotter than hell,” my girl replied, reaching to cup a handful and splash it on her face.

Down, I thought. Look down—she did.

Disturbed by dipping her hand in, it rippled unsteadily. I stared down into her reflection, and my heart accelerated.

Long dark hair surrounding a heart-shaped face. Dark brows framed beautiful eyes. Between the wavelets, I saw the glint of green—

“Wake up, dreamboy.”

The harsh words shattered the rapport. I opened my eyes and glared into Brock’s cold gaze.

The Dragon stood only a foot away from me, but chained as I was, it didn’t matter. I couldn’t reach him, but I sure wanted to. I had to settle for a glower that could have fried eggs.

I caught an answering gleam in his eyes, right before Isobel pushed past him.

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