Page 118 of Gift from the Stone

“Like we’ve assumed, they’re in both the nonmagical realm and Elementra. The Summum-Master has struck some sort of deal with the creatures of the Forsaken Forest to guard the portal that’s being used to move in between realms. I can only assume, knowing the creatures that live in the forest, life essence is being exchanged. The Elders were unsure of how he got the portal back open, but he successfully did it.” Tillman grimaces, and the majority of the table does as well, except for Willow, who’s looking around with confusion marring her face. Fuck, I don’t look forward to telling her what lives in that forest.

“They have a ranking system that’s based off the beliefs we hold but have been modified to fit their agenda. Recruits, pledges, soldiers, Enforcers, Masters, Deinde-Masters, and the Summum-Master. Masters have multiple trials they have to work through to prove their worth to move up to Deinde-Master. Jarod was a Master-Enforcer, for example. He was a Master of training the new recruits, soldiers, and he would’ve been promoted into a position like the one I hold, I believe, if he were to have become a Deinde-Master. The Elders called themselves Masters of Knowledge. It’s easy to assume only the high-ranking masters and the Deinde-Masters, could be aware of the identity of the Summum-Master,” he continues.

The similarities are there to how we run our society, but our rankings only apply to E.F. members and then the ruling family, citizens are just citizens, unless they pursue higher titles, like Gaster, who’s a Master Archivist. E.F. members start as recruits and work their way through third-level academy to become fully pledged E.F. members.

There’re enforcers like Lucas, Lyker, Rhett, who’ve served diligently and been promoted. Then Ry’s title as second, to Tillman who’s Leader, which I would equate to their system as a Deinde-Master.

The ruling family is just the Ruling Nexus, which are the men who are bonded to the Matriarch. They rule together as one, but the Matriarch is the center focus because she’s the keeper of balance. It seems the Summum-Master wants to replace that structure with his own dictatorship.

“What about what they’re doing to the people they kidnap?” Caspian asks. His eyes have darkened, and I see the terrors of what he went through creeping to the surface. No one knows as well as him the extent the Mastery will go to in order to experiment on a person. Well, he and Willow.

“They’re pushing their gifts to the max by torture, forced simulations to draw it out, and they’re taking their blood by the pints daily. They’re hiding the children who haven’t emerged, preparing them for what’s to come,” Tillman answers factually, but his grim, firm eyes show that he didn’t want to have to tell Caspian that.

“What the fuck for?” Lyker growls through the communicator.

“They’re trying to steal their gifts,” Willow whispers, causing every head to turn to her.

“How do you know?” Caspian asks, pushing off the wall, striding toward us.

“I don’t know, but I do. I can feel it. And the Elders even said, they were using their gifts to reward those more deserving. Why else would they be in alliance with nonmagical men? Those men are powerful in the nonmagical realm because of their social standing and money, but they have nothing to offer the Mastery here in Elementra without powers. And the blood, it’s life essence. They’re draining their life essence, but how would they transfer the power? It all comes back to the blood magic somehow,” she spews in a rattle of words, her breaths coming out short and her clammy palms are digging into my skin. She feels very deeply about this, completely sure, so I believe her wholeheartedly.

In a matter of seconds, my brother’s features morph through dissecting phases. Starting with analyzing everything she said, calculating the possibility of its truth, an argument within him, can it be achieved or not. Then I see the all-familiar darkness bleed into his eyes as he recounts what he lived through. The shadows cling to him as he snaps himself out of the nightmare, and finally, he accepts that her words ring deafeningly true.

He lifts a trembling hand to Willow’s chin, tilting her head up so he can lay a kiss to her forehead, then vanishes through his shadows, leaving her hand stretched out in an attempt to run her fingers down his face.

“He just needs a minute, princess. I doubt he leaves the gym, but he’ll stay in the shadows until he calms down,” I whisper in her ear, feeling the rising emotions within her. She doesn’t respond but nods and links her fingers through mine.

“What about possible locations for the hostages?” Lucas asks.

The Crestwood attack is his first ground lead mission and I know it’s eating him up that he hasn’t gotten further. His typical chatter that drives me fucking crazy is absent currently. The seriousness of the information we’ve come across has subdued his characteristically talkative mood.

“We’ve received intel on possible locations from the prisoners we apprehended on our last mission and hopefully during the interrogation of the Terravile members we’ll receive more. The Elders were unaware of any other than the forest,” Tillman informs him.

“I obviously need to read up on this forest,” Willow comments, noticing how everyone makes a foul face.

“We’ll talk about it when we get home,” I tell her, laying a kiss to her neck. “Lyker, anything to report since we left?”

“I decided to move forward last night with naming Rylan my temporary Beta. We’ll have an opportunity for a challenge in the coming weeks, but the remaining members are happy with that, and I don’t foresee anyone stepping up to challenge him. The pack has a long way to go to rebuild and restructure, but for the most part, everyone’s being supportive. There’s a select few who, despite their family members betraying them, are upset with having no information on what will happen to them, but nothing we can’t handle. Rhett will come in my place tomorrow to Rebel Castle and I’ll join in a couple days when things settle down more,” he reports.

“Sounds good. Tillman will be heading up the teams tomorrow, so have him report here at dawn,” I order, turning it back over to Tillman to finish up and dismiss.

“That’s all for now. After we get through interrogations, we’ll begin planning how we’re going to take on the Forsaken Forest,” he declares grimly.

That’s going to be fucking awful.

“So is everyone expected to be up at dawn tomorrow…or…?” Willow asks as we transport back to the mansion. I knew the question had been burning her to ask since I said it.

“Yes, princess,” I tell her.

Really, I’m trying to surprise her with a morning at Oakly’s. I’m not going to Rebel Castle, but I do have a ton of work to now take care of and I know she’d both get bored and distract me if I locked her in my office all day. So I already ran it by Jamie to make sure he wouldn’t mind since he’s staying behind with Oakly, and he easily agreed, jumping on the bandwagon of surprising Oakly as well. They don’t get a lot of alone time, and as much as I truly hate sharing her attention, I know she needs it.

“Ugh, I get out of working out and still have to wake up,” she complains teasingly, making us all chuckle at her dramatics.

“Who said you don’t have to work out?” Tillman asks and if I wasn’t ready for her reaction, her hair would’ve slapped me in the face with how fast she whipped around. Tillman’s smirk gives it away that he’s just fucking with her, so she holds back the sassy-ass remark I’m sure was getting ready to come out of her mouth.

“Can we work on my gift?” she asks Tillman sweetly, and I watch him melt like butter. I can’t blame him. She’s sweet as sugar. Most of the time.

She’s so resilient. I know it’s hard on her, all this random shit popping up. Visions, gifts, and her Memoria stone showing her so much in so little time, but each time she bounces back. She freaks out, but it doesn’t last long.

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