Page 74 of Feral Gods
"Control," he replies simply. "Mastery over the transformation, rather than being trapped in either form. The power to shift between stone and flesh at will, rather than being bound to daylight or darkness. Freedom from the curse's emotional amplification without losing the strength it granted."
Ravik's amber eyes narrow thoughtfully. "And you believe Kaia's magic could accomplish this?"
"With the proper guidance, yes." Zephyr gestures toward me. "Her magical signature perfectly counterbalances the curse's construction. Where Morwen's magic constrained, Kaia's could potentially liberate."
"At what cost?" Ravik demands, protective instinct immediately surfacing. "Such magic would require enormous power. I won't allow her to endanger herself."
"Allow?" I raise an eyebrow, the word choice reigniting our earlier conflict.
Ravik catches himself, visibly adjusting. "I meant... I would not wish you to risk yourself on our behalf."
The correction, awkward but sincere, represents significant growth. I acknowledge it with a nod before turning back to Zephyr.
"What would such a transformation require?"
"Study. Preparation." His turquoise gaze grows distant, calculating. "And most importantly, absolute harmony between all participants. The magic would flow through all four of us, creating new bonds to replace the curse's constraints."
"Harmony," Thane repeats skeptically, glancing at Ravik. "After yesterday's demonstration, that seems unlikely."
Ravik straightens, wings folding tightly against his back—a posture I've come to recognize as his response to challenge. "You doubt my ability to control my nature?"
"I doubt all of our abilities to transcend what the curse has made us without help," Thane counters. "Including my own."
The honesty in his admission defuses Ravik's defensive response. After a moment, our alpha leader nods, a gesture containing more vulnerability than any words could convey.
"Then we help each other," I suggest, moving to the center of our small circle. "Each of us bringing our strengths to compensate for others' weaknesses."
"A novel concept," Zephyr muses. "Interdependence rather than hierarchy."
"More than novel," Ravik adds quietly. "Revolutionary."
The word hangs in the air between us, charged with possibility. In that moment, something shifts—a recalibration of power dynamics that have defined our interactions since the beginning. No longer protectors and protected, leaders and followers, but partners in a shared endeavor.
I extend my hands, one toward Ravik, one toward Zephyr. After a moment's hesitation, they each take one. Thane completes our circle, his massive hands engulfing theirs.
"Whatever comes," I say, feeling the distinct texture of each gargoyle's skin against mine, "we face it together. Equal voices. Equal stakes. Equal commitment."
"Equal love," Thane adds, the sentiment surprising from the typically blunt warrior.
Zephyr nods, turquoise eyes warm. "A balanced equation."
We all look to Ravik, whose amber gaze moves thoughtfully between us. The struggle plays out visibly on his features—centuries of ingrained hierarchy battling against this new paradigm.
"Equal," he finally agrees, the single word clearly costing him considerable effort. "Though old habits die reluctantly."
"We have time," I assure him, squeezing his hand.
A harsh cry from outside shatters our moment of connection. One of Ravik's fox scouts appears at the tower's open side, its message conveyed in a series of yips and growls unintelligible to me but clearly alarming to the gargoyles.
Ravik's expression transforms instantly from vulnerable to commanding. "Enemy forces have accelerated their approach. The dark elf vanguard crosses the southern ridge. Purna magical signatures detected less than a mile east."
"How long?" Thane demands, already moving toward the stairs.
"Hours, not days," Ravik replies grimly. "They move with unexpected coordination—dark elves and purna working in tandem despite centuries of mutual distrust."
"Joint operation," Zephyr murmurs, his scholarly mind already analyzing implications. "King Kres must have offered significant concessions to secure purna cooperation at this scale."
"Or they share a common goal valuable enough to override their traditional enmity," Ravik suggests, gaze shifting meaningfully to me.
