This is becoming too much, and I don’t know how to deal with it. A low whinny escapes as I scrape my hooves over the ground, and I toss my head. Slash moves closer again, his hand running lightly over my mane.
“I know this is a lot, little demon. You are going through so many changes at once. It would scare anyone.”
Not nearly as much asit does me, but I understand what he means.
“It’s time to go back to your normal body, Kat. Focus again, and this time, you need to visualize yourself in your Kit body.” He stops, then chuckles. “You know what I mean.”
I do, and I appreciate that he’s trying so hard to say things the right way. Honestly, I’ve gotten used to being both Kat and Kit, so neither feels wrong to me. Closing my eyes, I do as he says. It doesn’t work immediately, so I keep breathing and focusing on the images in my mind. I’m not sure how much time goes by; it’s not fast. But I keep the image in my mind and my inner voice coaxing until a tingle runs over me. It turns into heat, and my skeleton cracks as I finally get it to work.
“Excellent, little demon!” He moves back as my body reshapes itself, and I wing a prayer that he turns away when I end up naked.
I’m not quite ready for the full monte with him yet, but I do trust him not to take advantage—which is pretty big.
My limbs buckle after it’s done, and I land on the floor, smacking my ass hard. “Gonna have to learn how to stick the landing. This floor is really hard.”
“Your hoodie is to the right,” Slash calls over his shoulder. “Tell me when you’re ready to discuss your accomplishments.”
I scramble over and pull the huge sweatshirt on, covering myself to my knees. This is good enough for now; it covers as much as the now ripped gauze and boxers. “Okay.”
His toothy grin greets me when he turns, and the anxiety ball in my gut unwinds. Slash being himself without a single hint of remorse is comforting as fuck. “You did well, despite the surprise transformation.”
“I’m not fast enough,” I mumble as I scuff my foot on the ground. “I’ll still be a liability to you guys.”
“That is why we keep training.”
Sighing, I run my hand through my hair. “Yes, but an alicorn isn’t exactly a scary power. What if that’s what I shift into during the fights?”
The big guy gestures at the bench, and I follow him over to it. We sit down, and he puts his arm around my shoulder. “Alicorns have a lot of sought-after abilities. I am uncertain which ones are true and which are myths. However, I believe you know who can helpyou find out.”
“Really? Do you think it will have things I can use in the Games? It feels… silly and not at all useful for something like that.”
He nods. “I believe so, yes. But even if I am wrong, the lioness and your magic will certainly be strong offensively.”
“That’s true,” I reply as I lean against him. “If I can figure out how to use them reliably.”
“Now we’re back to training, little demon.”
“Okay, okay.” I sigh and pat his huge thigh lightly. “I get it. Find out about the Pink Pony Club later and work on technique and speed now.”
He rumbles a chuckle, standing and offering his hand. I let him tug me to my feet, then push up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek before I scamper back to my spot on the floor.
Time to make this shit happen or die trying.
By the timeour three hours are almost up, I’m worn out. I shifted into the anime pony a couple of times and got back to my normal body, though I’m still not very fast. The room looks like a strip club—it’s covered in glitter in a way that is going to make some custodial demonveryunhappy. But I feel victorious because I did a lot better this time than I did yesterday. Progress might not be coming quickly, but it is coming.
“We need to get you back to the dorm,” Slash says as he hands me the second water bottle. “But you must drink while we walk.”
I pick up my bag, whistling for Dottie. She gives me a look that says she doesn’t want to touch the sparkling floor, and I laugh. Walking over, I hold my arm up so she can scramble down it to my shoulder. “I know, girl. The Pink Pony is messy AF, right?”
Dottie chitters her agreement, and Slash looks around with a frown. “I will text Jasper to find someone to clean this up as soon as possible. I’m uncertain anyone will connect it with us, but it would be better if it were gone before others come in.”
“No shit,” I mumble. “If this place were co-ed, we might have better options for putting the blame on cheerleaders or something. Sadly, that will not work at sausage school.”
Slash chokes, his eyes going wide. “You have been hanging around Salem and Oriel too much.”
Shrugging, I give him a shy grin. “I’m trying to immunize myself against all the boy talk. If I’m spitting dirty stuff, too, then I won’t get so blushy about it. And you know, maybe I won’t be so prudish about sex stuff. I need to get less…affected by it.”
He arches a brow at me, his smirk making my stomach flutter. “Why is that, little demon? Do you have plans I am not aware of?”
