Page 51 of Monster's Reward

The embers that have always lived inside me were now a seething, boiling cauldron of flames that leapt and snapped and lashed out from my core.

They were no longer just made up of fire, though.

Ice now spread along their edges, freezing some of those outer flames, while something else writhed at their center.

Shadows.

Shadows and a darkness I wished I did not remember, that I hoped never to experience again.

Something scraped deep, raking across the inside of my skin like an itch I could never reach or scratch.

The sensation pulled my attention away from the flames and dragged it toward whatever it was that crawled beneath my skin and roared for freedom.

Crouched at the very back of my mind, as far from the flames as she could get, a leopard snarled, tail swishing back and forth in agitation.

Myleopard.

I held out my hand and tried to coax her closer.

It’s okay,I whispered. We’re going to be okay. I’m so happy you’re here.

She simply snarled in response.

Thank you for trying to protect me.

No answer.

I inched closer, still holding out my hand.

The leopard hissed, then exploded into shadows and disappeared.

I leapt forward, trying to follow, and landed in my own bed, wide awake, the sound of my leopard’s snarl ringing in my ears.