Page 55 of The Beyond
“No, you can’t,” she said loudly. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she glared at Lucas.
Lucas said something in a low voice to Selene that caused her to grow even angrier. She glanced over at him, as if he was what they were arguing about.
“Problems?” he asked, setting down the bowl and making his way towards them.
“No,” Lucas said firmly. “Let’s eat.”
Scott stopped next to Selene. “Problems?” he asked softly.
“No,” she said, walking past him.
He wanted to argue, to get to the bottom of their fight, but Mia called out that they had less than fifteen minutes to eat and head out.
They ate in silence, as if it was their last meal. He couldn’t help glancing between Selene and Lucas the entire time. The two of them avoided each other’s gazes.
“We can do dishes later,” Mia said, checking her watch. When Selene moved to grab a coat, Mia added, “You won’t need that.”
Selene shrugged and then followed everyone outside. Scott followed Selene.
“Is this going to be an issue?” Lucas asked Selene.
“No,” she answered quickly. Then she glared at Lucas.
“What the hell is the problem with the two of you?” Mia turned on them. “We have about five minutes, and I refuse to take another step before you clear the air.”
Selene glanced at Scott then back at Mia.
“Lucas thinks that I should leave the three of you there. I told him that Erebus didn’t seem to care if I stayed or went. I doubt it will matter. Besides, how are you supposed to get back?” Selene asked, talking quickly.
“I agree,” Mia said. “Selene stays.” She turned to Lucas, who opened his mouth to argue. “She stays,” Mia said a little firmer.
“Fine,” Lucas growled out. “We change before we go.” He nodded to the others.
Scott willed his form to change. The first few times he’d done it, he’d practically hyperventilated. Now, it was as easy as snapping his fingers.
He felt his body grow, change, twist. Then he was staring down at Selene from almost ten feet. Mia and Lucas stood shoulder to shoulder next to him. In this form, his eyesight was far better than anything he’d experienced before. He could smell things he’d never smelled before, even from miles away. Things deep down in the earth. Things in the air and the trees. Selene. He held on to the smell of her as the world around them twisted and bent.
Selene. He would remember her no matter what.
Darkness came moments later. Along with pain. So much pain. He felt as if his sides were on fire.
When they appeared in a place he had never seen, a place filled with all new scents and sounds, he almost fell flat on his face.
“Steady,” Lucas growled out.
“What the…” Mia said at the same time he did as she jerked her head towards him, banging her snout against his.
Selene stood in front of them, sober. Then she burst out laughing.
“We have to work together,” Lucas said.
“Did you know this would happen?” Mia asked.
“I had an idea,” Lucas replied.
It was then that Scott looked down at the two massive paws underneath the three of them.
“Shit,” he said when he realized the three of them had merged into a three-headed dog roughly the size of a barn.
