And now that she was awake at last, he desperately wanted to regain her trust, he craved it, needed to restore what time had stolen from them.
But he was patiently waiting for her to make her own decision. Anna glanced at the ladder. She could be stubborn and embrace her unease, or she could begin the process that might one day restore the absolute bond of trust they’d once shared.
Ah, hell, she’d never been a fan of rope ladders, anyway.
“I’ll take the ride, but don’t get used to it. I’ll be doing my own flying as soon as I’m able.” Anna stepped into his space and craned her neck. “A little help, please? You’re enormous.”
Relief washed down their link a second before Obsidian scooped her up in his arms and he laughed joyously. Anna scrambled for a grip around his neck as the big idiot launched himself over the edge and was suddenly twisting, flipping and gliding through the branches at breakneck speed.
Gonna die. Gonna die. Gonna die.
“Never!” Obsidian’s voice rang loud in her head.
They dropped faster and faster; the branches getting bigger the lower they flew, and then suddenly they were out of the dense canopy. Obsidian tightened his arms around her body and then spread his wings wide, soaring thirty feet above the ground. Now the only obstacles in his path were the wide trunks of the hamadryads which he navigated with ease.
“A little warning next time would be nice.” But she wasn’t angry at him. They both knew it. In fact, his joy was filling her, shoving aside her uncertainties and dark memories. And she didn’t miss how he hugged her just a little closer.
“Whiner,” he mouthed into her hair.
“Jerk.” Anna grinned up at him while she adjusted the satchel she still had gripped in one hand. “You’re lucky I didn’t drop the supply bag.”
“You’re too well trained for that.”
“Training, my ass. Sheer terror had my fingers locked in a death grip.”
Obsidian continued to pick up speed during his reckless flight through the trees. In this one moment, she had Shadowlight back. She didn’t know how long it would last, but for now she was thankful all the same.
“You didn’t scream.”
“Jaws were locked.”
He grinned. “Better lock them again then.”
A moment later he went vertical, missing a low-hanging branch by inches and then rolled on his side to squeeze between two closely spaced tree trunks. Using one leg to push off from the nearest trunk, he changed directions.
“You call that a warning?” She was just talking shit now though. Like old times.
“That was an advanced warning.”
“Still a jerk.” She grinned and gave his neck a squeeze.
Again, joy sparked down their link, the emotion too powerful for him to block. She’d done the right thing by accepting the flight.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination—a cliff with trees running right up to its jagged edge. As far as Anna could tell, these were just regular old trees.
“Yes, we use this area for harvesting wood for the cooking fires.” Obsidian circled lower, giving her a good look at the area before coming in for a landing. “We’re less likely to get discovered out here, especially since it isn’t yet dawn.”
He gently placed her on her feet and then stepped back, searching the ground for a natural depression. Without a word, he swiftly used his talons to clear the area of debris and enlarge the hollow.
Straightening, he stretched and sniffed. “I smell little in the way of prey here. I’ll build a fire and then go hunt in the shallows for fish.”
“I’ll gather some loose rocks for a fire ring while you gather the wood.”
Obsidian huffed in disdain and then waved his one hand at the ground. At first, nothing happened, and then the shadows shivered and rocks came loose from the ground, rolling toward the hollowed-out area.
Anna watched with bemusement. “Show-off.”
In under a minute, the stones had formed a fire ring.
“I will be back shortly. We’ll talk more then.”
She nodded her agreement, and then he vanished into the forest way faster than someone of his size should be able to move.
Chapter 6
Four leaf-wrapped bundles of fish were cooking on flat stones shoved half in the fire. Anna, too impatient to wait, peeled back the charred leaves of a fifth packet to get at the meat inside. Fish used to be one of her least liked foods, but her new gargoyle nature hadn’t yet met a meat she didn't like.
“Eat these first.” Obsidian held out some berries he’d found nearby. She popped a few in her mouth, then got hit with a rush of musty tartness and a hint of hot spice. Grimacing at him around a mouthful of the nasty crap, she gave him the finger.
“You did that on purpose!” she accused once her mouth was mostly empty.
“They are high in vitamins and minerals. Eat them.”
Anna made a face but swiftly popped another handful into her mouth and chewed them as she continued to unwrap the fish. “Tastes like the devil’s ass. Better be worth it.”
Obsidian shrugged in apology. “They are much better dried and eaten in trail rations.”
“Well, they couldn’t get any worse, could they?”
After finishing the berries, she swished her mouth with water and then started in on the fish, burning her fingers but too hungry to care. She polished off the first bundle of fish and Obsidian immediately handed her another.
Nodding, she took it gratefully. After the sharp edge of hunger was sated, she looked over at Obsidian where he was polishing off his own fish.
It was so peculiar to know this was Shadowlight, and yet he looked like a stranger.
“It is strange for me, too,” he admitted with a sigh. “I think I always just thought we’d pick up where we’d left off when you woke. But I’m not the gargoyle you remember. While I don’t feel like I’ve changed that much, I understand that you need to come to terms with everything.”
His words only highlighted the extent of the changes.
Shadowlight would have just brushed aside her concerns, told her she was foolish, and given her a big, sloppy gargoyle kiss. She’d have half-heartedly swatted him but then agreed, and they’d have found a solution to the present situation.
“There’s a simple solution to this ‘problem’ if you’re open.”
Anna arched a brow at him.
“We talk. Ask me anything. I’ll share everything with you. It might take days or even months, but I promise, we can be what we were before.”
“I’d like that.” Her heart swelled painfully, and she glanced down at the fire so he wouldn’t see the glimmer of foolish tears.
“Then ask me anything.”
She scrambled as her mind blanked for a moment. Then went with the first question that popped into her head. “Have you created other gargoyles?”
“No.” He gave an accompanying flick of his tail. “My mentors say it is unnatural and they wish to study your development before deciding whether it is something we should use to further grow the gargoyle legion.”
Anna hastily swallowed a mouthful of fish. “I thought they’d give a resounding ‘hell no’ to any power linked to the Battle Goddess.”
“Normally, yes. But they’ve studied me for many years now and know I am not her puppet.”
Looking at him, his size, his control of magic, the impenetrable shield around his mind, Anna wasn’t so sure she wasn’t looking at the culmination of the Battle Goddess’s plans.
He gazed at her, a hint of hurt creeping into his expression. “I thought we’d been through enough to know I’d never serve her.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that—I meant physically, you’ve grown into what she’d intended. The potential she’d strived to create to use as her vengeance.” Anna resisted the urge to give the big brute a hug. “But your soul—that is a thing entirely of the Light. Thirteen years. A hundred years. A thousand. Nothing will ever change your core good
ness.”
And now that she was getting over her earlier shock, she could see bits of the gargoyle cub she’d known in the adult who sat across the fire from her.
He huffed softly and returned to his food.
Time for a new topic. “Do you like it here? Do they treat you well?”
“Yes, this is my home now. I have friends, instructors, favorite mentors, even a few rivals in training. It is as Gregory said. We can trust Lord Draydrak. As fierce as his power is, he is nothing like his sister.”
All his answers felt natural and unscripted, not brainwashed. A weight lifted off her chest. Shadowlight might have changed into this stranger… this Obsidian, but he wasn’t unhappy. He’d just grown up on her.
Her throat grew tight again, and an ache that was becoming a familiar throb in her chest returned. She’d never again be able to read Shadowlight a story before bed or help him steal his favorite cookies from Gran’s kitchen.
Considering what could have happened, this was the best outcome, even if she silently grieved the loss of Shadowlight.
Across the fire, Obsidian stood suddenly and then came around and knelt next to her. A moment later he was pulling her into his arms, his wings wrapping around her. “Shadowlight isn’t gone. I’m still here. Look into my mind and you will see it’s true”
There was no hesitation, just a familiar power and the warm brush of a mind she’d missed. But unlike when he was a child, the link was much stronger; the emotions bleeding across it as strong as if she was experiencing them herself.
Distantly, she heard him grunt in surprise at the unexpected strength of their link. She didn’t have time to worry though, for in the next moment, she was Obsidian.
The gargoyle she’d once known as Shadowlight had trained for years, sunup ‘til sundown, preparing for the time when he would lead an army of gargoyles against the Lady of Battles.
It was his own determination that drove him—not his mentors’. Though they shaped and guided his energy, that will to become the weapon that would strike a devastating blow to the Lady of Battles was all his. It was Shadowlight himself who’d first taken the steps down that path because he wanted to be a warrior worthy of his partner, his Kyrsu.
Together they would be powerful enough to destroy anyone or anything foolish enough to challenge them. Never again would he experience the helplessness he’d felt when Anna was struck down by the blood witch.
They were a team. Two halves of a whole. Together they would be near invincible.
Obsidian issued a little hissing growl, and suddenly Anna felt their link fade. The big gargoyle folded his wings and stood, taking a few steps back.
“My apologies.” His voice came out gruff. “I knew our link would be stronger, but I expected nothing quite so…”
“Overwhelming,” Anna supplied for him.
“Yes.” He gave himself a little shake as if still struggling free of the binding magic linking them. “I was you for a few moments.”
“Yeah. And I was you. Guess that answers some of my questions.”
“That is… good.” His tone was a little doubtful and cautious as if he were trying to determine what all she’d seen in his head. “I thought I’d be able to control it even though you were untrained, but perhaps we should await direction from our mentors before trying again.”
“Probably a good idea. However,” Anna pointed to the place where he’d been sitting before, “I still have questions.”
Against her will, her mind spun back to earlier, when she’d first awakened. She’d intentionally tried not to think about it because he’d known every other private thought that crossed her mind, so there was no way he’d miss this one.
Across the fire, Obsidian stiffened and shoved an overly large piece of fish in his mouth.
Huh. Got that one too, did you?
He was taking an inordinately long time to chew his meal. Well then. Two could play that game.
She bit off a chunk of her own fish, chewing slowly. Obsidian echoed her.
Another half a minute passed in silence. Ah, hell with it. When had she turned into such a chicken, anyway?
“Earlier, when I first woke up, what was that about?”
His ears flicked forward in question, but his expression was as placid as a lake on a breezeless day.
Play the mute all you want. It will not stop me from dragging an answer from you.
She waited a moment more. Nothing.
Fine.
“The ‘hand on boob’ and let’s not forget the ‘spooning me like a champion’ thing.”
She was damn sure if blushes could show on his jet-black gargoyle hide, he’d have been beet red.
“Ah, that… there was nothing untoward. Though a human might mistake it for something else.”
“Don’t try that ‘she’s a human, she won’t understand’ card on me.”
He cleared his throat nervously, then gave the fire a couple good pokes, but he eventually ran out of distractions and glanced up at her.
“For years, after a long day of lessons, I would come and curl up next to you. Hearing and feeling your slow heartbeat always reassured me, made me feel less homesick in those earlier days. My mentors said I should keep it up because I was sharing power with you, feeding your body energy it needed to aid in its healing.”
He stared into the fire for long moments before continuing. “It also had the added benefit of allowing me to share some of what I learned with you. Though you may not be able to use what I gave you yet—it takes a very disciplined mind to control dreams and access what I shared. But in time you’ll master that ability.”
The bit about the sharing of knowledge was interesting. Once training starts, that could come in handy.
As for the rest?
Well, maybe she’d been barking up the wrong tree. But, still. The gargoyle sitting next to her was an adult male. And life experience had taught her the only men she could trust were blood relatives. All others had ulterior motives, even Obsidian, even if he hadn’t yet realized it.
“I don’t… not like what you fear. I sleep in my stone form every night to rejuvenate from the rigors of my strenuous training.” His response sounded a little defensive. “As I did last night. I’d only just returned to my flesh and blood form moments before you did.”
He was telling the truth. Her gargoyle nature stirred awake enough to let her know that.
With guilt, Anna remembered how she’d reacted and his snarl of pain. “Hey. Yeah. Sorry for any misunderstanding.”
“If I’d known you would wake… I’d have…” He used the excuse of rescuing the last bundle of fish from the fire to stall. After unwrapping it, he offered half to her and then shoved the rest in his mouth.
“You’d have what? Not been fondling my boob?” She added helpfully after his words failed him.
Obsidian coughed and sputtered like he’d swallowed his tongue. Anna came around to his side of the fire and thumped him a few times in the middle of the back. After he’d cleared his airways, he laughed, a sound that was full and rich and surprisingly pleasant.
“Exactly so,” he agreed at last. “Anna Mackenzie, please forgive me for that. I assure you, I didn’t have ulterior motives besides wishing to share my strength, magic, and knowledge with you.”
“I see that now.” And she did.
After that, much of the earlier tension vanished, and they continued to eat in a companionable way. Occasionally, she’d ask a question, and he’d answer. Other times, he’d offer some exciting bit of his history she hadn’t thought to ask.
But eventually, he looked up at the sky, sighed and stretched, then said they should return to his dwelling to get ready for the day. He couldn’t put off taking her before the elders any longer.
Chapter 7
While Anna was using his bathing chamber to wash up before going to meet with the elders, he mulled over his options. Unfortunately, he saw no way to scratch together more alone time to give her a chance to adjust to the new h
im. As soon as others knew she was awake, they would monopolize her time, distracting her.
It was one reason he’d taken her to the cliff instead of just going to the communal fires where there was usually food. He’d even debated taking her for a flight to one of the other islands that dotted the ocean in this region. But if he didn’t show up for the festival preparations, it would draw suspicion.
But, curse the dark, she was his Kyrsu, and he wanted to cement that bond before venturing forth. Selfish of him, but true.
He was still digging for more options when a pounding rattled the door.
“I know you’re in there,” Truth called through the wood. “I don’t want to be late for the assignments. You know I want to get picked for the hunt. Get your lazy backside out of that nest!”
Obsidian huffed at Truth’s timing. Now there would be no way to keep Anna’s waking a secret for a few hours more. “I’ll be there in a moment. I slept in.”
“Liar! You never sleep in.” A fat pause followed a deep huffing breath. “God and Goddess! Do you actually have a woman in there with you?”
There was more loud sniffing and huffing laughter from outside. At which point Obsidian realized there were others out there with Truth. Just his luck.
“I came to apologize,” Oath piped up. “But we’ll come back later.”
“No, we won’t,” Hunts in the Storm injected with a hearty laugh. “I’ve waited too long for the mighty Obsidian to fall. Now maybe a dryad will look in my direction.”
“Storm!” Truth growled out a warning.
Damnation! Truth’s younger brother was back from the mainland early? Storm was renowned for his tracking skills, but also for hunting down the truth. He never left any leaf unturned in that quest.
There was a snort from behind Obsidian.
“Friends of yours?” Anna asked.
“Not for much longer,” he grumbled.
“Hah! You do have a woman in there!” Deeper sniffing sounded.
Anna made her way to the hidden door. She jabbed a thumb at the shielding magic. With a nod, he pressed his palm against a geometric section of spell work and released a tiny surge of power. After the slightest of pauses, the magic covering the door shivered and drew away to the sides of the frame.
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