Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Jodrick
It's been three days since Avalon started carrying that sadness in her eyes.
Three days of watching her laugh and dance through the halls like nothing's wrong, while something deep in the bond between us tugs and frays at the edges.
I know the bond is new. Raw and shining, stitched into our souls with something finer than what my gargoyle nature is used to.
And as new and fragile as it is, it's coming across clear enough that something is wrong.
"You're overthinking it," Viraat grunts beside me as we haul another crate of welcome gifts up the main staircase.
But his scowl says otherwise.
He feels it too, the cranky fucker.
"I'm not," I mutter, shifting the box against my hip. "You feel it too, don't deny it."
He doesn't argue. Just drops his crate with a thud heavy enough to rattle the floorboards and scrubs a hand through his long messy hair.
The air between us vibrates with unspoken worry.
"Okay, fine. She's hiding something," he growls under his breath. "It almost feels like the bond is weak."
I flinch at the word.
I've been trying to avoid it, even in my own thoughts, because it feels like a brand burning into my heart.
"It's not weak," I bite out, "and whatever it is, we can fix it. We just have to reach her."
Viraat grunts again, but there's an underlying emotion he's trying to hide.
Fear.
Damn it.
"We'll have to try harder," I tell him before heading down to the foyer so I can fetch another box.
That night I try again.
With Avalon curled up between us in the library, in front of the fire, I gently tug her as close to me as I can. As per usual, Sparrow is curled up at her feet.
"Sweetheart," I murmur, brushing my fingers along her cheek, feeling that soft thread of the bond vibrate under my touch. "What's weighing on that pretty mind of yours?"
She smiles up at me, sweet and heartbreaking all at once, and presses a kiss to my palm.
"Nothing, Daddy," she says softly. "Just tired."
The bond tightens. Twists. The lie sits heavy across it.
Viraat stiffens beside me. I feel his anger flare through the bond, not at her, but at the ache of not knowing.
"Idiot human," he mutters as he pushes off the floor. "How do you expect to fix it, if you don't share? Secrets fester."
Avalon tugs her frayed unicorn closer, and curls herself smaller against my side. Her reaction makes me want to throttle my brother-in-arms, but I keep a careful hold on my anger.
She nibbles on her bottom lip, emotions I can't name warring within her, the tug of them on the bond undeniable.
I feel it the moment she comes to a decision.
It's not in her voice or her expression, not even in her body language — it's in the bond.
A spark. A shift.
The sadness doesn't vanish, but it sharpens into resolve, and that fragile connection between us hums like a plucked string.
Avalon sits up so fast Sparrow gives a startled squeak. She mutters a distracted apology to the stuffed unicorn and darts to her feet, wobbling slightly before taking off out of the library.
"Little one—!" I push up from the floor, heart leaping to my throat.
Viraat is already on his feet, scowling fiercely. "Gods damned babygirl, stop running off!" he bellows, his feet thundering after her across the marble.
I catch a flicker of Avalon’s pale nightgown disappearing around the corner and take off after them both.
The manor seems to lean with us, opening doors, guiding the way. It senses the urgency as clearly as we do.
We find her in the nursery, standing before the far wall.
The pale moonlight from the tall windows glimmers off her hair, and in her hands, she's prying gently at a seam in the stone that, to mortal eyes, would have looked like nothing more than an old crack.
By her feet, Sparrow winds in slow, tight circles, his one good eye pinned on her, his tail flicking in sharp, anxious snaps.
A low rumble vibrates in Viraat's chest. He storms in after her, jaw tight. "What in all hell are you doing, sweetheart?"
"Wait—" I throw a hand across his chest before he can bark at her more. "Look."
With a soft whimper of effort, Avalon manages to pull free a hidden panel. Behind it, nestled in a secret hollow, sits a book.
An old, thick tome bound in cracked leather.
She lifts it out with reverent hands and turns toward us, cradling it against her chest like a secret she's finally ready to share.
"I found this," she says, voice trembling. "I think... I think it's about you."
The bond between us flares so bright and strong it steals my breath.
Not fraying anymore. Not hurting.
Healing.
Viraat huffs, crossing his arms, but he doesn't push her.
I can feel the crackle of his emotions through the bond. Annoyance, protectiveness, fear... but also curiosity.
Good.
She's reaching for us.
Avalon hugs the book tighter for a second, almost like she's gathering courage, before she pads back across the nursery and presses it into my hands.
It's heavy. Older than anything I've ever held.
The cracked leather smells like dust and magic.
"I think," she whispers, fiddling with the hem of her nightgown, "I think it's a way to wake you up during the day."
My heart stops.
The bond between us roars like a wildfire, flooding my chest with so much fierce, bone-deep hope I almost stagger.
Could this really be?
A way to be with her? To protect her during the day?
No more helpless hours locked in stone. No more waiting, hoping she'd be safe until the sun set again.
I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and drop to one knee so we're eye level, cradling the ancient book like it's a living thing.
"Little one," I rasp, reaching out to catch her hand in mine. "You found this?"
She nods, cheeks pink, bottom lip wobbling slightly before she shrugs. "Well, kind of. The manor showed it to me."
"Why didn't you show it to us when you found it?" There's a trace of annoyance in Viraat's tone and it takes everything I am to stop myself from smacking him.
That will only piss him off, and probably get me a smack too.
Avalon bites her lip, looking at us from under long lashes.
"It's... there's... Ugh." She rubs her hands down her face and takes a big breath.
"It means you'll lose your magic and the house will too.
And I can't ask that of you. I won't ask you to give up half of yourself during the day so that I can have you with me. "
Viraat cuts her off before she can continue on her jumbling babble with a low growl.
"Silly girl," he mutters, but there's not heat to it now. Only a rough affection. He pulls her closer and lays a soft kiss on her temple. "We're yours. You are ours. Magic is a small price to pay to be with you, always."
Avalon's lip wobbles as she looks at him, tears shining in her eyes. The bond hums so strong and sure it almost feels like a heartbeat between us. I can't believe that it felt so fragile just a few short minutes ago.
Sparrow meows sharply at our feet, and Avalon scoops him up, pressing her face into his ragged fur for a moment before turning back to me.
I rise slowly to my feet, cradling the book to my chest the way she had, feeling the weight of it settle deep in my bones. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit worried about losing my magic. What if I wasn't enough to protect her without it?
But I'd give it up, just for the chance to try.
I'd give up anything for those precious hours with her, because the sun isn't our only enemy.
Time still is.
Years will still add up, and our beautiful girl will age, while we will not.
But I can't think of that now, worry about that now.
For now, we will do what needs doing and have the time with her we need.
And just in time for those first few guests to come.