The Traitor by A. Lombardo (i can read with my eyes shut TXT) 📕

Careful not to pull too much magic from any one source too quickly, fearing it would alert the other Katori, he felt the evening breeze on his face. He extended his hand and let the moonlight absorb into his skin. Even the sea and her bounty within offered him power.

Deep within the recesses of his mind, he called upon the golden thread of creation. Multiple coils spun in his mind; all the creatures he knew floated within reach. Without his crystal, they all felt overwhelming, each pulsing with power, begging to be set free. The dragon, his first beast form, roared with life, demanding his attention. Kai embraced the cord and merged with the design of his dragon. His insides ripped and tore apart, and pain shot down his spine as the shift reconstructed his body. His head’s expansion caused severe throbbing, yet the fear of discovery kept the desire to scream locked tight.

As his throat morphed and extended, the transformation felt like swallowing gravel. Each shift was like a million pinpricks rippled repeatedly over his body. The cracking of bone and growth of new mass sucked every ounce of power he had. The intense change hurt beyond belief and twisted his mind. He never imagined how much the crystal amplified his magic and softened his shift. The pain his mother suffered all those years ago finally became real.

The transformation complete, his emotions roared with anger and desire to fly free. The dragon’s mind was strong, maybe stronger than his own, and it wanted control. Focused on the memory of Rayna, he held thoughts of his life close. The first beat of his wings lifted him from the ship. Men shouted. He pressed his wings down for another lift, but something—or rather, someone—landed on his back.

“Not so fast, boy.” Keegan touched his scaly neck. “Easy now, Kai, let’s not do anything rash, like fly away.”

Kai heard a voice inside his head. It sounded like his own voice, ordering him to land on the deck. Bewildered by the instructions, he tried to flap his wings, but the voice pressed harder, and he landed on the deck with a thud. He had no control over his own body or mind.

Keegan’s voice spoke to him, and he stroked Kai’s dragon neck. “I must say, no Beastmaster has ever transformed without their crystal. It looked painful, but I am impressed. If I had not taken to the crow’s nest, I would have been forced to shoot you from the sky.”

Familiar magic whispered to Kai; his crystal was being pressed against his scales. He wondered why Keegan would offer him any kindness. “Transform back, my boy. I can’t lose you yet, and there is no room on my ship for you in dragon form.”

The magic within the white crystal sang to Kai. He felt the call and serenity of its power hidden within his stone. Combined with the magic from Keegan, he transformed back into his proper form. His father jumped to the deck behind him. Pride beamed on the man’s face, and Kai seized the opportunity to snatch his crystal from his father’s hands.

“By all means,” Keegan relented, “take it. The crystal does not work for me; believe me, I tried, but you do not need it. Again, impressive. I know of no Beastmaster in our history who could transform without their stone. Sure, Weathervanes can still manipulate the climate and Stonekings can move stone, and some Kodama can heal minor cuts and wounds, but we are each limited without our crystals. You should not be able to shift.”

The warm crystal dangled once more around Kai’s neck. A peace emanated from the stone. “I will not stop,” Kai seethed. “Every chance I get to flee, I will take it.”

Keegan motioned to a massive crossbow mounted on the front of the ship. Kai remembered the weapon and how it felt getting shot with the large bolt through his wing.

“I believe you,” Keegan motioned to a Caroco man who turned the weapon toward Kai and yanked it into firing position. His father continued, “Which is why, for now, you must be chained below decks. You will remain under constant supervision until we arrive in Caroco. And then, when the time is right, we will collect your mother. Maybe she can talk some sense into you. I know she is alive—well, mostly. The report I heard said that Mariana is an endless sleep.”

Kai rushed at Keegan. “Leave my mother alone!”

An iron-like grip latched onto Kai’s neck, and his body fell limp. “Careful, boy. Your willful nature is going to get you killed, and I have plans for you.” Keegan tossed him to the ground. “I am tired of this battle between us. You will learn your place, or I will find other methods to teach you respect.”

His father motioned to a nearby man who forced Kai below deck and shackled him inside a steel cage.

Chapter 13

Keegan's Darkness

Dawn poured through the porthole within Kai’s cage. His black steel box was barely large enough to stand in and not wide enough for him to lay flat. Using all his strength, he pushed and pulled at the bars. They did not bend, not even a little. The bolts held fast and showed no signs of breaking.

Disappointed by his failure, he tugged at his shackles. His chains were heavy, even for a Katori. He studied the texture and gleaned the metal. Like his cage, the restraints were made of steel. It was beyond anything he knew. Still, he yanked on his bonds. Surely the wood would give way, he thought, but it did not budge.

“You will not break your chains,” a man called from the shadows. “The powder mixed within the metal makes it