Page 76 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

She pulls me into a hug, and I let her clasp me close for the first time in a long, long time.

“Always, my darling. Always.”

A few days later,I sit cross-legged on the floor of our suite at the Moonflower Inn, the ancient book of siren lore open in front of me. I mindlessly brush aside falling enchanted rose petals as I pore over the descriptions of siren abilities and the meditations designed to unlock their—our—deepest potential.

My eyes are bleary from reading the tiny text. I’ve been at this for hours, trying every technique the book recommends, pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion in my quest to understand my own power.

With a deep breath, I close my eyes and begin the latest meditation once again.

My body stills, my mind focused and clear as I reach for the depths of my own abilities. I breathe in the aroma of woodsmoke from the fireplace, grounding myself in the present moment.

As I sink deeper into the trance, there’s a subtle change in the energy that flows through me. My skin tingles, my blood humming with a new, unfamiliar frequency. I acknowledge the feeling and slowly embrace it, moving further, pushing past the surface level of my powers.

My consciousness expands, my awareness stretching beyond the confines of my physical form.

And then, with a suddenness that steals my breath, I break through.

The world falls away, replaced by a realm of pure emotion and raw, untamed energy. It’s exhilarating and terrifying all at once, a rush of sensation that threatens to overwhelm me.

My consciousness stretches further and further outward. The feelings that wash over me from outside the inn are dark andtumultuous, a maelstrom of grief and anger and despair. They buffet my body and mind like gale-force winds.

I gasp, my eyes flying open.

My heart pounds, and I breathe deeply, struggling to hold on to this awareness, this power. I’ve always known that my voice could sway hearts and minds, could make people experience things—make them relax, make them happy, make them, well, attracted to me.

But this... this is something new, something terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

This makes all of that look like nothing.

Deandra was right—I have the power to do more than just influence affection and happiness. As I hover in this space between worlds, I feel the first stirrings of my true potential.

And it’s more profound, more powerful than anything I’ve ever known.

28

GRAEME

Ilean back in my seat, the back of my chair brushing the rough-hewn wooden walls of the Hungry Minotaur bakery where I sit across from Caldor at a cozy corner table. The savory aroma of baked goods and hearty stews fills the air, mingling with the warm, rustic atmosphere of the tiny cafe.

Caldor and I have been catching up on a decade’s worth of history. I’ve filled him in on the happenings at the clan, telling him about his old friends and the clan’s business. He’s been giving me the rundown on his relationship with his wife and how he came to live in Elderberry Falls.

It’s a relief to have some space to myself now that Ecco’s stalker situation has been taken care of. And nice, if a little strange, to catch up with someone from my past like this.

But even as I savor this brief respite from constant focus, I can’t help the tug in my heart—a constant longing to be by Ecco’s side regardless of whether she needs a protector.

Protecting her, cherishing her, it’s become as natural and necessary to me as breathing.

I clear my throat, changing the subject of our conversation abruptly. “Caldor, what does a gargoyle do, if not bodyguard? I mean, what other options are there for someone like us?”

Caldor sits back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Well, for starters, I’m a martial arts instructor. Not much danger in a town like Elderberry Falls, so I mostly teach an after-school program for kids.” There’s a quiet pride in his voice.

I nod, my mind racing.

“But someone with, say,yourbackground? You’ve got options, should you ever decide to leave personal protection,” Caldor continues, his tone growing serious. Ticking the possibilities off on his fingers, he says, “You could come work with me, for one. Or you could train to join a police force, or a town’s fire department. Gargoyles are impervious to heat, after all—I have a second cousin who’s had an amazing career fighting enchanted forest fires up north.”

His words are like doors opening in my mind. Could I really walk away from everything I’ve ever known? From the duty and legacy of my clan?

Forcing a chuckle that sounds a little too loud, I say, “Well, not that I’m looking for a job. Gotta go back to the clan, after all.”

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