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“You’re literally up to the shoulders. Just a little more and you’ll be complete.”

“Completely made of stone, Brax. Finish your sentence,” I snap, wincing at my own tone, but I’m irritated, and…a little panicked.

“You’re going to make the prettiest gargoyle I’ve ever seen, Shadow. Show me.”

I glare at him, but he doesn’t flinch under my intense stare.

The moment classes were done, we got the hell out of there and headed home. We came out here to distract me with some mirror magic training. Brax is taking this to another level tonight, though, insisting I can handle it, but I’m not sure I can.

The thought of being completely stone, eyes and mouth included, frightens the hell out of me. I can’t deny it, and he knows it.

“Can we do something else today?” I ask, my voice softer than usual, revealing yet another vulnerability for the day. The only difference now is that I don’t care if Brax sees this side of me. If anything, I want him to. Being my true self with him soothes my soul instead of leaving me embarrassed.

“Raven, take a deep breath. I promise you, it’s not going to feel as restrictive as you imagine.” I purse my lips at his promise, but the words do nothing to ease the tension rattling my bones. “Your head is locked on everything going on in your life right now, which is only enhancing your worry over this. Try to let the rest fall away.” I glare at him, hating that he’s probably right. I inhale slowly, dragging out the exhale, but it doesn’t ease me much. “We can stop, and you can tell me everything on your mind. Apart from the obvious, of course.”

Fuck.

That doesn’t really sound any better.

Pull it together, Raven.

With my very lacking pep talk, I relax my shoulders back, noting how the movement doesn’t feel as heavy as I would initially have assumed, before I fuck it all to Hell and let the rest of Brax’s magic wash over me.

I gulp as my throat stiffens, the feeling creeping up my jaw, over my cheeks, my eyes and ears, and finally, my head. Remembering what Brax said, I focus all of my attention on my breathing as I become accustomed to the shift.

It’s the weirdest feeling I think I’ve ever experienced in my whole life. My movements feel like they’re lagging at first, the weight not as bad as I assumed it would be, but the craziest thing is blinking. I can hear the sound of stone rubbing on stone and it makes me cringe, but the feeling doesn’t match the noise. It feels like…normal.

“That’s my woman. Smile for me, Shadow.”

I tilt my gaze up to look at Brax, who grins down at me. It’s a rare sight, an even rarer one to see pride in his stunning eyes. One brown. One green. I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s softer and gentler with me right now to compensate for the fact that the others aren’t here. It’s a side of him I thought I would never witness, a side I’m sure won’t stay around forever, a side that makes me want to push him. To see his bite, his growl, his rugged side.

I’m getting distracted. Again.

Releasing my hold on his magic, the stone drifts from my skin effortlessly, and I’m pulled off my feet without warning a moment later. Soft-yet-firm lips press against my jaw as arms band around my waist.

“You love being a good fucking girl, don’t you, Raven.” It’s not a question. Not really, and he fucking knows it. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t unload on me. Tell me what’s going on in the pretty head of yours and I’ll reward you.”

My thighs clench. He can’t mean…could he?

Whether he does or not, I need to be open with him. If we’re going to get through this together and find the rest of our family, we need to be transparent with one another.

Taking a deep breath, he must sense the change in me because he slowly lowers me to my feet, but he doesn’t lean back or put any distance between us.

“Apart from the fact that my heart is tearing into pieces because I don’t technically know where the guys are, I’ve been trying to reach out to Ari with no luck. The confusion and worry of it is starting to weigh heavily on me. Everything was fine before the drill that interrupted us going to see him. I can feel his presence, which isn’t drenched in pain or anything, but it still leaves me unsteady. I can’t really explain it, but there’s been a shift and I don’t like it.”

Pressing a small kiss on my forehead, he takes a single step back and focuses to his left. He wets his lips, and after a few moments, he turns back to me with a sigh. “I still can’t make a gateway.”

My heart swells with appreciation that he would even try. “Do you think the drill could have affected my communication with him? I mean, I technically spoke with him on the way to the courtyard that day after the sound echoed through the halls, but…I don’t know. I’m pulling at straws trying to understand.”

“Maybe. I think it’s important for us to visit Lyra and Figgins tomorrow,” he states, scrubbing at the back of his neck, and I nod in agreement.

“Thank you.”

The corner of his mouth tips up. “What else?”

“Hmm?”

“What else has you worked up?”