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“I may not be a gargoyle, Weylyn, but I change form often enough that I have an idea of what you need.” Nica squeezed him. “Let me help.”
Wey huffed, and I hid a smile. Weylyn never could say no to our tiger. After a drawn-out pause, our gargoyle said, “Fine.”
I leaned back just in time to see Nica’s smiling face pop up over Wey’s shoulder. He winked at me, then rubbed his cheek along Wey’s neck. Wey began relaxing as Nica did it again and nuzzled into his neck. Weylyn reached over his head to bury his fingers in our tiger’s red locks, and I heard both of them sigh. Goddess, they were beautiful together.
We remained that way for a time before Nica nuzzled into Wey again, whispering, “Come on, let’s go to the edge of the forest.”
The three of us quietly tiptoed out of the tent, but I smiled when I passed Braz and Florin. My friend was tucked in my half-orc’s arms, face squished against Braz’s chest, my half-orc holding him close as if he was protecting him, as if Florin was as precious to him as he was to me. The two of them had become very close since we’d found our way here, and it made happiness gather in my heart. They’d both been so lonely before I’d met them. Outcasts among the slaves. Here, they were still facing prejudices, just as much as I, but I could tell they felt as if they’d found a place where they belonged. With me, with us.
Family, Nica called us, and I couldn’t agree more.
Refocusing on Nica and Wey, I followed them. Nica grabbed my hand in one of his and Wey’s in his other, and he pulled us out of the camp to the edge of the trees.
Even in the dark, the forest felt alive, the sounds of insects and bats flying filled the quiet space. This place, in the middle of the forest, was beautiful and had a certain peace to it. I’d found myself enjoying a nice stroll through the old trees every now and then, listening to the sounds of birds singing, bugs buzzing, rabbits hopping, and deer searching for food.
“This is far enough away to give you privacy, but close enough to keep watch,” Nica said as he came to a stop. He released us, turned, narrowed his eyes, then scooted over a couple of steps. “I can see our tent from here.”
He reached over and pulled Wey in front of him. Once the gargoyle was standing where he wanted him, Nica stepped around him, grabbed the back of his neck, and pulled him in to rest their foreheads together. Nica rubbed his other hand along Wey’s bald head, then cupped his neck on both sides.
They stared into each other’s eyes for a long time, and I couldn’t help but think they almost seemed like they spoke telepathically to one another. The way they understood each other, moved around each other, protected each other—protected Braz and me, and even Florin now as well. They communicated on many more levels than only with words. Which I suppose was good since Wey tended to speak so few of them.
Nica brushed a gentle kiss to Wey’s lips, whispering something I couldn’t hear, and then they both turned to me as one. I moved to them immediately, and they pulled me into their intimate embrace. Nica nuzzled my hair while Wey kissed my temple.
They shared another kiss between them before Nica pulled me back a few steps, keeping his arm around my shoulders. Nica caught Wey’s gaze and said, “Take a breath.” Wey did without looking away from him. “Now close your eyes and picture your stone form. Think about what it feels like. Justbreatheandremember. It’s still there within you, Wey. I know it is. You just need to remember.”
Wey gave him a nod, then closed his eyes and took another deep breath and another and another.
“You can do it,” Nica whispered, his sole focus on our lover.
And then the gray skin on Wey’s arms and neck began to darken quickly and seemed to almost thicken. It grew so dark, it was almost black, the moon shining off it brilliantly. The black traveled, spreading over his entire body until even his face had turned to stone.
“Wow,” I breathed as I took him in. He was still the same shape, only bigger, thicker, and… andstone. Logically, I’d known he was a gargoyle who had a stone form, but seeing it in person took my breath away. He was like a piece of art, a sculpture. If I hadn’t known him and had seen his stone form on the street, I’d think he was a statue made for decoration.
“You did it, baby,” Nica breathed before moving closer to him, pulling me along. He brought us right in front of Weylyn and reached out a hand, cupping his cheek. “You’re beautiful.”
When the moonlight caught on Nica’s eyes, I could see them watering, so I hugged him from the side and whispered, “He really is.”
“It’s been so long for him.” Nica swallowed hard and squeezed me. He tore his watery eyes from Wey to meet mine and said in a serious tone, “I forgot to ask him if he can hear us.”
A surprised giggle came out of me. “I didn’t ask, either. Or if he can see, feel, smell.”
Nica’s lips quirked up. “Do you think he’d be mad if I made him a flower necklace to hang around his pretty neck?”
I laughed loudly this time and stuffed my face in Nica’s chest so I wouldn’t wake anyone in the nearby camp. “I think he’d hunt you down as soon as he shifted back.”
“Mm.”
“I’d take a flower necklace, though, if you really want to make one.”
He smiled at me. “I’ve never made one, but I’ll try for you.”
“You have to make one for yourself, too.”
He grinned. “You can help. We’ll make one for everyone.”
“I doubt Wey will wear it, but the others likely will.”
“Don’t worry, I can make Wey wear one.”
