Owen

We had two days arguing about how and who would actually end Gray's final life, and none of us, not even Gabe who came up with the plan, could stomach the idea of being responsible. We stood near the rushing waters of the same river Silas had rescued her from as we continued to argue with one another. Gray looked down at the churning water and sighed. "Gray?" I asked. She gave a soft smile and then took a step back, causing her to fall into the river. "Gray!" I yelled, snapping the others out of their arguments.

She gasped for air as she surfaced, only to be quickly pulled under by the rushing current again. Her hand surfaced as Silas and Luke dove into the waters, then she submerged completely. Galan was crying and screaming in North's arms when they surfaced again. Both their wings shook and billowed as the water ran off them. "Baby, what did you do?" Luke muttered, trying to rouse her. Sean checked for a pulse and choked when he found none.

"She's.." he tried to say, but Silas roared and crushed her to his chest. "I psychí mou, please wake up."

"What the hell?" Victor gasped. He fell to his knees, gingerly touching her legs as we all broke down. Her body was aging right before our eyes. Her once silky skin became wrinkled and marred with age. The sound of soft cracks filled the air until Silas was left holding only remnants of ash and dirt in his grasp. He threw his head back, wings expanding, and released a hellish roar of grief.

Silas

She was gone.

My psychí mou, the mother of my child, was gone.

I felt numb in my grief and anger, then spun toward Gabe. "You said this would work! You told us she would be okay! It's your fault she's dead," I raged. My sylph form took over, wings extending, claws pricking my fingertips as the darkness and rage began to consume me.

His eyes bulged, "Silas, stop... I didn't know..." He took steps back in fear until the sound of my son's laughter bubbling from his throat made us all freeze. I thought babies picked up on emotions, but he was deliriously happy while we were all crying and in shock. I felt my anger dissolve as I looked into his eyes and picked him up from the bassinet as he began squirming and reaching down. The feeling of soft fur brushing across my leg made me look down to see the cat. A slow grin spread across my face as I whispered, "Gray."

Kneeling, I watched in fascination as Galen reached out and grabbed the cat's tail. Instead of a meow, the cat spoke with a familiar voice. "Galen, it isn't nice to pull mommy's tail."

"Woah," Luke muttered, "I didn't see that coming."

"What, you don't like cats, Luke?" she purred, then licked her paw indifferently. He made a choking sound that had the rest of us laughing.

"Love, what happened?" I asked her. She nudged her head against my hand, winding around as I stroked her back. "Gray?"

I swear if a cat can huff and roll their eyes, she just did it. "Well, um, this is my form. Okay, that's not entirely true, but it has been for quite some time."

"I think you're going to have to give us a bit more information, darling," Owen said with a chuckle. "I'm fairly certain our bond couldn't be to a feline."

"Rude," she hissed. "I came into this world as a familiar, a form of magic attached to a magical practitioner. Once the practitioner becomes proficient or no longer needs me, I move on. I'm not actually a cat, or a human, I'm pure magic. When Nikolai impregnated my mother, he forced my magic into that form."

"So wait, are you saying you aren't his daughter?" Kota sputtered. Gray blinked her eyes and lazily stretched out on the floor. "Then what are you?" In a flurry of lights, the cat began to shift and soon Gray was sitting before us, but she didn't look quite the same.

"Gray?" North gaped.

Her laugh made our shoulders relax. "Yes, love, it's me. This is the real me. Gabe was right about restoring my full power, but he was also a bit wrong."

Gabe snorted, "Care to explain that little girl because the big guy almost ripped me apart when you pulled your little vanishing trick?"

With lightning speed, she moved closer to him. Gabe jumped back in surprise, a hiss passing his lips. "While the moniker is cute, Gabriel, I'm far older than any of you. I'm older than Nikolai. I'm original magic, my loves. Pure, unadulterated magic from the dust of the stars, the first rays of light and life."

"What does that make our son?" I asked. Gray returned to sit on the floor with us, wrapping herself under my free arm. She sat silently watching Galen play with his fingers and blow bubbles. "I can feel your happiness." I pressed a kiss to her head and she sighed contentedly.

"I don't know," she finally admitted. "I only know we have to stop Nikolai before he finds a way to capture me again or one of you," she paused, a frown creasing her forehead, "or him," she whispered.

Nate growled, "I will protect both of you with all that I am, Gray. No one is going to hurt you again, I promise." The rest of the guys echoed his sentiments.

Author's Notes:  Pure magic...our ending is near.  Tissues at the ready, my lovelies...