Inky black bodies stepped forth into the glade. Their smooth scales glimmered in the moon glow, bodies serpentine and muscular, with prowling paws tipped in razor black claws. Black bat wings hugged their flanks as they churned around us, three animals that I recognized. David had warned me about these monsters, these other shifters. The burning smell sizzled off of their skin, their teeth bared and predatory yellow-orange eyes flashing: these were dragons and they were deep in the heart of ...