Page 110 of Shadows of Change

Malrik's gaze flickers to the amethyst necklace glowing softly against my skin. "The Heart of Eternity," he says, his tone steadier now. "It wasn't just protecting you. It was preparing you."

"For what?" I ask, but before he can answer, an explosion rocks the arena. My wings flare instinctively, and I feel my feet leave the ground again. The sensation of hovering should terrify me, but it feels right, like remembering how to swim.

The arena doors burst inward. My heart stops when I see Aspen and Torric in the doorway, their expressions frozen in a mix of awe and disbelief. Torric’s jaw tightens, his usual confidence faltering as his gaze sweeps over me and my wings, while Aspen’s brows draw together, his hand gripping the doorway like it’s the only thing keeping him steady. Haloed by the light from my wings, they look as shaken as I feel. I've faced down Nightwraiths, discovered my heritage, and grown actual wings,but somehow this—facing the twins with my new reality—makes my throat close with fear.

What if they see me differently now? What if this is too much, too strange, too—

"Holy shit," Torric breathes, and the raw awe in his voice makes my wings flutter nervously.

Aspen just stares, his expression making my heart skip. My shadows stay coiled tight around me, protective while Mouse brushes against my leg, a solid reminder that not everything has changed.

Torric steps forward, his usual confident stride slightly hesitant. "If you think this changes anything," he starts, and my heart clenches until he finishes, "you're right. Now I definitely can't let you out of my sight." He gives me a crooked grin, the edge of humor softening the intensity in his voice.

The laugh that bursts out of me is half relief, half hysteria. Then Aspen moves closer, and something in his careful approach makes my wings fold closer to my back, not in fear but in a strange sort of shyness.

"Still you?" he asks quietly, holding out his hand. His blue eyes search mine, steady and unflinching, like he’s trying to anchor me to the moment.

I take it, and his fingers are warm and steady against mine. A tether to the ground when everything else feels like it might float away.

"Still me," I manage, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Just... with some upgrades."

Aspen squeezes my hand lightly, the smallest gesture, but it feels like he’s saying,I see you. I’m here.

"Upgrades," Torric snorts beside me, but I catch the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's what we're calling divine transformation now?"

My wings shift, catching the light like stained glass. My shadows—brilliant and vivid—move with deliberate purpose around me. Bob stands at attention like a tiny general, Patricia frantically records every detail in shadow script, while Finnick darts around with exaggerated energy, testing the new balance of the group. I can't help but smile at their antics, the way they seem to reflect the new harmony settling in my chest.

72. Kaia

"Not to ruin the whole goddess glow thing," Finn says, his grin as bright as ever, "but does anyone else think Bob's about to start demanding a promotion?"

The laugh that escapes me is shaky but real, grounding me in the moment. He steps closer, and my wings flutter in response, casting fractured patterns of light and shadow across the stone floor.

A memory flashes through me—my mother's wings, golden and brilliant, sheltering me as she whispered ancient words. My own wings draw close instinctively, mirroring that long-ago protection. The force of the memory makes me stumble, the bittersweet ache in my chest almost too much to bear.

Finn's strong arms catch me before I can fall. The warmth of his touch anchors me to the present, reminding me that I'm not lost in memories of what was. I'm here, with them.

"Kaia?" Multiple voices call out in concern, but it's Aspen steady presence that calms me, his hand still anchoring mine. My shadows curl around both of them, as if trying to hold onto this moment.

"I remember," I whisper, my wings trembling with the weight of memory. "Not everything, but... pieces. My mother—she had wings like mine, but golden. She used to shield me with them when I was scared."

The Heart of Eternity radiates warmth against my chest, as if encouraging the memory. Mouse presses against my leg, and I feel his silent support. Bob attempts to comfort me by patting my head while Patricia records every detail of the memory in her shadow notes.

"The memories will come," Malrik says, stepping closer. "The Heart protected them, just like it protected you."

"Yeah, well, next time maybe a warning before the whole divine revelation thing?" Finn suggests, but his hand finds mine, completing a circuit between me, him, and Aspen that sends warmth flowing through my wings. "Some of us have weak hearts," Finn says, his grin returning as if to prove otherwise. "And by 'some,' I mean me—just in case you were wondering.”

"Speak for yourself," Torric growls, but he hasn't moved from his protective stance near us. His energy hums in sync with my new power, like complementary notes in a song.

My wings stretch slightly, unconsciously trying to encompass all of them. The gesture feels instinctive, like my body remembers what my mind doesn't—that Valkyries were protectors, guardians. My shadows respond in kind, creating a loose circle around our group, with Bob taking point like a tiny commander.

"So," I say, aiming for casual despite the power thrumming through my veins and my shadows' obvious pride, "anyone want to help me figure out how to get through doorways with these things? Because I have a feeling the academy's architect didn't plan for wingspan."

A sharp knock at the entry makes us all turn. Professor Lira stands in the doorway, her usual calm demeanor tight with urgency.

"The board has convened an emergency session," Lira says, stepping inside. Her silver eyes take in my wings with a mix of awe and concern, her fingers gripping the edge of the doorway tightly, as if bracing herself. The tension in her posture matches the urgency in her voice, a rare crack in her usual calm demeanor. "They're demanding answers."

"Now?" My wings twitch nervously, and I feel my shadows coil closer. "Do they have any idea what just happened?"

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