Everyone turned to look at the small dragon perched on Liam's shoulder. With a shimmer of light, Midnight's form began to shrink and change. Her limbs contracted, her body compacting until she was the size of a housecat, her scales gleaming like polished obsidian.
"Holy shit!" Noir exclaimed. "She transformed!"
Liam blinked in surprise as Midnight curled herself into a tight circle around his neck, like a living scarf with glowing amber eyes.
"I didn't know we could still do that," Elizabeth said, her hand instinctively reaching for her own ears. "After the shift, I thought all our beast abilities were gone."2
"Midnight is special," the tiny dragon purred, her voice now higher and more melodic.
Johan immediately stood up in the moving wagon, nearly hitting his head on the canvas top. "I'm trying mine!" He closed his eyes in concentration, his face scrunching with effort. Nothing happened. "Maybe if I—" He strained harder, his face turning red.
