Gabriel held the brain in his hands, stumbling a little from the weight, despite the fact I could feel his power supporting it. The moment we touched down on the wall of the Stronghold, Jiao transformed and gave up the piece to my son, though it was almost the size of his torso. A slim, shivering thread of silver slipped from the interior of the rippled surface and wrapped itself gratefully around Gabriel's wrist even as he beamed at me.
"Finally," he said.
Tell me about it. I guess it was too much to ask that this piece didn't have an attitude problem. Seemed every one we rescued couldn't keep its mouth civil. A male tone to it this time, deep and frustrated. Do you have any idea how heat like that wreaks havoc on my stone?
I rolled my eyes and sighed, grateful the ribbon I carried didn't talk. That I knew about.