“I’m here,” Laini says above the sound of the storm and the rocks shifting everywhere.
My mate’s mark burns like a match lit under my skin, but it feels pleasant and steadying. I let the strength of our fragile bond, not fully formed yet, soak into my heart, soul, and magic.
My power swells inside me and levels out. I grit my teeth and curl my fingers, seizing the magic and forcing it back into the borders I’ve set in my mind. The stone magic shudders and thrashes like a wild unicorn, but I hold fast. I must. I cannot fail.
Spark flies into the tower, his fur ruffled, and the air around him suffused with his sparkling fire. Laini reaches her free hand to him and directshim to her shoulder. He nuzzles closely and eyes me with hope, a look that matches Laini’s gaze.
The mate’s mark tingles and sends comfort through my blood as I set my gaze on Laini and Spark. I am their protector. This is what an Allysium gargoyle is meant to be. I will never fail them.
My magic surges, and the cobblestones I’ve ordered to rise into the air do so exactly as I planned. I lift them higher.
“Rom!” Laini’s voice is surprised, but she sounds pleased.
The rounded stones soar into the sky above Leafshire Cove. I draw my palms closer, and the rock draws into a giant roof over the entire town. I can feel the absence of cover over Rustion’s outer grounds and fields, so I twist my hand to drag stones from the wild areas beyond the tilled land. I flatten one hand, and those rocks provide another roof for Rustion, for the male who has been so good to me. I am still sweating, but I feel unstoppable and fully in control of my power.
The cobblestone roof blocks out the lightning. When the lashing rain begins and the magical sparkles begin to fall, I turn my hands and curl the edges of the two roofs I’ve created so that they block the colorful torrent.
I see faces peering from a few windows, their eyes wide in wonder.
Laini’s smile is the best reward for my work. “It’s wonderful.”
The storm rages over us, snapping and whipping rain. A portion of the strong winds blow through, knocking over a few carts left down in the marketplace. A small trail of sparkling storm magic dances across the town fountain, so I lead a thread of my will down into the earth and snag a handful of little stones. At my silent command, the tiny rocks burst through the exposed ground and encircle the damaging magic.
Thunder booms again, but after a few moments, the system passes onward and dissipates like a nightmare in the morning. I release the sphere of stones encasing the wild magic, and it trails the rest of the storm, leaving town without doing more than snagging a few leaves from the trees planted here and there.
Feeling more alive than I have in my entire life, more powerful and in control than ever, I lower the cobblestones back into their proper lines and rows in the streets of Leafshire Cove. I urge the rocks from Rustion’s lands—so clear in my mind’s eye—to return to their rightful place under the dirtin the wild borders of his property. The ground trembles with a final wave of my stone magic, and then all is back to the way it was before I flew over the walls.
A cheer crescendos over the tower, and Laini hugs me tightly.
“You’re a miracle!”
I crush her to me as I lean over the tower opening and grin at those gathered.
“They love you, Rom,” Laini says under the applause and happy shouts.
It’s too good to be true. The townsfolk really are happy with my stone magic. No one appears hurt or worse… Kaya, the baker, is there waving beside Grumlin and Delixian, who dip their heads and smile at me. Tully winks and draws a line with her wand. Three nearly transparent, purple birds flit from the end and fly toward us. Laini giggles as Tully’s birds chirp and land on my horns.
“Fantastic work, Romulus!” Rustion calls out as he and Nisa walk from the back of the crowd.
Behind them, Leo, Harton, and Tam stew, but no one pays them a moment of attention, though Nisa takes a second to smack the back of Leo’s head. Laini snorts beside me as Leo’s mouth falls open, and she barks something at him that I can’t make out. He shakes his head, but he stops glaring at me.
“Thank you, my lord!” I call back to Rustion, keenly aware of Laini’s soft and rose-scented body pressed against mine.
A shout has all of our heads turning. A very tall orc, two goblins, and a human male push through the townsfolk and toward Leo. They’re dressed in the brightly dyed clothing popular in gambling dens.
“This male has a debt that’s gone unpaid for over two months. We come to collect the coin or to take him to the king.”
“What is this about?” Laini whispers to me, her eyes wide.
“No idea,” I say. “They have the look of gamblers with those red vests and all. Rustion never mentioned Leo having debt, so maybe he didn’t know.”
Leo raises his hands. His face is flushed. “Fellows, let’s talk. My father is Lord Mayor of this town, and I’m sure he’ll take care of you.” He smiles that slick, awful smile of his. “Let’s head to the tavern and have an ale.”
Rustion’s features have gone flat as he regards first his son and then the group of newcomers. “I don’t have anything to do with this. Leo, you best take care of the problemsyou create.” He turns his back on his son and faces the tower again.
Nisa presses a fist to her mouth, then joins Rustion in giving Leo her back.
“Father? Mother?” Leo’s voice stutters, and he begins to grab for Rustion and Nisa, rage painting his face in harsh lines. “You think you’re so much better than me,” he snarls.
