Page 114 of Shifter King
She grinned so big it hurt her face. Kneeling beside him, she kissed the top of his black-capped head. "Hello, sweet baby," she whispered.
Whining, he licked her cheek. His breath still smelled a little off, the remnants of cheeseburger and dog biscuit somehow lingering. His nails clicked on the stone as he moved back and forth, licking her face and wagging his black tail so hard it seemed like it might fall off.
Where was she? She scratched behind his ears. "Sweet baby, what are you doing here?" She smiled a little. "You’re here to show me the way? Or am I just dying and I get to see you again?"
He barked again, his attention focused straight ahead now.
She squinted as she peered into the haze. It was hard to see. But as she focused, it stirred, revealing bits and portions of things she might recognize if she could just…she moved to a crouching position, staring at one point ahead.
Her breaths moved slowly in and out, almost as if they were no longer a part of her.
Something moved in the mist. A form. A human form.
As the mists parted, the figure turned.
It was her.
She stood, her mouth falling open. Of course.
Almost exactly her though her clothing was more ragged and her feet bled. She had been staring out over this place as if searching for something.
A heavy weariness hung about the other Amelia. Claudius trotted up to her though, and her face brightened. She began to pet him, whispering softly. Years and pain seemed to fall away.
Amelia wanted to say something. But what did you say to yourself? Maybe that she was sorry for all this. Or that she needed to get rest. Or that she had no idea what was to be done. She stepped closer and held her hand out though, certain only that this was part of what happened with psychic wine. She had shattered, and there was a piece of her.
The other Amelia curled her fingers against her palms, then stood and gripped her hand. A sharp spark shot up her arm and into her heart. Gasping, she fell back, clutching her arm to her chest.
The clouds and mist parted, revealing the mountains. Not the ones near Dry Deep but somewhere colder.
A blue-black dragon with spear-tips on its wings stretched its long jagged-scaled neck out from the ledge in front of her. The pure animalistic power stunned her. It turned its head toward her.
She froze. Those amber-gold eyes glowed in the dark, but they were no longer the cold eyes of an alpha predator. There was—humanity in them.
Something was calling to her. Claudius barked, circling her, his tail wagging as he kept looking toward the dragon. Maybe that was why the other Amelia was here. Maybe that was why Claudius had guided her here. But what did it mean?
Up above other dragons soared, wings broad upon the wind. The thunder of their flight was dull and distant, moving into the thrum of her own heartbeat and the blood in her ears.
She reached out toward the blue-black dragon, her fingers twitching. Though she had no words to speak, it felt as if she was calling. Or maybe the dragon was.
The dragon bowed its—her head, her nostrils flaring. A pale-blue outline formed just above her heart within her armored chest.
This was not a dragon.
Not fully.
It was…she choked, letting her hand fall.
She had a sentient soul.
The dragon stepped forward, bowing her head. A low growl rumbled up in her throat.
"Can you hear me, Neyeb?"
"I can—Who are you?" She struggled over the words, finding it hard to speak audibly as she trained her focus on the dragon.
The dragon’s voice echoed around her. There was something between them now. Some bond like an invisible string. "I am Hallfrid. Please. Help us. They've kept us here for years."
"Who?"
