Page 69 of Bound In Stone, Claimed In Fire

I smile, sliding my hand up to cup his cheek. “All of those sound tempting. We’ll figure it out, day by day,” I reply softly. “No illusions or covens deciding for us.”

He nods, eyes fluttering shut. “Yes,” he breathes, a satisfied hum in his throat. “I never want to lose this. You. Us.”

Tears prick my eyes again—tears of joy this time.We’ve earned this joy.“You won’t,” I whisper, sealing the promise with a gentle kiss. The brand glows with a final flicker, as though blessing our vow.

We snuggle closer, letting the forest lull us into a tender stillness. My body aches, but in his arms, I feel safe, content, and unbelievably relieved. If I listen carefully, I detect no illusions or roars of monstrous gargoyles—only the rustle of pines and the faint hush of night creatures. Our synergy hum rests in a quiet lull, akin to the slow, steady beat of two hearts finally at peace.

In the hush, memories swirl: Drayveth’s condemnation, Nerezza’s final shriek, the synergy that sealed her away. Yet none of it disrupts this moment. I tuck my head under Kaelith’s chin, inhaling the mingled scents of pine needles, soot, and the underlying warmth that’s purely him.He’s truly mine now, unbound by illusions, unshadowed by centuries of guilt.

I think of the future. We might face suspicion, since the coven still considers me a Nyxari, and Kaelith is no longer fully gargoyle nor fully human. But we are alive and free to forge our path. The brand in my chest hums with quiet assurance—my magic stands with me, not as a threat, but a tool of creation.

Kaelith’s breathing deepens, half-lidded eyes watching me with a soft reverence. I trace faint runic lines across his collarbone, pressing gentle kisses to each. He shivers, letting out a low, half-pleased groan. My cheeks warm, but the brand flickers, urging me to continue offering comfort.

We share another slow, tender kiss, neither frantic nor overshadowed by violence. This time, it’s an expression of relief and belonging that extends beyond raw passion. I lose myself in the softness of his lips, the quiet hum of synergy that glistens in our blood. The pine needles rustle beneath us, but we barely register the discomfort. We’re adrift in a cocoon of love that the world’s cruelties cannot fracture.

When at last we part, we lie entwined, limbs draped over each other, heartbeats syncing. My eyelids droop, the day’s exhaustion heavy on every muscle. Kaelith’s chest rises and falls, each exhalation calming me. My brand dims to a gentle glow, the final proof that we’ve secured a future together.

I shift my head, gazing at the star-pocked sky above. “I feel… such peace,” I manage, voice hardly above a whisper. “After everything, it’s hard to believe.”

He strokes my hair, wings rustling. “It’s real,” he says, voice husky with weariness. “We made it real.”

Smiling, I tuck myself against him, letting the synergy’s lull cradle me. No illusions beckon, no condemnation weighs my spirit. My brand rests in a steady beat that echoes Kaelith’s heart, forging a serene hush around us. I close my eyes, letting the dreamless dark envelop me in the warmth of his arms.

When dawn breaks, it finds us still curled together in the modest shelter of pine and rock. I stir, blinking sleep from my eyes, greeted by the comforting weight of Kaelith’s arm across my waist. The brand flickers at the sudden wash of contentment. Our bodies ache, but the knot of fear that once plagued me has dissolved. I gaze at his face in the early light, a flicker of gratitude sparking in my chest:He’s here, truly here.

He stirs as well, opening eyes that gleam with quiet contentment. A small, wry smile touches his lips. “Morning,” he rasps, voice gravelly from sleep.

I lean in, pressing a featherlight kiss to his temple. “Morning,” I reply, heart fluttering. “Ready to face a new day free from illusions?”

His arms tighten around me, pulling me into a languid, half-drowsy embrace. “Beyond ready,” he murmurs, eyes drifting shut again. The brand hums, synergy bridging us in a gentle, waking connection.

We share a few moments of lazy warmth, letting our bodies reacquaint themselves with safety and peace. Eventually, I push upright, rubbing my arms against the chill. He follows suit, stretching stiff muscles. The sun crawls higher, filtering through pine branches, revealing the battered state of our clothing and the faint scarring left by runes on Kaelith’s skin. Yet the sense of wholeness in our bond remains.

As we gather our scattered belongings—staff, cloak, scraps of dried food—I catch Kaelith watching me with a thoughtful expression. “You all right?” I ask softly, sensing a swirl of emotion behind his eyes.

He nods, stepping closer so our shoulders brush. “Yes,” he answers, voice quiet, “just overwhelmed by the notion of living without illusions hanging over me… or guilt crushing me.” His gaze sweeps across my face. “And how grateful I am that you’re here.”

A gentle flush warms my cheeks. “I’m grateful too,” I confess. “We’ll find our way—beyond illusions, beyond Drayveth. We have each other.”

He inclines his head, a serene acceptance brightening his features.Yes, we have each other.We share one last embrace, hearts pulsing in unison, then begin the slow journey away from the fortress’s shadow. Each step leads us farther into a future shaped by our own hands, not illusions or ancient curses.

No illusions can sever the bond we reaffirmed in tender closeness last night, and no condemnation from old covens can overshadow the synergy we forged. The brand in my wrist hums contentedly, while Kaelith’s faint runic lines shimmer in the morning sun. Side by side, we vanish into the forested ridges, hearts brimming with the promise that, after all the heartbreak and battles, we’ve earned this new dawn of love, free from fear.

And as we walk, I sense a gentle current of joy radiating from both of us—an unspoken vow that, no matter what the world hurls our way, we’ll face it with unwavering devotion. In the quiet solitude of the pines, I quietly whisper a final prayer of thanks.We survived illusions and condemnation. We reclaimed a love forged in synergy. At last, we can live for ourselves, choosing each other without fear, building a fate untainted by ancient curses or battered covens.

Yes, we’re weary, bruised, and battered. But we’re also unbreakable—together.

20

KAELITH

Sunlight glitters through the remains of a once-grand doorway, illuminating faded glyphs and chipped stones that have witnessed centuries of secrets. The early morning air smells fresh and crisp, like a promise carried on the breeze. I stand in the fractured threshold of the ancient temple—now no more than a skeleton of pillars and arches—and let the golden rays spill over my face. My runes have faded to faint lines, but I feel more alive than ever.

At my side, Sariah steadies me, her brand glowing softly in the dawn’s light. We share a glance, hearts pounding in a synchronized beat. The world seems to hold its breath, waiting to see what we’ll do next, now that we’ve sealed Nerezza and survived Drayveth’s condemnation. I draw in a slow, bracing breath, exhaling tension that’s weighed on me for centuries.All that stone, all that guilt, all those illusions—gone.I am free.

Sariah’s cloak flutters around her ankles as a breeze stirs the courtyard. She tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear, silver glimmering in the sunlight. My chest tightens with a surge of affection. Even after so many battles, so much heartbreak, she stands beside me—strong, resolute, her brand an emblem of the magic that saved us both.

I reach out, taking her hand in mine. My claws are duller than they once were, my gargoyle might diminished to a mere shadow, but she laces our fingers together without hesitation, as though that part of me was never what truly mattered. The brand pulses, a faint synergy stirring between us. In that moment, everything feelsright.

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