Page 24 of Eggsactly the Right Gargoyle

“The magic is accelerating the growth.” I try to maintain a scientific detachment. “The restoration process is happening faster than we anticipated.”

“It’s not just faster,” says Talia, releasing my hand to touch a nearby flower. The blossom responds by glowing brighter and releasing a puff of golden pollen that hovers in the air like miniature stars. “It’s different. More vibrant. More...alive.”

She’s right. The grove isn’t just being restored to its former state. It’s evolving into something new. Something created by the unique combination of our magics.

We continue our inspection, moving deeper into the grove. With each step, more wonders reveal themselves. Mushrooms that pulse with blue-green light. Vines that twist and curl with deliberate patterns, forming intricate designs along tree trunks. Even the air itself seems charged with magic, tiny motes of light drifting like fireflies.

“This is incredible,” says Talia, spinning in a slow circle to take it all in. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Neither have I, and I’ve been around for over five centuries.”

She laughs. “I keep forgetting how old you are.”

“Ancient,” I agree with a smile. “Practically a relic.”

“A very well-preserved relic,” she teases.

The air between us shifts, grows heavier with unspoken thoughts. I should look away, but I don’t.

A vine near our feet suddenly springs to life, curling around our ankles, not to trip us this time, but to draw us closer together. Talia stumbles forward, and I catch her by the waist.

“The plants are getting bold,” she says, resting her hands on my chest.

“They’re responding to the magic,” I say, my voice rougher than intended. “To us.”

All around us, the grove pulses with increasing energy. The bioluminescent flowers glow brighter. The grass beneath our feet softens, becoming a carpet of velvety moss that emits a gentle radiance. Pollen lights float higher, creating a canopy of golden stars above our heads.

“I think this is what Grizelda was warning us about. The Mating Phase is affecting the grove.”

“And us,” I add, acutely aware of my hands still on her waist, of her warmth seeping through my stone skin.

“We should stop,” she says, though she makes no move to pull away. “Try to control it.”

I nod in agreement, but even as I do, I know it’s too late. The magic has built too much momentum, fed by our combined power and something primal and ancient that resonates with the season of renewal.

“I’m not sure we can stop it.” My wings unfurl slightly behind me, responding to my heightened emotions. “The magic wants to flow. Trying to dam it now might cause more harm than good.”

Talia’s scarf shifts to a deep crimson when she looks up at me. “So ,what do we do?”

The answer comes not from me, but from the grove itself. The ground beneath us trembles, and the moss grows thicker, forming a natural bed at the base of the largest tree. Vines curl protectively around this space, creating a private bower. Thefloating pollen lights drift lower, illuminating the area with a golden glow.

“I think,” I say slowly, “The grove is making its preferences clear.”

Talia’s laugh is nervous but genuine. “Subtle, it is not.”

My thumb traces small circles on her waist. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. We can leave and try to wait out the Mating Phase somewhere else.”

“Is that what you want?” she asks, staring into my eyes. “To leave?”

The question hangs between us, weighted with possibility. I should say yes. Should be the responsible one, the ancient guardian who knows better than to surrender to magical impulses. Five centuries of discipline and control urge me to step back, to put space between us.

Instead, I tell her the truth. “No,” I say simply. “I don’t want to leave.”

She slides her hands up my chest to my shoulders, then to the back of my neck. “Neither do I.”

The admission breaks a dam inside me holding back a century of loneliness and longing. I lower my head and capture her lips, no longer caring about propriety or the consequences tomorrow might bring.

She responds immediately, rising on her toes to press herself closer. Her lips are soft and warm against mine, tasting of honey and sunlight. I tighten my arms around her waist, lifting her slightly to better align our bodies.

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