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“Wh-what are you doing?” Keir asked, voice unsteady. “Your power’s surging and⁠—”

“Do not worry,” I answered, attempting to ease Keir’s concerns. Slipping a claw beneath my heart scale and tearing it from my body did the exact opposite.

“Lazarus!” Keir shot up, grabbing my arms and attempting to stop my actions. “You’re hurting yourself. What are you⁠—”

I couldn’t deny the pain. Removing a scale physically hurt, even if the process was willing. Despite Keir’s protests, I didn’t stop and my scale slipped away, no longer a part of me.

“Goddess! What have you done? Why did you do that?” Keir pulled his shaking hands away.

I stared at my crimson scale as it shimmered in the pale light. Before it completely hardened, I extended a claw and pierced one end, creating a hole. When a heart scale was given to another wyvern, the scale integrated into their skin, becoming a part of them. I doubted it would be the same with gryphon physiology. And if my scale could not become a part of him, then at least Keir could hang it from a chain and hold it close to his heart.

Keir’s sudden sob shook me to my core. His golden eyes swam with tears, and his expression was distraught. “Shh,” I coaxed while running my fingers through Keir’s hair. “All is well.”

“It most certainly is not,” Keir argued right back. “What were you thinking? Why would you intentionally harm yourself?”

I shook my head. “I do not consider what I just did harmful.”

“How can you not?” Keir tentatively ran his fingers over the raw area where my scale had been. “You’re bleeding.”

“It will stop soon enough.”

“That’s not the damn point. You⁠—”

“I did what was necessary, what I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

Keir’s misery turned to confusion. “What is that supposed to mean? I don’t understand.”

“Forgive me. I should have explained things better. We meld so well together that sometimes I forget how different our species are.”

Keir’s eyebrows drew down tightly. “So, this is a wyvern thing?”

I grinned. “You could say that.” Holding my precious scale within my palms, I pushed it toward Keir. “This is what wyvern call a heart scale.”

Keir’s eyes widened as he truly looked at my offered scale. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t understand what it means. Does this scale protect your heart? And if so, why would you willingly remove it?”

My grin softened. “In a way, that’s true.” Inhaling deeply, I answered, “A heart scale is precious. It is our most guarded scale, and it can only be given away once. My heart scale will not grow back. It is different from all our other scales. When the time comes to gift our scale to another, we pour every ounce of our love and affection into that scale before removing it and giving it to our mate.”

Keir’s inhale sounded painful.

“Wyvern gift each other their heart scale and those scales become incorporated into the other—absorbed into their body, becoming one with it.”

“Oh, I…I have nothing to offer you in return. I’m not… Gryphons don’t do that. I’m sorry, Lazarus.”

“There is nothing to be sorry about. This is my choice and I am pleased to make it. I have waited centuries to find another to give my heart scale to. It would honor me if you would keep my scale close to your skin. Knowing you watch over it is enough.”

“Goddess,” Keir breathily said. “This is…” Tears fell, dripping onto my offered scale and making it shimmer all the brighter. “There are no words, Lazarus.”

“Then it is fortunate I do not require them.”

Fingers shaking, Keir reached out and I slipped my heart scale into his outstretched hands. The care he took when running the pads of his fingers over its surface soothed the ache its absence left. “It’s beautiful. I will cherish it until the day I die.”

A chill swept down my spine. “That day will be far from now.” I had to believe that. I could not tolerate any other outcome. Keir and I might not be officially mated yet, but I doubted I would survive his death, and if I did survive, it would only be to help raise Vi and Blu.

Hugging my scale to his chest, Keir’s wide, worried eyes stared up at me. “I will do my best—you know I will—but there are no guarantees. When I fight Jaakobah, I⁠—”

“Hush. No more talk of Jaakobah tonight.” I couldn’t contemplate Keir fighting alone. I’d be there, but I would need to stand on the sidelines. I had no idea how I was going to keep my wyvern side in check.

Scooting higher and lying on my side, I pulled Keir to me. He came willingly, his body lax even though I’d only massaged up to the top of his calves. Rolling on my back, I laid Keir on top of me. He wasn’t small, but I was larger and his weight was nothing. Hugging him to me, I ran my fingers through his hair, my shortened claws gently scraping against his scalp.