Page 117 of Break Out the Girl

“What’s that?” I follow the creature with my eyes.

“A Steller’s jay,” Tally tells me. “Beautiful to look at, but a devil to other birds. Steals their eggs.”

Yeah, that tracks. Just like that Director-bitch from the manor.

Tally nudges my shoulder. “If you look into the brush, there’s a black-tail deer,” he says in an undertone.

“How can you tell the difference between an actual animal and a person who has shifted into one?” I murmur, watching the deer amble around, nudging at a bush. It looks totally relaxed apart from the ears, which swivel around like London’s.

“It’s a combination of things. Smell, energy. You’ve shifted now, can’t you sense that’s a real deer?”

Inhaling, I frown. “I’m not sure, but it’s not like I’ve exactly got to grips with turning into air. What the fuck is that all about anyway?”

“We talked about it when you were resting at the farm. François and my dad both think you’re a Sylph.”

Sylph?

‘Sylph.’ I roll the word over my tongue. “I’ve never heard of them.”

“Dad got out ‘S’ book from his encyclopedia set.” He grins at me. “He’s had this massive twenty-six book collection all my life. Me and Mom take the piss, they’re so out of date, but every time one comes in useful, Dad lights up like a Christmas Tree.”

That makes me smile. I love getting a little glimpse into Tally’s home life. “So, don’t keep me in suspense; what did you learn?”

“Well, babe, seems you are like an air-nymph? You can control the wind and air pressure. Conjure up storms, make tornadoes, which was amazing to watch by the way, and even manipulate the air to suffocate people, so remind me never to make you mad.”

Huh. An air nymph.

“I think I like this better than being a dragon. Though dragon-fire could come in handy.”

“Who needs flames when you can summon lightning? I can’t wait to see the shit you get up to once you’ve full control over your gift.”

He’s right. Excitement bubbles in my belly. I can fly, I can turn fucking invisible. Shit, I’m way better than a clumsy, heavy dragon. Releasing my hands from the coffee mug, I concentrate for a few seconds, then push a swirl of air towards a pile of dead leaves. They instantly start to lift from the ground, twisting around and around in a little whirlwind. “Think I could twist someone’s head around like that? Easy way to break a neck.”

“Vicious,” Tally grins, leaning in and kissing my temple. “I like it.”

I lean into his chest, watching the little leaves scatter back into the frozen mud as I let go of the magic. This feels so good, so right.

So fucking peaceful.

I actually don’t think I’ve ever experienced a moment like this, where I felt truly at peace.

The world is still, letting us breathe for a minute.

Psych.

Gareth's cell phone in Tally’s pocket starts to ring. He pulls it out. “It’s a blocked number.”

We meet eyes. “Think it’s safe to answer?”

“Got to risk it. It could be the Unbound.” Tally hits the green button. “Yes?”

I can’t hear anything from the other end. “One second,” Tally says, then puts the phone on the table, pressing the speakerphone option. “You’re on speaker, Rory is here,” he says.

“Rory? Can you hear me?”

The voice on the other end is stern. My brother.

“Hey, Cosmo.”