Chapter 22
Feray
My mind races a million miles an hour as I contemplate the implications of my discovery. Could Torben be a distant relative of the extinct species of bear lying on the table before us? "What's wrong, my flame?" Easton's voice pulls me back to the present as he grips my hand.
"I believe Torben, like me, may have markers of an extinct species of bear. This one." I place my hand gently on the ancient skull and glance between Torben and Easton.
"There's only one way to find out." Easton lifts the craniometer and waves it in the air. "Tor? Mind shifting?"
"No problem, little wolf." Torben kisses my forehead before stripping.
"What did I miss?" Diaval's voice breaks the moment as he glances from a half-naked Torben to me.
"Our mate believes Torben has markers of this bear here. So, we're going to measure his skull and see if she's right," Easton explains.
Torben stands before me, fully shifted, and I begin the meticulous task of measuring the skull and jotting down numbers. My heart pounds as the measurements come within millimeters of each other.
"Wow, it's close. Would you agree with me when I say I believe Torben may be a distant relative of this species?" I look between the ancients for confirmation.
"I would say he is a distant relative to this species," Diaval affirms, passing the numbers off to Easton.
"Medically speaking, without DNA and a lab, we can't be certain. But the numbers don't lie. He is very close to this species and larger than most of the males in his sleuth, besides his dad." Easton kisses my cheek and returns to his research.
Pacing back and forth, I replay everything that's been said since the beginning. "Didn't the shifter side of the prophecy say something about the species of old?" I ask.
Torben pulls his shirt over his head and moves to stand next to me. I hand him the measurements, and he nods slowly. "It did. So if that's right, each of us should have markers for an older species," Torben says, his eyes flicking over to Khal.
"Basilisks have been unchanged for thousands of years, the same with dragons. We don't need to evolve like the fur-bearing shifters," Khal offers.
"Phoenixes are unchanged since the dawn of time. Random melanistic variations occur, but it's not an evolutionary leap," Easton shrugs, his focus shifting back to the journal he's reading.
Something coils tightly in my stomach—an icy knot of anxiety and realization.
The two ancients and Khal's species are unchanged for hundreds of generations.
Wolves have gotten smaller and lighter built.
Bears are experiencing the same thing since there's not enough of them to wage the wars they used to.
We've settled into towns and villages, so the size and power we used to have is unneeded now.
Another huge point is that most shifters don't spend as much time as their shifts anymore.
All these changes point to the decrease in size and strength of the shifts.
"Do you think that most people don't hear their shifts because they don't shift as much, or that the shifts have lost that vital connection to their human side? " I pose the question to the room.
Diaval stops what he's doing mid-motion, his eyes locking onto mine. "That makes sense," he says thoughtfully. He paces before turning his gaze to Torben. "Do you hear your shift?"
Torben shifts uncomfortably. "Every once in a while.
It's not like full-blown conversations, just little things here and there.
He told me he found our mate when we met Feray with Fi.
He warns me of danger or when he feels Feray's wolf is having a powerful emotion. " He shrugs, glancing around the room.
Diaval's eyes flicker with a draconic glow, his pupils narrowing into slits. "What about you, Khal?"
Khal nods slowly. "Similar to what Torben said, except he warns me about dangers and shifts in the air pressure and what it means."
Diaval steps closer to me. "My eternal?" he murmurs. "I know it's uncomfortable to share what's private between you and your shift. But it will help answer your theory." He presses his lips to my forehead.
"In the beginning, I barely heard her," I admit, closing my eyes and pressing my forehead against Diaval's chest instead of seeking comfort from Torben, as I usually do.
"As I bonded with each of you, she's gotten louder.
She has no problem barking out orders when I'm fighting.
" I shrug. "Now, with me hearing Diaval's dragon and Easton's phoenix, and the pack, sometimes I feel like I'm going nuts.
Diaval's dragon taught me to shut out most of the pack, but sometimes it slips, and I feel like I'm standing in a marketplace with everyone demanding my attention.
" I nuzzle Diaval's chest, seeking solace in his steady heartbeat.
For some reason, his and Easton's shifts almost silence all the pack's voices when they break through.
"Why didn't you tell us it was that bad sometimes?" Easton's voice carries a note of regret.
"There's so much going on..." I begin to make an excuse, my voice trailing off as Diaval gently tilts my head up.
"Your entire world as you knew it has been destroyed and is slowly being rebuilt on a foundation of truth," he says softly but firmly.
"I may be a cantankerous bastard at times.
But there is nothing in this life or the next that will stop me from doing whatever it takes to make you feel safe and loved.
" His thumb and forefinger grip my chin as he stares deeply into my eyes.
Slowly, he closes the distance between us and kisses me, pouring all of his love and devotion into that single moment.
I can hear his dragon crooning to me, soothing the frayed edges of my nerves.
A slow smile spreads across my lips as his song weaves its magic.
"Thank you, Diaval," I whisper. Standing on my tiptoes, I kiss him back before drawing in a deep breath and pulling away.
"What did he do?" Torben and Khal exchange puzzled glances.
Lowering my gaze, I murmur, "His dragon sang to me and made me feel better.
It seems like there's something different with my bonds with Diaval and Easton.
Their shifts can talk to me directly. Maybe it's the scale and feather.
If that's the case, will Khal's scale work the same?
" I look up at Easton, searching his face for answers.
Easton lowers his gaze and shakes his head, a deep sadness etched into his features.
"There's no magic in his blood. Mythics like myself and Diaval have a certain magic in our blood that our species have been hunted for.
Me, for my tears, and Diaval for his..." Easton stops, his eyes locking with Diaval's.
Diaval turns away, his shoulders tense. Through our bond, I hear his voice, soft and pained. My blood. It can heal any illness and slow aging.
"This isn't getting us anywhere," Khal interjects, frustration evident in his tone. I can sense his unease, knowing his scales hold no such value.
"We can try placing your scale if you want, Khal. I know it may not gift me anything," I say hesitantly. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll wear it."
"We don't even know if it will live on you or make you sick," Diaval cautions from across the room, his glowing eyes piercing through the shadows.
"Then it's a good thing we have a doctor with us, isn't it?" Khal retorts. He turns to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
I step closer to him, extending my hand, palm up. "May I have a scale, Khal?"
His eyes widen, and he hesitates, his hand trembling as he shifts his chest. Slowly, he lifts his shirt, revealing the chiseled muscles of his abdomen, his lightly scaled skin mesmerizing. "Precious, your wolf is showing," Khal teases, snapping me out of my reverie.
I laugh, a blush creeping over my cheeks. "Yeah, I know. Busted... What can I say? You're beautiful."
He beams at me, his pride clear. "Take whichever you would like." He completely bypasses the compliment. I know they make him uncomfortable.
With a single finger shifting into a claw, I carefully choose a scale, slicing above it and pulling it free. Without thinking, I lean in and lick the wound, sealing it. To my surprise, the skin is unblemished when I pull away. I stare, puzzled, then notice Easton's feather slowly stop burning.
"Oh boy. I did it again, didn't I?" I murmur, looking back at Easton. He nods, a knowing smile on his face. Apparently, he's not the only healer in the family now.
"Did what again?" Torben asks, stepping closer.
"Apparently, by gifting her my feather, she's able to self-heal faster than usual, and now it extends to others.
" Easton's eyes dart to Diaval. Diaval gives me a terse nod, acknowledging my suspicions.
His scale, according to what he said earlier, is gifting me a stronger healing ability.
I look down at my chest on the opposite side of Diaval's scale and drive my claw into my flesh.
Pain shoots through me, but I quickly place the meaty side of Khal's scale into my skin.
It knits around it rapidly, the magic doing its work.
"See, no harm done," I say, forcing a smile and shaking my head as a wave of lightheadedness hits me.
"Feray, are you okay?" Torben grabs me by the arms, trying to steady me.
The mixed voices around me sound like they are underwater, muffled and distant.
The last thing I see is Easton's eyes burning bright with worry before everything goes black.