Page 52 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

I clench my jaw, hackles rising at the implication. The clan’s teachings are what make us strong, what allow us to fulfill our sacred duty.

How can Caldor question that?

But as I open my mouth to argue, Caldor gestures to his wife and daughter, the clear adoration and happiness on both of their faces as they bend over a set of crayons and a coloring page together.

The words die on my tongue.

“I found real happiness by learning to let go of the clan’s cold ideology,” Caldor says softly. “By opening myself up to love and family. And Graeme? You can too. If you’re brave enough to reach for it.”

I say nothing. How could I? This goes against everything I’ve been taught, everything I have always trusted.

Is there a chance I have been clinging to a misguided doctrine, one that’s held me back from true fulfillment all these years? The very thought is a betrayal.

And yet...

I think of Ecco, still peacefully slumbering upstairs. Of the way she makes me feel lighter than I ever thought possible. Like I’m more than just a weapon. More than my duty.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, forcing myself back into certainty, calm.

The duty of the clan may not have been right for Caldor. But he’s not me.

“I appreciate your concern, Caldor. But my future is set. I have a duty to the clan, to my uncle. I can’t just walk away from that.”

Caldor nods, his eyes understanding. “I know it’s not easy, Graeme. Believe me, I’ve been there. But sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is forge our own path. To choose our own happiness, even when it goes against everything we’ve been taught.”

He reaches out, clasping my shoulder with a firm grip. “Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay? Don’t let the clan’s outdated ways rob you of a chance at something real. Something beautiful.”

I swallow hard, forcing down the emotion that threatens to rise within me. “I’ll consider what you’ve said.”

Caldor smiles, giving my shoulder a final squeeze before releasing me. “That’s all I ask. Now, I should get back to my girls. But if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

I watch as he rejoins his family, his daughter climbing into his lap with a delighted giggle. The love between them is palpable, a warm glow that seems to fill the entire room.

And as I fill a mug with steaming coffee, for the first time, I allow myself to imagine a future beyond the clan’s rigid confines. A future where I’m more than just a gargoyle warrior, bound by ancient oaths and unyielding stone.

A future with Ecco by my side, our hearts intertwined in a bond stronger than any duty or tradition.

The thought is both exhilarating and utterly terrifying.

I make my way back to our room, Caldor’s words echoing in my mind, a persistent whisper that refuses to be silenced.

The enchantedtouches of the honeymoon suite, once cloying and irritating, now seem to hold a new meaning as I step inside. The rose petals drifting from the ceiling, the lovebirds nestled in the eaves—everything I once found so frivolous and annoying suddenly has softened, and a grudging affection rises in me for this room, this place.

My gaze is drawn to Ecco’s sleeping form. She’s still sound asleep, sprawled across the heart-shaped bed in a tangle of sheets and shimmering blue hair. In the soft light of morning, she looks ethereal, a vision of beauty and tranquility.

I know my situation is different from Caldor’s. As the heir apparent, I have a duty to lead the Grigori, to uphold the traditions that have kept us strong for centuries. The weight of my clan’s expectations rests heavy on my shoulders, a burden I’ve carried since the day I was born.

But as I look down at Ecco, memories of last night flood my senses.

The way her touch set my soul on fire, igniting a passion inside me I never knew existed.

The way her laughter filled the empty spaces in my heart, chasing away the loneliness that has always haunted me.

Is she my chance to find that same happiness as Caldor? That same sense of belonging?

And if she is, am I fool enough to give that up?

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