Page 149 of Gift from the Stone

Every ball, every dinner, she’d have us stay at the thrones with them. If people came to speak to us, she made sure either she or one of our dads were with us. She knew then and knows now, they’re snakes. Power hungry. And she never wanted us to fall into their beliefs.

Once our gifts emerged, she quit making us come completely. Told everyone we were busy with our studies. When I was younger, I didn’t want to socialize with all those people anyway, so I didn’t care. I still hate having to socialize, but I know now, it’s a necessary evil, and it’s biting us in the ass that we didn’t do more of it.

“Well, that’s a decision I still stand by. It doesn’t matter that Tillman didn’t recognize the voice because we can’t go in or against them gifts blazing. We have to gather evidence, be prepared to bring it to the attention of the entire five. Until we can do that, we act as normal.

“We’ll organize recon teams to track all five families. Me and your fathers will handle that since they’re closer to us, while you boys continue leading this from the academy. Focus on apprehending as many Mastery members as you can and prepare to infiltrate the Forsaken Forest. That portal has to be secured and the Keeper needs to be brought in,” my mom declares.

“Terravile will seem like a stroll in the gardens compared to the Forsaken Forest. That fucking place is vile, dangerous. Knowing that the ruler or would-be ruler of Essemist Keep is there is even more concerning. Has Tillman formed a plan for how to infiltrate it?” Dyce asks.

“He’s been working on it. Now that we know the elixir is real, that’s an option we’ll explore. Gaster is going to do some research while he’s here. Until that time, Tillman will continue readying the teams at the academy and he’ll move some teams around to join us there. We need to see the ledgers of how many creatures have been put in the forest,” I tell them.

“Of course. It’s in our personal study. This person with the sight, we’ve never heard of them, and their gift is one that’s rarely been seen in years. Are they trustworthy? What do you know of them?” my mom asks.

Me, Caspian, and Gaster all sit in silence, not saying a word.

“Why are you leaving details out? This is huge. We have a name to the rebel society, possible locations, betrayal in our midst, and you’re keeping information from us. Why?” Theo asks.

At Caspian’s and my blank stares, he throws his hands up, causing all four of them to start peppering us with more and more questions. But not my mom. I hold her stare, meeting her eyes that are just as calculating as mine.

“Who is she?” she asks me directly, silencing the rumble of noise coming from my dads.

“Someone who will be best protected if fewer people know about her,” I grunt.

“No. Who is she to you, Corentin? Caspian?” my mom asks us sternly, but I detect the underlying hope in her voice.

“She is no one’s business,” Caspian answers darkly.

He, just like me, doesn’t want to announce her here. We just revealed that there’s a traitor remarkably close to them. There’s no telling how much or little the Mastery know about her since her father and that scum have a manhunt out on her location. The last thing we need is there to be a spy somewhere in the castle going back and reporting anything about Willow to the Mastery.

“I don’t sense any signatures around us, nor could they hear through my block, if you wish to speak freely,” Gaster says softly to us.

“There’s nothing to speak freely about. We aren’t discussing her.” Caspian snarls, beginning to get defensive.

“Is she dangerous?” my mom asks.

“No,” me and Gaster say as Caspian answers, “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

“Caspian.” I sigh, shaking my head and pinching the bridge of my nose.

“What? Technically, she’s extremely dangerous. She just chooses not to be,” he says very literally.

He isn’t wrong. I know that. If Willow wanted to be, yes, she could be a real fucking threat to a lot of people. But she’d never.

“Who is this girl?” Roye asks, continuing to push the subject.

Me and Caspian eye each other for a long minute. Although we can’t truly talk to one another or communicate in our minds, we’ve always been close enough to understand each other. And currently, it’s an agreement on what to say next. He doesn’t want to tell them shit about Willow, and neither do I. It’s not worth the risk right now.

“She’s no threat to the realm, complete opposite, and that’s all that anyone needs to know for now. We aren’t discussing her further. End of story,” I declare firmly.

“I just think—”

“Aurora, the boys have their reasons for not sharing this. It’s best to believe them for now,” Gaster says gently, reaching across the seat to pat her hand.

Despite my mom’s or dads’ positions, they have always—we have always—looked to him for guidance. Looked to him for so much more honestly. She’d be willing to continue to push this with me and Caspian, but she listens to Gaster.

“Fine, for now. But don’t think I won’t be asking again about this mystery woman,” she says, eyeing me and my brother.

“I’m going to the study to look over the ledger and the schedule for blood donations,” Caspian announces.

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