Prologue
No matter how often he stared at the bones, Hayden couldn’t bring himself to touch them again. Once was enough. They’d changed his whole life, leaving him alone and not completely stable. A flash of what hid inside him flitted over his eyes, lizard like in appearance. He subdued the beast once again. Now was not the time. He had to wait.
He looked up from the bones as Ethern appeared in the high ceiling cave. Hayden kept it dark, but Ethern swiped his hands through the air and lit magical lights on the walls. Hayden blinked at the sudden onslaught of brightness to his eyes. It was then he noticed the other person in the cave. She looked familiar. It was the witch from the Glacial Blood pack, but her raven black hair was now pure white. She’d taken the magic of the good inside her.
Hayden’s hands shook with nerves. His time was getting nearer. It wouldn’t be long now. The animal within him was restless and desperate to escape.
“How are you?” Ethern asked.
Hayden sensed a difference in his friend.
“What’s happened?” Hayden ignored Ethern’s question and replaced it with one of his own. “You’re not a multi-shifter any longer?”
“How can you tell?” Ethern frowned.
“Well, apart from your sudden preference for black clothing, only you know the location of the cave. Even if you told Jessica, she wouldn’t be able to teleport here. You brought her, but you didn’t turn green with brown markings to do it. Your magic is different.”
“Clever.” Ethern perched on a rock near Hayden while Jessica stood by Ethern’s side. “I died. We stopped Ciaran, but I lost my life. The afterlife held up their end of the bargain, though, so I’m doing the same. I’m a reaper now.”
“Interesting. It’s started then.” Hayden nodded his head toward Jessica.
“It’s more than started. We’re near the end. It’s do or die for a lot of people. Jessica is going to take over the responsibility of looking after you and the bones. It will be Selene’s time soon.”
“Selene’s time?” Jessica interrupted. “What’s going on, Ethern?”
“Sorry.” Ethern got to his feet. “Jessica, this is Hayden Eckert. He’s another multi-shifter.”
Jessica put her hand out for Hayden to shake it, but he pushed himself back into the shadows. There was no way he was touching her or anyone else anytime soon. It was too dangerous, especially with the magic she held within her body.
“Er...” Jessica withdrew her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Same,” Hayden grunted. “Does she know?” he questioned.
“No, not yet,” Ethern replied, and Jessica looked at him crossly.
“What is going on? I don’t like secrets, Ethern. You know that.”
“I’m sorry.” Ethern brought the witch into his arms. “You know a multi-shifter can change into any animal or magical being they’ve touched before?”
“Yes,” she replied, looking between the two men.
“Well, these”—Ethern gestured to the bones on the floor—“are dragon bones.”
“Dragon?” Jessica questioned, disbelieving. “They’re mythical creatures. They’re not real.”
“They’re real all right,” Hayden spoke up.
“Could you?” Jessica lowered her head and voice to Ethern. “Could you change into a dragon?”
Ethern shook his head. “No. A dragon is a powerful creature. Only one multi-shifter has done so and survived.”
Jessica instantly turned her head to look at Hayden.
“Your eyes, Hayden. When we arrived, they turned to those of a lizard for a brief moment.”
He nodded. “But not a lizard’s, a dragon’s eyes.”
Hayden got up from where he was sitting and walked to the largest part of the cave. Ethern pulled Jessica to him and held her closely as Hayden started to change into a magnificent beast. Fifteen foot high with a wingspan of the same proportion. Scales of glorious turquoise and dark teal covered his body, and horns ran along his back, increasing in size from his tail to his head. When he looked down, Jessica’s eyes were wide open.
“Holy shit!” she exclaimed and tried to step forward to touch him.
“No.” Ethern held her tightly.
Hayden started the transformation back to a human.
“In dragon form, it’s difficult for him to control his beast. This is where destiny comes into play again. Selene will be the only one able to control it because she has Brayden.”
“Selene? I’m so confused right now.” Jessica scratched at her head. “How do the multi-shifters know all this?”
“We just do. It’s a part of us, just like the visions are. It’s difficult to explain,” Ethern responded. “Please, Jessica, I need you to help me protect Hayden until it’s time.”
Jessica let out a long breath. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Ethern kissed her. Hayden could see his friend was in love with this woman, and he felt the ever present pang of longing in his heart. The amorous, young couple turned back to him, and Ethern let go of Jessica’s hand.
“I need to report to the afterlife and start my new job. Why don’t you stay a while and find out more about Hayden and the dragons, Jessica? I know it’ll interest you. Your magic should allow you to return home when you’re ready, and I’ll change the spell to allow you to come back here whenever you want.”
Jessica instantly agreed, and Ethern left them alone.
“How long have you been here?” Jessica asked, perching on a rock while Hayden took his place back in the shadows, staring at the bones.
“Too long.” He was an older man now. He’d continued to age during his absence from the world both as a prisoner at the Reichstag and in the cave. “Can I ask you something, Jessica?”
“Of course.” She smiled warmly back at him.
“How is Molly?”
“What?” Jessica looked confused.
“These took me from her a long time ago,” he said, waving his hands over the bones. “But I’ve never stopped loving her. I just want to know she’s happy.”
Chapter One
1968 – Vietnam
The second Molly left the plane and was ushered into the army-green bus, her puma loudly protested the tropical heat. It was more accustomed to the cold mountains of the Glacial National Park, but after qualifying as a nurse, Molly volunteered to go to the war raging in Vietnam. Her country needed her. Well, the soldiers who were injured did.
Her puma continued to growl in frustration as the bus left the airport and made its way to where she would be stationed. She wasn’t fully sure what to expect but had been told she would spend most of her time in tents as there were very few buildings. In this heat, it was going to be a nightmare. Molly hoped it cooled in the evening when the sun set, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t.
The windows of the bus were covered in chicken wire, and her puma begged her to remove it so she could get a bit more fresh air around them. She obeyed and started to pull the wire away.
“I wouldn’t do that, Miss,” the bus driver shouted back at her.