Page 13 of Eggsactly the Right Gargoyle

The pulsing grows stronger and more insistent. The moss begins to glow with a soft blue light. Above us, the branches of the Heart Oak creak and shift, reaching toward the sky with renewed vigor.

Talia laughs, a sound of pure delight. “We should help it. I could use my seasonal magic to encourage the plants. Just a little boost to help the awakening along.”

“Talia, wait—” I start to protest, but she’s already kneeling on the glowing moss, hands pressed to the earth.

“It’s okay. This is what I do. Plants are my friends.” She closes her eyes in concentration as she channels her magic into the ground. Golden light spreads from her palms, seeping into the earth. The moss responds immediately, its glow intensifying, spreading outward in a widening circle. White flowers begin to grow, blooming in rapid succession.

“Talia, be careful.” Vines creep along the ground, growing at an accelerated rate. “The grove’s magic is ancient and powerful. It might be more than you can handle.”

“It’s working,” she exclaims, oblivious to my concern. “The grove is waking up.”

She’s right. All around us, the Glimmergrove is stirring from its century-long slumber. Trees that were gray and lifeless now shimmer with an inner light. Flowers bloom in impossible colors. The very air seems to sparkle with magic.

It’s beautiful but terrifying. “That’s enough,” I say, moving to pull her away. Before I can reach her, one of the rapidly growing vines surges forward, wrapping around her ankle. Talia yelps in surprise as it yanks her off balance, pulling her toward a thicket of newly awakened plants.

“Dorian,” she calls out, scrabbling for purchase on the mossy ground.

I move without thinking, launching forward with surprising speed, and close my hand around her wrist just as the vine gives another powerful tug. I pull her against me, unfurling my wings fully to wrap around us both as I break her free from the grasping plant.

For a moment, we’re pressed together, her soft body against my stone one, my wings creating a protective cocoon around us. Her heart beats rapidly against my chest as her breath comes in quick gasps. Then, to my astonishment, she laughs.

“That was exciting,” she says, looking up at me with eyes bright with adrenaline and magic. “I guess the grove is a little enthusiastic about waking up.”

I stare at her incredulously. “You could have been hurt.”

“But I wasn’t.” She pats my arm, seemingly unconcerned by our close proximity. “You caught me.”

I become acutely aware of how I’m still holding her. Despite being made of stone, my arms aren’t cold. Guardian magic ensures my stone form maintains a warmth similar to living flesh. “You’re warm,” she says, surprise in her voice. “I thought you’d be cold, like stone.”

“Guardian magic,” I say stiffly, not moving away despite knowing I should. “It keeps me...functional.”

She smiles, a small, curious thing. “It’s nice.”

Something strange happens in my chest—a constriction that has nothing to do with my stone physiology and everything to do with the way she’s looking at me. It’s a sensation I haven’t experienced in a century. I clear my throat and step back, releasing her from my embrace. I fold my wings behind me once more, though they seem reluctant to do so.

“We should go,” I say. “The grove is awakening, but it’s still unstable. It could be dangerous.”

She looks around at the revitalized grove, her expression thoughtful. “It’s not dangerous. It’s just alive. After being dormant for so long, it’s bound to be a little unpredictable.” She reaches out to touch a nearby flower, which turns its bloom toward her like a pet seeking affection. “See? It just wants connection.”

I watch her interact with the awakening grove, a strange mixture of emotions churning within me. Fear, yes—fear of what might happen if the grove fully awakens, but also something else I’m reluctant to name. “We’ve done what the eggs led us here to do,” I say finally. “The grove is awakening. That doesn’t mean we need to stay and risk ourselves in the process.”

She stands her ground. “We can’t just leave. The grove is awakening because of us. It needs us.”

I cross my arms. “The grove survived without us for a century. It’ll manage.”

“Survived?” She gestures around at the half-dormant trees and struggling undergrowth. “This isn’t survival. It’s stagnation. The eggs brought us here for a reason.”

“The eggs have led us on a wild chase across Evershift Haven. For all we know, they’re some cosmic practical joke.”

Talia steps closer, her dark gaze fixed on mine. “You don’t believe that. I can see it in your eyes. They’re swirling faster.”

I turn away, irritated that she’s learned to read my expressions so quickly. My golden eyes betray my emotions through their movement, with faster swirls for agitation, and slower for calm. Right now, they must be spinning like whirlpools.

“Give me one day to work with the grove. If nothing significant happens, we’ll leave it alone.”

“And if something dangerous happens?”

“Then you’ll be here to protect me, won’t you?” She smiles, disarmingly sweet. “That’s what guardians do.”

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