Free Blood of Dragons by Bonnie Lamer

turning the pages.  Then they could search for a way to swap Xandra and me back while the rest of us retrieve Miss Tabitha.”
     
    Dagda looks at Xandra’s mother with questioning eyes.  “Your thoughts?”
     
    She mulls it over a moment.  “It does seem reasonable.”  I can tell that she would rather we all be working on the body swap issue, but her concern for Tabitha prevents her from doing so.  The machinations of humanoid brains.  Fascinating.  Perhaps the next time I fall I will choose a realm that has beings other than large reptiles simply to watch them figure out their lives without being all knowing.
     
    “I agree,” she says.  “With one condition.”  She turns to Dagda.  “I believe you should remain here.”
     
    Storm clouds move in on his face.  “I am going.”
     
    I think I see where she is going with this.  Maybe I can help.  “I believe she is implying that your presence here in this realm is crucial at this juncture.  Word will spread fast that something is amiss and you will need to reassure your subjects that things are under control.”
     
    He shakes his head and sighs, resting his head against the back of the chair again.  “You are correct.”
     
    “Kallen, are you comfortable with this?” Isla asks.
     
    I think comfortable may be too strong of a word at the moment.  I do not believe he will be comfortable until Xandra once again inhabits this body.  I will try again to reassure him.  “I will continue to search for answers that may be hidden away somewhere in my mind.  I am as eager as you to have this resolved.” 
     
    Hmm, being in this realm seems to be affecting my moral compass because that statement was not completely true.  I am jealous as hell that he gets to spend the rest of his life with Xandra.  I am not eager to have this situation resolved because the longer I am here and she is not, the longer it will be before I have to go back to watching her be with another.  But, I made this choice and I will abide by what I said.  I will search for answers whether I want to or not, for I must hold the key somewhere in my mind.
     
    Instead of answering Isla, Kallen turns to Dagda.  “You give me your word you will do everything in your power to get Xandra back.”
     
    Dagda sits forward.  “I will not rest until she is back here insulting me and constantly being a test of my authority.”  He attempts a smile but it is rather grim.
     
    Kallen does not even try to smile.  He looks at Isla.  “We should be off.  I do not want to waste any more time.  If just the three of us go, we can make better time.”
     
    Isla rises from her chair.  “You are correct.”  Looking at me, she says, “Perhaps something more comfortable and less eye catching would be appropriate.”
     
    Yes, this wedding dress is rather binding.  Time to test my magic.  Or Xandra’s magic.  I pull some from the earth and I am flooded with coarse, wild magic that is quite difficult to control.  There is so much of it.  Beings in realms other than that of the Angels are not supposed to be able to draw on this much magic.  Especially considering how impure it is.
     
    As I am internally ruminating, the magic has taken on a mind of its own.  It is seeping out everywhere.  I need to get a handle on it.  I get an image in my mind of what I would like to wear so I can give it direction.  Perhaps if I close my eyes I can focus better.  Alright, black pants and gray shirt.  Oh, and shoes.  Black.  I feel the wedding dress melt away and the new clothing taking shape.  I open my eyes to look at my creations.  Now I want to close them again.
     
    I did not take into consideration the size difference between Xandra and myself.  Therefore, I am wearing pants that are sure to fall down when I stand up and a shirt that would serve well as sleepwear.  It goes well past my knees.  The shoes that are on my feet are overly large.  By approximately four