Page 137 of Gift from the Tree

For the most part, the three of us, Corentin, Draken, and me are used to having to deal with a large number of people daily. Corentin being headmaster, he doesn’t get the luxury of not entertaining people. He’s constantly on calls, in meetings, taking care of the academy and overseeing others. In my role, I’m not only instructing students at the academy but also have full-fledged E.F. teams there that I lead and prepare for missions.

Draken may not have a permanent role since he’s still a student, but we still need him in all our work. Other than that, people just flock to him. Because of his shifter nature, any shifter in the area either wants to test their dominance or is just immediately drawn to his dominance.

Willow and Caspian, not so much. She was kept locked away against her will and Caspian locks himself away by choice. Neither of them wants to be surrounded by others outside of us for long periods of time.

“Well, come on, let’s get you to bed. Tell the others good night,” Draken orders, spinning her around and placing her in my arms.

“Good night, Tillman.” She giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling herself up to kiss me on the cheek. I hold her tight, not wanting to let her go, then slide her back down my body, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“Good night, Will.”

Draken then moves her over to Corentin, who bends his head and kisses her on the forehead, whispering good night. Moving on to Caspian, Draken doesn’t place her in his arms like us, instead steps back to let them decide what to do. After a moment of the two of them staring at one another, Caspian runs a tendril of shadow down her cheek, causing her to close her eyes and smile. I’ll count that as a win.

Taking her by the hand, Draken leads her through the door into the house as the three of us sit here and watch her go.

“She’s been more affectionate today than ever before,” Corentin comments, taking a seat at the patio table, pouring the three of us drinks.

“I overheard her tell Oakly she’s nervous about tomorrow and Oakly is as well. They both don’t want to break down crying in class,” I inform him as I take the seat and drink beside him.

“You just happen to overhear that?” Caspian asks sarcastically. I grunt in response, not willing to admit me and Ry were standing there eavesdropping as the girls kicked their feet in the pool, chatting.

“We’ll all go with her to the lab in the morning. Draken’s going to escort her to her classes, then she can have lunch with us. She can stay in my office all break if she wants and she’s with you for E.F. training class.” Corentin plans her entire day accordingly.

“Are we sure this test is the best thing for her? I think the Memoria stone will unbind her gift when it’s supposed to.” I can’t help but feel like we’re trying to force answers before we’re supposed to know them.

“Jamie said the test results could take weeks if not months, but at that point her gift may emerge on its own. If not, we’ll get the results and be able to better prepare her for whatever gift may emerge. I have no doubt it’ll emerge in a dramatic way like her elements did and ours as well. I think it’s worth it and she thought so too, so that’s all that matters,” Corentin declares, and we fall into a comfortable silence, probably thinking about how all our gifts came about.

On my fourteenth birthday, just like the others, my mom and aunt had put together a huge party. Every year, they planned big birthdays for the three of us. I can picture my mom now, carrying my three-tier cake out, different shades of green frosting, my favorite color, and fourteen candles lit on top. When she set the cake down and told me to ask for a blessing, I asked for my gift and element to emerge like Corentin’s. And Elementra answered.

Suddenly, I could hear everyone’s thoughts all at once. It was so overwhelming, and I was freaking the fuck out because I couldn’t figure out how to make all the noise stop. In my panic, I dropped to all fours, screaming at the ground. A huge crack appeared below my hands and before I could fall into the massive split I created in the earth below me, my mom hauled me up, encasing the two of us in a shield, and the noise dimmed a little.

“Talk to me, baby, what’s happening?”

“I can hear everyone in my mind. There’s so much noise, Momma. I can’t even hear my own thoughts.”

I shoved my fingers in my ears and began rocking back and forth.

“Look at me, Tillman. Look at me.”

I looked up into my mother’s eyes and saw pride shining in them.

“Your gift just emerged, baby. It looks like you have the gift of Mind Transference and a very powerful earth element. I want you to keep looking in my eyes. Don’t look away, Tillman.”

“Okay.”

“Focus on me. Focus on my voice.”

I nodded.

“Can you hear me, only me?”

“Yeah, just…just you.”

“Good job, baby. I’m so proud of you, Tillman.”

Looking at her, she didn’t say that with her mouth that was smiling brightly. It was her thoughts. She broadcasted loud enough for me to only hear her.

Drifting out of the flashback of my mom, a small smile crosses my lips. I haven’t thought about that day in a long time, but talking about what happened with Willow last night had a weight lifting off my shoulders that I’ve been carrying around for so long.

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