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I stiffen because my whole face burns up. I twist in his direction to find him grinning, eyes closed again, and I hurl the grape in my hand at him. It hits him square in the forehead and bounces away. He opens his eyes, cutting me a side stare, then winks.

“Oh, fuck,” Lian snorts out, slapping a palm to the middle of his chest. “I admit I was wrong because I had no fucking idea you two have already sailed right past the lovesick stage. You’ve fucked each other.”

“Hey, I beg to differ,” I rasp out, and in hindsight, it might have been a mistake, considering Lian’s smug expression.

“No, I get it. You saw what he’s packing and immediately pumped the brakes.” He huffs, the corner of his mouth lifting, his chest puffing out. “Challenge accepted, petal.” His hand lowers to his belt, and panic shoots through me.

I leap to my feet. “Stop. No. Not here.”

That grin only widens, while Kazak groans in his seat. “Agreed. And I can tell you’re eager, but let’s not do it here. Though, if you insist, you can try asking nicely.”

I exhale loudly, feeling like a fool. “Whatever.” I need air, as this room is about to burst. “Heading to the bathroom.”

“Nobody needs to know, unless it’s you calling me to join you,” Lian persists.

“Nope, you stay here.” I hurry out into the hallway, where the air is cooler, and make my way down the corridor. I don’t stop until I lock myself in the tiny bathroom.

For a few seconds, I just stand there, attempting to calm my breaths. Hopefully, by the time I return, the pair of them will have fought it out.

I approach the small mirror and lean my hands on the basin, staring closer at myself. “I’m just a village girl who’s in way over her head with these monsters.”

For some reason, I recall seeing myself in my monstrous form, reminding me that I’m not weak and I can manage this. But then, in the blink of an eye, the shift flares over me as fast as a breeze, without permission.

I flinch back, heart in my throat, and staring at the mirror is the pretty side of me. Gold woven in my now-longer hair, glowing lines across my face, down my arms, and vanishing beneath my shirt.

My eyes seem to ignite, gold and violet, and I gasp for air, because I’m actually beautiful. This can’t be me. I’ve always been the girl every boy in the village avoided.

Obsidian-black claws curve at my fingertips, and I glance back at myself in the mirror, something glinting at my cheekbones. I press closer, running a finger where there seem to be soft scales. Not like a fish, because it doesn’t lift under my touch. What is that? I spot more of them down my neck as well.

That’s when something flutters under my shirt above my heart, the skin tingling. I peer down and gingerly tug at the collar of my shirt to where the dragonfly mark ought to be. Except the tattoo is peeling away from my skin of its own accord.

I scream, then clamp my mouth shut before someone hears me.

In seconds, the dragonfly pushes itself out from under my shirt, its wings flapping me in the face as it ascends.

And it’s free.

Oh my Gods!

It launches itself away from me, shaking the dark ash from its wings and body. Glints of fiery orange and red flare across its large wings. Absolutely breathtaking. The thing is as large as my outstretched hand.

Suddenly, it darts around the tiny bathroom, crashing into the walls, wings beating rapidly. It takes loops and moves quicker. And in an instant, it dive-bombs me.

I duck, arms over my head, protecting myself. Does it hate me?

“Why are you attacking me?” I ask, but that doesn’t stop the feral little thing from going wild.

It flies right into my hair, and I desperately try to bat it away with my claws. I have to fix this, and in my mind, I’m already picturing myself as a human again. Just as I’d done in my bedroom.

It’s not working. My claws are still out.

The dragonfly finally zips out of my hair, moving faster now as if it’s furious. It buzzes right past my ears, and to avoid it, I shove myself sideways, crashing my shoulder into the wall.

Again, I concentrate on one thought…

Turn back into my human form. Now. Go back, please. Just do it already.

Nothing.