Page 44 of His Darkest Devotion

A subtle warmth fills her expression. “Then hold onto that,” she says softly. “Because this gargoyle aspect doesn’t define you. Maybe it grants you strength, but your choices shape who you are.”

Emotions swirl, too big to contain. The urge to close the distance between us wars with the instinct to recoil for her safety. I want to wrap her in my arms, bury my face in her hair, surrender to the comfort her presence offers. Yet the memory of that cursed orb, the Overlord’s savage grin, the echoes of monstrous roars in my head remind me how dangerous I could become.

Before I can respond, a low rumble resonates through the cavern walls. My heart lurches, dread coiling in my gut. Elira’s illusions flicker with alarm. “What was that?” she whispers, eyes darting to the cavern’s mouth.

I strain my hearing. Another sound follows: a distant roar, deep and resonant, unlike any normal creature. My blood chills.The gargoyles.

Elira’s face pales. “They’re waking,” she murmurs, voice tight. “My coven feared this moment. I prayed we had more time.”

A sickening knot forms in my stomach. We’ve heard rumors for weeks, but now the evidence seems undeniable. Gargoyles stirring in the depths, their stony sleep cracking. A new roar reverberates, closer this time, echoing across the mountain ridges. My gargoyle blood roils in response—like a dark chord thrumming at the core of my being. Nausea twists my insides.

Elira curses under her breath. “If they break free…” She doesn’t finish. We both know the devastation that might follow. They were once unstoppable. Only a lethal spell sealed them away.

The tension in the cave thickens.We’re battered, uncertain, and the gargoyles might be on the verge of rampaging across Protheka.I sense the same grim realization in Elira’s eyes: we can’t remain hidden for long.

She steps back, running a hand through her hair, illusions flickering again in ragged pulses. “We can’t handle an entire gargoyle horde in our condition.”

I nod, trying to steady my breathing. “Your coven is searching for a way to seal them again, right? The old rituals?”

She sighs. “Yes, but the magic is… dangerous. It requires insane synergy, massive power, and a willingness to sacrifice. I’m not even sure my coven fully trusts me after all that’s happened. Let alone harnessing your help, a half-gargoyle enforcer.”

Her words sting, though I know she isn’t insulting me. She’s just voicing the truth. “If it’s the only way, we’ll find a path. Or we risk letting them roam free, destroying everything.” My mind reels with images of gargoyles unleashing their ancient fury upon villages, enslaving or slaughtering innocent lives.Isn’t that exactly how the Overlord sees me? A living weapon?

Elira crosses her arms, gaze distant. “But first, we have to regroup. Maybe contact my coven anyway, prove you’re not under the Overlord’s control.” She offers a hesitant smile. “It won’t be easy, but… they might listen if we show up together.”

“Show up… together,” I echo, tasting the meaning behind the words. A swirl of both hope and fear surges in my chest.Could we possibly stand as allies, not just fleeting partners bound by crisis?

She steps nearer, the orb’s faint glow illuminating her delicate features. The memory of our shared closeness in the fortress corridor returns, stirring a wave of longing I can’t tamp down. Her brow furrows with concern. “Vaelin, are you with me in this? Truly? I need to know, or we might as well part ways.”

My throat tightens. My gargoyle side stirs in the darkest corner of my mind, whispering that I’m unfit for anything but violence. But I can’t deny the surge of devotion for her that’s grown like a stubborn weed in my heart. “I’m with you,” I manage, voice catching. “No matter how broken I am.”

She exhales a trembling breath, relief mingling with lingering uncertainty. “We’ll figure it out,” she says, almost to herself. Then her hand finds mine, fingers intertwining. Our gazes meet. The moment stretches, weighted by tension and quiet yearning.I want to cradle her against me, to forget the Overlord and gargoyles.But guilt rears its head.Do I deserve her warmth when part of me is monstrous?

Elira senses my hesitation. She touches the side of my face, palm warm on my cheek. “I see you struggling,” she murmurs. “I won’t pretend I understand exactly what’s inside you, but… you’re not alone.”

The tenderness in her voice breaks something inside me. My composure cracks. Before I realize it, my arms slide around her shoulders, drawing her close. She stiffens for a split second, then melts into the embrace. We stand there in the flickering gloom, bodies pressed together. Her heartbeat drums against my chest, a steady rhythm that soothes my ragged nerves.For a moment, everything else fades.

But in the distance, another gargoyle roar echoes, rattling me to the core. I jerk slightly, inhaling a sharp breath. My gargoyle blood stirs again, responding to the sound like a faint call. Fear knots in me. “Did you hear that?” I whisper.

She nods, leaning back just enough to meet my eyes. “They’re close. Possibly awakened in some ruined keep or a hidden lair. The world is shifting under our feet, Vaelin.”

I grit my teeth. “Then we must shift with it.” I release her slowly, hating the loss of contact, yet determined. “We can’t remain here. If the gargoyles roam, if the Overlord hunts us, if the Red Purnas lurk, we must move swiftly.”

She nods, though fatigue etches her features. “Agreed. But tonight, we rest. We have no other choice. Dawn might bring clarity.”

I glance deeper into the cavern. There’s a slight recess at the far wall, partially shielded from the main entrance. “Let’s settle there. We can stay hidden until sunrise.”

She follows me, illusions swirling in faint eddies around her ankles. The orb of light shifts, revealing a smooth stretch of rock wide enough for us to share. It’s not luxurious, but it’s better than the open wind. We lower ourselves onto the cool stone, side by side, half-leaning against the cavern wall.

A hush descends as we adjust. The intimate space draws attention to every breath, every beat of our hearts. The tension of the day’s flight lingers in my muscles, making them ache.I want to hold her again, but do I have that right?

She breaks the silence first, voice soft. “Vaelin… earlier, you said you feel undeserving. As if your gargoyle blood means you can’t be… with me. Is that what keeps you from meeting my eyes?”

Heat flushes my cheeks at her perceptiveness. I force myself to look at her, noticing the gentle curve of her face in the faint glow. “I struggle to see how you could… want me, after everything. I was shaped for violence, part of me thirsts for it. The Overlord twisted me, and I—” My breath hitches with bitterness. “I let him, for years.”

She reaches out, fingertips brushing mine. “You had no choice. And you’ve shown me a different side of yourself—someone capable of mercy and compassion.”

My heart clenches. “But what if that savage part overwhelms me again? If he recaptures me, or if my gargoyle instincts awaken fully? I might hurt you.” My voice trembles with the admission. “That thought terrifies me.”

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