Page 78 of Bright Soul

Her breath caught. Though I didn’t think she needed to breathe, some gestures transcended death and ascension into a new form.

“Recent events have forced me to look at what I have become, and there is much I would change,” I continued. “Starting with my failures as a father. I have much to apologize for, but I hope we can repair the damage between us.”

Her smile echoed a brightening of our surroundings. The immediate joy and relief were unmistakable. “I would like that more than anything,” she murmured. She angled her head, and I met her halfway, our foreheads touching. A sign of trust and affection for our race blessed with sharp horns.

There was an echo of Cress’s chastisement in my ears, once uttered in this small space.“The fact that she’shereand that she made me Guardian of Moongrove Library was all for you.”Braza had been trying to reach across the gap this whole time.

“I want to apologize too, for holding you in containment for so long,” she said.

I shook my head. “I’ve already accepted your reasoning and come to peace with the missing years. If I hadn’t been contained for that period of time, how would I have met Cress? Your actions guided my destiny.”

She wiggled, and I realized I still had her held up off the ground. I placed her down and she beamed up at me. “You’re happy with her,” she said knowingly. “It’s time.”

“Tomorrow.” I was pleased at the approval I felt from the electric currents of her power. The tether between Cress and Braza made them close in their own way. No one was cheering on Cress more than my adopted daughter. “But first, I have to tell you something.”

A hint of wariness touched her voice. “Okay.”

It was easier to show her. I took her hands and closed my eyes, letting the memory of Endaeron’s last moments float to the front of my mind. Reliving the Void’s prophecy was no easier a second time, and it was tied up in other thoughts Braza undoubtedly skimmed from my mind.

Her energy-formed fingers were starting to feel warm in mine as she took from my body heat. She was silent for a while after witnessing what I’d seen and concluded about Myuna’s actions afterward. I only hoped she’d picked up that I would’ve come around and apologized to her with or without this glimpse into the past.

When she finally spoke, it wasn’t about the prophecy at all. “What you’re planning to give me is illegal by supernatural law.”

“But do you want it?” I asked.

She glanced away, lip caught between her teeth. “Every gargoyle forgets their past life,” she said.

“A purposeful flaw, I imagine. Otherwise, the supernatural world would be flooded with witches chasing immortality.” Isqueezed her fingers, surer than ever that I wanted to try to do this for her. “I have Geo, who may allow me to study the spells keeping him animated, and an abundance of time. I would make the body perfect for you so you can have the life that was stolen from you so long ago. No human law will stop me from trying, only your word that you wish to continue on as a powercore.”

She took in our surroundings, releasing a sigh weighted by centuries of unceasing service. If I thought I was tired, all I had to do was listen to her to know what true fatigue sounded like. “I…I do want to be alive again. But how will we hide a female gargoyle? And who will power Moongrove Library?” she asked.

“We’ll figure it out. Besides, you switched places with the powercore in this library, now empty save for temporary containment of torchbearers. There’s never been a better time for you to go missing.” I nodded slowly to myself, seeing it play out in my mind’s eye. “We will blame Myuna, and this library will remain empty until another power source can be found. In the meantime, I will hold your soul in a suitable temporary vessel.”

I pulled the dragon’s scale from my pocket, and she took it to inspect. “This isn’t a purified fae crystal,” she said skeptically.

“It is the best I could find for now. I have faith it would be able to contain your soul long enough to give me time to source a proper gargoyle heart,” I said.

In answer, she gestured overhead at the powercore above us. “All of this is my soul now.”

I glanced up with a thoughtful hum. “Perhaps I should find you two. One for each half.”

Though I’d never been involved in making gargoyles directly, I knew the magic-washed stones chosen for their hearts were selected for the lattice structure within. If I phrased the question correctly, maybe one of the Crystal Court fae would be willing to sell me two without realizing what they were for.

“I shall write down everything I remember about gargoyle creation. Between us, we can figure out the spells and materials.” The smile she offered was fragile with hope. “Once Cress and I defeat Myuna for good, we will have all the time in the world.”

I’m sure mine was as well. “There are a few last things I need to retrieve from the city. Perhaps when I return, we could sit and talk for a while?”

“I’ll be here,” she said wryly.

29

CRESS

Geo and I took the luxury of a slow wakeup with Wren’s phone between us, watching highly satisfying videos of molding kinetic sand and hydraulic presses at work. Then the device buzzed continuously and threatened to jump out of my hand. It was Ben texting in bursts from someone else’s phone.

Geo groaned in denial, and I made a sound of agreement. The outside world was about to steal us both away; I knew it.

I pieced Ben’s message together and read it in a frenetic pace in my head from how short the individual texts were. “Hey, babe, where are you? Have you seen Geo or Phaeron? You have to come to the hospital! My brother’s awake! He’s doing good, and I want to introduce you guys. Sorry, did I wake you? I’ve been waiting all day for you to steal a car and come back! You’re okay, right?”

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