Page 14 of Dramatic AF
I was starting to see that. From the moment we’d met, Jayden had not only defied my expectations, he had completely shattered every preconceived notion I had about humans.
“I’m not entirely sure where the term originated, but a lot of shadelings say it came about because we’re part demon and can shift into giant black wolves.” I paused to take a breath, mytongue darting out to wet my dry lips. “My guess, however, is that it’s more in reference to our third form.”
Jayden dropped his forehead to my shoulder and groaned. “You’re doing it again. Just tell me.”
In my defense, it wasn’t a conversation I regularly engaged in. To date, I’d only had detailed discussions about my unique heritage with my family.
And that family now included the man next to me.
“It’s not easy to explain.” Even if I had the words for it, I doubt it would make sense to him. “In that form, I’m not human or animal. I’m just…other.”
“In that case…” Trailing off, he sat up and looked at me, his gaze determined and unwavering. “Can you show me?”
I hesitated. So far, he had been remarkably accepting, but I worried this final revelation might push him past his limit.
“Maybe this isn’t the time. You just fell off a platform and almost broke your damn neck.”
“Which I am trying not to think about.” He quirked an eyebrow at me in challenge. “Distract me.”
“Jayden.”
“Please?” he whispered, his fingers flexing around mine. “I just want to understand.”
Fuck, I couldn’t resist him in anything.
“Okay,” I relented. “Just remember, no matter what you see, it’s still me.”
He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and dipped his head.
I exhaled slowly, pushing past the nerves and uncertainty as I reached for a place of calm. Instead, I focused on Jayden’s steady presence, to his hand still entwined with mine.
Shadows curled at the edges of my vision, a dark, pulsing energy I had kept tethered for decades. Unpracticed, the changedidn’t come naturally, but I kept going, giving over to instincts I rarely allowed myself to feel.
A ripple of magic swept through me as I loosened the reins of control. The lights in the room flickered and dimmed, and the air thickened with something old and nameless. The acrid scent of smoke and something colder filled the space, like a campfire on a snowy night.
My breath hitched as the transformation washed over me, my frame stretching, unfurling, dissolving, and reforming all at once. The familiar outline of my body blurred, darkness spreading across my skin like ink in water.
Muscles stretched, bones elongated, and the couch creaked beneath the added bulk. Every ounce of body fat melted away, leaving my features sharper and more angular, and both my upper and lower canines elongated, the sharp tips scraping against my lips.
Wisps of dark smoke danced over skin as black as the magic that coursed through my veins, and raw, terrifying power sang through every fiber of my being.
With the change complete, I didn’t give myself the chance to relax or fully settle into this new form. Back rigid, I faced Jayden, watching, waiting. He hadn’t let go of my hand, which I took as a good sign, but I couldn’t read his expression at all.
“It’s still me,” I reminded him, my voice deep and raspy.
He stared at me for a long time, his gaze raking over my body from crown to toes. Finally, he sighed and shook his head.
“That’s it?”
I huffed out a breath, a mixture of surprise and amusement. “What?”
Most people would be pissing themselves. Jayden just looked mildly disappointed.
“I don’t know. You made it sound so scary.”
“You don’t think I’m scary?” I leaned toward him with a playful growl. “Not even a little?”
“Nope.” He rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Not even a little.”
