Indon smiled, which was more frightening than the gargoyle realized, but it didn’t deter me. I’d come to learn that, while the gargoyles looked scary, their heart was anything but stone.
“Yes,” Indon said.
I didn’t hesitate to hand Lillian out the window to him. The gargoyle was one of those who would do anything to keep her safe, and I trusted him completely.
The giant creature cradled her against his chest while examining her. “So tiny,” he murmured.
When he lifted her hand, Lillian gripped his claw, and a little spark of light emitted from her tiny fingers. My breath burst out of me as a startled cry sounded behind me. I hadn’t realized Ellery was awake or that she’d come closer until she made that noise.
Indon continued to laugh as he stroked Lillian’s cheek. “She’s saying hello. Welcome to the world, little lightning bearer.”
“How is that possible?” Ellery whispered.
Amsirah’s powers normally didn’t manifest until we were children, usually around ten or eleven, but sometimes earlier, as my lightning had. No one had ever revealed their powers as a baby.
“Ryker,” Ellery breathed.
“You have a very powerful little girl, and she recognizes me as a friend,” Indon said. “I’m sure of it.”
I didn’t ask Indon how he knew this; the gargoyles were very attuned to everything in this realm.
“She may not reveal her power again until she’s older, but she wanted the gargoyles to know how special she is.” Indon passed Lillian back through the window to me. “She will do great things one day.”
“She will,” I agreed.
“I will see you soon.”
With that, Indon turned and flew toward the woods and on home to the gargoyles while I closed the window against the chilly day. The gargoyles had never returned to the cavern beneath the temple and never intended to.
They’d probably found another cavern somewhere in the woods for shelter, but I’d never asked, and neither had anyone else—at least, not that I knew of.
“Was that really lightning?” Ellery asked when I turned to her.
“It was.”
She pulled the pink blanket down a little to study our daughter’s face. Concern etched her delicate features. “We have to keep her protected.”
“We will. And so will many others in this realm.” I kissed Ellery’s forehead. “Are you really surprised our daughter is a powerful being?”
“No, but the others might fear her if they learn she’s already showing a lightning ability.”
“And that’s probably just one of her abilities. Besides, they don’t fear you.”
Ellery bit her lip as she caressed Lillian’s cheek. “I know.”
“And Indon might be right; she might not show her ability again until she’s older.”
“True.” Ellery rose onto her toes to kiss me.
When she dropped back down, I grinned at her. “Thank you.”
“For kissing you?”
“For everything. You’ve given me the greatest gifts of my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“And you’ll never find out.”
“I love you.”
