Page 97 of Gift from the Tree

“What’s going on?” she asks as even more concern and worry etch into her face.

Everyone’s staring at us. Hearing me yell her name like I was dying a second ago drew all their attention to us.

“They transported Tillman and Caspian away from the camp they were just at, while Ry and the other E.F. members were fighting them off. We don’t know where they took them. I need you to track them. We’re leaving in half an hour,” I beg, giving her a brief rundown of what I just overheard Ry and Corentin say.

She stares at me intently, mapping my tear streaks and trembling lips with her eyes. “Let it be known, this isn’t me agreeing to joining the E.F.,” she states firmly, giving Corentin and Ry a hard look. “I’ll help you get them back, Willow, I promise.”

I throw my arms around her.

“Willow, you’re not going,” Corentin declares, walking over to us.

“The fuck I’m not,” I argue, sucking up my tears and giving him a seething glare.

“You aren’t fully trained, you could be hurt, and you’ll only be a distraction for me and Draken. You’re not going.” His voice booms with the command, shaking the ground beneath our feet. I fight my body’s reaction to flinch tooth and nail because I’ll be damned if I cower or stay here while everyone runs off to bring them back home.

“If Willow can’t go for those reasons alone, then I’m not going either. I’m just as undertrained, could be hurt, and would be a distraction,” Oakly states, coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.

“We need to follow your tracking imprint. If you don’t go, we won’t be able to find them,” Corentin says, hands shaking with anger.

“Then make your choice,” Oakly replies calmly and confidently, linking her arm with mine. She knows she has him. He may get distracted by my presence there, but he isn’t willing to let something happen to his brothers.

“I’ll follow your orders, stay close to Draken or you or whoever you assign me to. I’ll do as I’m told, Corentin, but I’m going.” I step closer to him and put my hand on his chest. I know he’s seconds from losing his shit and I’m not trying to add to that, but I’m not staying behind.

“Fine. Draken, go get the uniforms while I get everything else organized. Twenty-six minutes till we’re transporting out. Oakly, what do you need to track them the fastest?” Corentin asks her with more calm than he had a second ago. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him until I’m pressed as close to him as possible.

“Fastest would be their blood, but anything that belongs to them will work,” she informs him.

“I can transport to the mansion quickly and grab some of their things.” Gaster volunteers.

“Wait, technically, Corentin is Caspian’s blood brother and Tillman’s blood cousin. Couldn’t you use his blood and ignore the part that would track Corentin or however you do this?” I ask.

I know the gist of what her gift does, but we don’t talk about it much because she doesn’t want any attention on her abilities, and I think we both avoid it to an extent because I don’t have a gift to talk about. But when we get back, I’m going to make it a priority to learn everything about her gift.

“I can do that,” Oakly whispers, keeping her voice low where only the small group of us can hear her. I don’t understand why until I look at the faces of the guys who are standing around us and realize they’re all shocked.

“That was a secret, wasn’t it? Fuck, I’m so sorry, Oakly. I didn’t know. I’m such an awful friend,” I whisper.

“You’re not an awful friend. Don’t say that. You had no way of knowing. As far as I know, I’m the only tracker who can pinpoint that precisely and I’ve kept it to myself so it wouldn’t be another reason the E.F. would hound me.” She shoots Ry a look that has him shifting from foot to foot. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she isn’t pressured into shit by these guys. Tillman included once we save his ass.

“Okay, then you have that in plenty supply. Ry, how are your guys healing up?” Corentin asks, moving on to the next item on his list.

“They’ll be fine in just a few minutes. All who came back are ready to jump back in.”

“Good. The members my mother is sending in will be here in three minutes. Get them in position and a brief. Don’t mention Oakly or what we’ll be doing to get us there. Willow, a moment.” Corentin turns on his heel and starts walking toward the changing rooms.

Fuck, I’m in trouble.

“Don’t worry, little wanderer. He’s just freaking out and he’s about to lose control of his gift. You can calm him down,” Draken speaks low and then gives me a kiss.

“Are you okay?” Everything’s happened so fast and Corentin’s dominated the majority of all the conversations being had. This is the first moment I’ve been able to speak to him without interruption.

“My dragon wants to claw his way out of my chest right now. Tillman and Caspian are two of the toughest fuckers I know, so I know they can hold out till we get there. I’m not trying to think of any other possibility right now.” He betrays himself there at the end. I can see the worry and panic that’s sitting on the surface slip out before he shoves it back down.

“We’ll bring them back home,” I promise as I wrap my arms around his waist, trying to reassure him as much as myself.

Turning to follow the direction Corentin went, the nerves that Draken just settled are rising up again. I know Corentin’s livid that me and Oakly just put him in a terrible position, and it’s unfair to him, but I refuse to be left behind.

“Corentin,” I call out, turning in a circle around the empty changing room. Striding back to the door to look somewhere else, my hand stretches for the handle, but instead of cold metal, I grab a warm forearm.

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