Page 28 of Eggsactly the Right Gargoyle

She floats toward us with several others trailing behind, including Evony Johnson, Bella from the café, and Hecate trotting alongside, tail held high.

“My dears,” says Grizelda, “You’ve done it! The Glimmergrove is awake and restored. I can feel the magic from here.” She glances at Dorian’s arm, half-concealing the egg. “And you’ve brought the final egg. Just perfect.”

I look between their smug expressions. “What’s going on? Did you know the grove would awaken?”

Hecate barks a laugh. “Oh, honey, they knew a lot more than that.”

“We might have nudged things along a bit,” says Grizelda, sounding not at all ashamed.

“Nudged?” repeats Dorian, dropping his voice.

Evony adjusts her glasses. “Perhaps ‘orchestrated’ is a more accurate term.”

“The resonance eggs were my creation,” says Grizelda. “We knew the Glimmergrove needed both of you to awaken properly. It took only a simple magic spell to find out it was crying out for a sun witch and a gargoyle guardian. The grove requires balanced energies.”

“The love song was my idea,” says Hecate proudly. “Nothing brings people together like music.”

“You manipulated us.” Dorian bares his teeth and growls, though there’s less anger in his voice than I’d expect.

“We facilitated,” corrects Grizelda with a smile. “The connection between you was already there, waiting to bloom. We just provided opportunities for it to flourish.”

“Like plants needing the right conditions to grow,” says Evony.

“So all of this was a matchmaking scheme?” I ask.

Grizelda’s expression softens. “Not just that. The Glimmergrove truly needed both of you. Its magic has been dormant too long, and Ostara is the perfect time for renewal. We simply recognized its guardians needed renewal too.”

Dorian sighs. “I don’t know whether to thank you or banish you.”

Grizelda laughs. “Oh, Dorian. After five centuries, you should know better than to threaten a witch.” She floats closer, patting his cheek affectionately. “Besides, can you honestly say you regret what’s happened?”

He glances at me, and his irritation visibly dissolves. “No, I don’t regret it.”

“Wonderful.” Grizelda produces a clipboard and hands it to me. “Congratulations, my dear. You’re officially in charge of the Ostara Festival.”

I blink in surprise. “What? But I thought—”

“That I was temporarily stepping back? That my putting you in charge was all a ruse to get you started on the right path? Oh, no.” She pats her belly. “This little one is due in three weeks. Besides, you’ve proven yourself more than capable.”

I take the clipboard hesitantly. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this responsibility.”

“Nonsense. You’ve already revived an ancient magical grove. The festival will be simple by comparison.”

Dorian squeezes my hand and steps closer. “I’ll co-chair with you. We can manage it together.”

My eyes widen. “Really? You’d do that?”

“Of course,” he says with a smile that transforms his stony features. “We make a good team, don’t we?”

Grizelda looks delighted. “Perfect. The festival is already underway, but there’s still much to do.” As she floats away to handle some flower arrangements, Dorian turns to me.

“Guardian of the Glimmergrove,” I say thoughtfully. “It has a nice ring to it.”

“It’s a serious responsibility I failed at before.”

“You didn’t fail,” I say firmly. “The grove went dormant, yes, but now it’s awakening again, and you’re not alone.”

Something settles in his expression, like a century-old restlessness finally finding peace. “We should focus on the festival first,” he says, gesturing to the clipboard. “One major magical responsibility at a time.”

---