Page 67 of Gift from the Stone

Lastly, the Poison of Essence cure is so white, it’s almost painful to look at from how brightly it shines. I can’t help but think of Corentin’s light and the anxiety in my chest eases.

For the next hour, the three of us work silently, vialling each cure and separating them out. Every batch made enough for twelve vials each, splitting them up, four of each will stay here at the academy, four of each Gaster is going to send to the Palace, and the others I’m putting in my pocket dimension.

“You remember what I told you, ground yourself, then draw your circle,” Gaster instructs confidently from where he stands beside me.

“Right, got it.” I blow out my breath, shake my hands out, and do as he says.

Calling my magic forth, gripping it tight, I spread it throughout my body, all the way to my feet and into the floor. Lifting my hand, I draw the circle slowly, and the vibration of my power from my dimension reaches out to me. Pulling the zipper down, the swirling silver reveals itself and I laugh out a breath of relief.

“Very good. Here you go. Set them in.”

Gaster created three wooden boxes, each cushioned with soft, separating foam to keep the vials from clinking around and breaking on one another. These are too precious to run the risk of breaking senselessly, so he took lots of care with making the boxes just for them.

Taking the box from him, I worry for a minute that it’s going to be too wide to fit through my circle, but to my surprise, the vortex of silver stretches wider, allowing me to easily set the box down and pull my hands back out.

Closing the dimension back is much easier than the last time, and my magic slowly slinks back into my chest. There’s no shooting me to my ass or power drainage. Thank fuck.

“Perfect, Willow, it’ll become easier and easier the more you open it,” Gaster compliments as he starts making his way toward the hall, the box going to the palace tucked carefully in his arm. “Now, come on, you two, your men will be here shortly to get you.”

“What are you going to do with your free period this morning?” Oakly asks as we plop down on the couch.

“Go spend some time in Corentin’s office. Draken’s supposed to go to Fire Elemental class today, but we’ll see. He’s a little jealous I got out of my Air Elemental class, but he still has to go.”

“Yeah, because my fire element is stronger than the damn instructor’s. There’s no reason for me to be there,” Draken complains dramatically as he stomps through the door as if me speaking his name summoned him.

“Well, quit burning people and you can get out of the class,” I tease.

“Now you sound like the guys.”

I laugh as I take his outstretched hand, telling Oakly bye as San walks in to get her.

Damn, they really do have this escorting us thing down to a science.

It’s always so easy to enjoy the comfortable silence that comes with Draken. If he isn’t making me laugh my ass off, he’s making me feel at peace. It’s a beautiful balance that I cherish so much.

“So are you going to class?” I ask as we make our way to Corentin’s office.

“No. Corentin’s in a meeting, so I’m not leaving you sitting in his office by yourself,” he tells me, giving my hand a comforting squeeze.

I can’t lie and say it doesn’t make my heart flutter that he’s worried about leaving me alone, although on one hand, I know I shouldn’t encourage or let him cut class at my expense, but the other hand reminds me he doesn’t even need the class. It’s a punishment, so it’s fine.

“What are we going to do then?” I ask, squeezing his hand back in a silent thank you.

“I’m sure we can find a way to distract ourselves, little wanderer.” The low growl he uses saying my nickname has my dragon perking up in my chest, flooding me with her need to get to his dragon, and I have to swallow down the purr trying to escape me.

That purr would’ve said please fuck me right here.

My ignoring her interest doesn’t go over well and she shoves her desire at me in full force. My face flushes with the yearning coursing through me, and it’s all I can suddenly think about. All I can smell is Draken, his fiery scent invading all my senses. I can taste him on my tongue.

The heat in my lower belly is causing a throbbing between my legs that I know won’t go away unless he touches me. My skin’s so tight, I want to rip my dress off and press myself against him while he buries his cock deep inside of me.

What the hell? I was just bragging about how you don’t take over.

My mental scolding to my dragon goes completely ignored as she continues to force her want through me. No matter how much I fight her, it’s a losing battle. And finally, she does shove my ass right to the back of my own mind.

“Mine.”

I hear his responding growl as he pulls us through a transport, depositing us into Corentin’s office. As soon as my feet touch down, I throw myself at him. He easily catches me by my ass as I wrap my legs around his waist, grinding myself against him, begging for the friction I desperately need.

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