“I don’t understand? I’m still on Earth? I thought I’d died, shouldn’t I be in heaven or hell?”
The little boy chuckled. “That’s what I said when I was killed but apparently not. I was destined to lead you here.”
Caleb ruffled the hair on the young boy’s head. You should return to your parents. We don’t want them wondering what happened to you.”
“I will.”
Hayden’s eyes went wide as the boy turned green with brown symbols all over his skin and disappeared into thin air.
“I think I need to sit down again.” Hayden slumped back down onto the ground.
“I know it’s a bit of a shock. I’m sorry. I’m not explaining it well,” Caleb reprimanded himself. “Your human form died back in that village. It was your destiny, but we bargained for your soul because of all the good deeds you’ve done. You’ve been reborn as a multi-shifter.”
“Shifter?” Hayden’s ears pricked. Molly had mentioned this word. “Do you mean I can change into an animal? What animal is it?”
“You’ll be able to change into any living being you touch. The boy, he touched a witch, and he used that magical form to travel back to Vietnam. I can become a number of different animals.”
Hayden watched as Caleb changed into an assortment of animals from birds to bees, to cats to dogs, and even lizards.
“Wow!” Hayden exclaimed. “I’ll be able to do all of that?”
Caleb lowered his head and took a deep breath before turning green with brown symbols, just like the boy had done previously.
“Take my hand,” he ordered, and Hayden obeyed.
He was overwhelmed by what was happening, but he knew he needed to learn as much as he could. On the surface, it appeared that these people had given him a second chance at life when he was destined to die. Now he wanted to know more of what it would entail.
Molly. The thought hit him.
Did she know of these multi-shifters?
Would he be able to return to her?
He’d have to ask these questions later because as he took Caleb’s hand, they were immediately transported to a different cave. His head spun from the speed of their travel.
“What was that?” Hayden questioned.
“Teleportation. It’s a witch’s spell.”
Hayden looked around the new cave. This time, there were several other men in long dark coats present. They all lowered their heads to greet him.
“Are we still in Death Valley?”
“No,” Caleb replied. “We’re in Siberia.”
Hayden rubbed his arms at the mention of a place he knew was one of the coldest on Earth. “But shouldn’t I feel cold?”
Caleb laughed. “Sorry, I should have explained. You haven’t touched an animal yet, so you’re like a blank page. You have no awareness of hot or cold and don’t have to adjust your temperature for the surroundings.”
“Right.” Hayden felt like he should be taking notes about everything. There was a lot to take in.
“Hayden, you’re a new shifter—an incredibly strong and powerful being. As a human, you knew of the supernatural world and never considered revealing it. That tells us a lot.”
“Molly?” Hayden questioned.
“Yes, the puma shifter. We have seen your past. Our species have many prophecies in place, and one tells us of a man with great strength who’ll come to us fresh without having touched another animal or magical being, except me of course. But, since I’m a multi-shifter too, I don’t count.”
A few of the men stepped aside as Caleb spoke. Hayden’s eyes went wide when he saw bones embedded in the ground. They were enormous. He looked at them, studied the shape of them. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Is that the skeleton of a dragon?”
“Yes,” Caleb replied.
“You can change into a dragon? That’s so cool. Can I see?”
“I can’t.” Caleb stared longingly at the dragon bones.
“I don’t understand.”
“We’re forbidden to touch. A multi-shifter with the power of many animals did so once. He went mad and had to be killed. The power of a dragon is too strong, but there is a prophecy of a multi-shifter who can harness its power. It will be a struggle for him, but he’ll be able to do it so he can help the chosen one when her time comes.”
“Chosen one?” Now Hayden had even more questions.
“A female multi-shifter,” Caleb informed him.
Hayden looked around the room. There were only men present.
“I’m guessing there’s no such thing at the moment.”
Caleb shook his head. “No, that time is not now. Now is your time. If you choose to touch the bones, we’ll need you to learn all there is to know about the power of the dragon.”
Caleb sighed heavily.
“There’s a war coming between humans and shifters, and it will be more terrifying than any we’ve seen before. Far too many innocents will die. The prophecy tells us that the power of the dragon will be able to stop it. It’s a big sacrifice we’re asking of you, especially given you’ve only just learned of our existence, but will you touch the bones and absorb only the power of the dragon forevermore? Will you learn about it and discover how we’ll be able to use it to prevent the killing of so many when the time comes?”
Hayden took a few stumbling steps backward. His head was spinning with everything he’d learned. It was too much. He’d died a few minutes ago, and now he was being offered a power beyond comprehension.
“The boy lives in the human realm. Will I be able to do the same? Do all of you?”
“We do. It’s unusual for the boy to be with his parents, but he lives as a human. His magic was only required to guide you to us. We needed to take your body and soul and bring them to Death Valley before you touched another living being,” Caleb responded.
“So, I can return to my home life. I can return to Molly?”
“If you can control the power of the dragon, yes. There are a few shifters who know about us.”
“What if I can’t control it?”
“You’ll need to stay hidden until the time comes. The risk will be too great.”
“I could hurt too many people and start the war myself.”
“Yes. It nearly happened with the other multi-shifter who touched the bones. It’s why we had to kill him.”
“Will you kill me?”
Caleb didn’t answer but looked away. It was all the confirmation Hayden needed. He could walk out of here and not touch the bones. Now that he had the ability to touch animals and change into them, he could have a perfect life with Molly. He loved her with all his heart, but he knew the only way he could keep her safe was to stay and touch the bones. He’d been given a second chance at life for a reason. He had to harness the power of the dragon. He had to learn all about it for the girl who would save the world. Give her the strength she needed to do her duty.
There was a bigger picture here.
He looked inside his heart, and it told him he’d see and be with Molly again, one day.
He had to do this.
Hayden walked forward to the dragon bones. He knelt beside them and reached his hand out to what appeared to be a dragon’s leg.