His lips curled. A slow, sharp grin spread across his face.
Oh, they wanted to sell a rare cat to the Pirate King?
Let’s give them a rare cat.
His cat chuffed, delighted. Yes. Yes. Good plan. Big plan. BIG cat. Spring like this idea. Yes, she would!
Roam pushed himself upright. His legs trembled, but held. Every breath he took, he burned away the fog clouding his mind.
He crawled toward the tunnel’s entrance, dragging his aching body forward inch by inch until his head broke into the light.
The world outside was chaos.
Spring was on her knees, blood streaking her shoulder, her eyes wide with fear and fury. Flames crackled across the ground where Phoenix’s attack had scorched the dirt. Marauders scrambled in confusion.
Then she saw him.
Her eyes flew wide. “Roam!” she cried. “No—run! Hide!”
Three of the men spun toward him.
Roam’s eyes didn’t leave Spring’s.
“I will always protect you,” he said softly.
And then—he lifted the shimmering sliver of mushroom to his lips…
With a wink, he bit down.
The taste exploded like wild thunder across his tongue.
Magic. Heat. Transformation.
His bones cracked. His skin rippled as his cat roared in triumph.
He dropped to all fours in the tunnel.
The ground shuddered beneath his growing weight.
A low, guttural rumble echoed as he pressed against the tunnel walls.
The marauders froze.
Seconds later, the earth split open.
A massive white-and-black paw burst from the soil, flinging rocks and burning debris in every direction. Another paw followed, driving deep into the cracked terrain as if it were paper.
Men screamed.
They do more than scream, his cat hissed, wiggling his nose as the putrid smell of urine filled the air.
Spring gasped, stumbling back as the dirt erupted around her.
And then—rising from the tunnel like a god from the deep?—
Roam’s head emerged, each fang gleaming like polished ivory. His eyes glowed an electric blue, filled with fire and fury. His fur rippled, streaked with dark ash and smoke. His deep, menacing growl rivaled an earthquake. With each breath he released, heat rolled across the ground, stirring dust devils that rose in the air.
The marauders bolted, tripping over each other in terror, yelling about monsters and demons.
