Page 138 of Gift from the Wing

“You could see the lifeforce pulling from the man. It was as though his soul was being snatched from his body. I’ll never forget the sound of his last breath. His throat gurgled, chest wheezed painstakingly so, as if it was one last plea, then he fell still.

“Moving that same hand that was covered in both their blood, he joined it with the man who was intended to receive the gift. Never taking his other off the relic. That man at first just inhaled sharply, but it didn’t take long for the screaming and thrashing to start. Ale had to sit on him to hold him down not to break the Summum-Master’s connection.

“Ale tried yelling at him, telling him it wasn’t going to work, to pull the gift back, but the Summum-Master just stopped his chanting and said, if he can’t withstand it, he’s not worthy. Well, he couldn’t withstand it. After shaking so violently, I could feel it through the earth and into my shoes, the man fell still as well.

“The Summum-Master placed his bloody hand directly on the relic, and a burst of power surged from it, into him. I thought, well, hoped really,he was going to die as well, but he was obviously strong enough to accept what had been stolen.”

The faraway gaze in Keeper’s ruby eyes makes this feel like a haunting nightmare he’s replayed repeatedly in his mind. The anger, regret, and sadness pulse off him. I couldn’t imagine watching that and not doing anything.

Not that I’m accusing him of not doing anything. I’m sure he tried multiple times to stop shit that happened in that forest. With a cord that could cut your head off implanted in your neck, though, what really can you do?

“What did the relic look like?” my little wander asks softly.

“A small glass globe that sat within a bronze casing. It’s nothing more than a ball that could sit in your palms, but it’s powerful. Incredibly so.”

His sobering tone hits home for all of us.

It’s gut-wrenching to realize how close Oakly was to experiencing this and it also makes me think of another perspective that makes my stomach turn inside out.

It’s very possible, more so probable, Willow was never going to be on the giving end of this ritual, but what about the receiving? If the Summum-Master is trying to pump up Primaries, she’s the strongest and could really be a weapon if she was given three, four, hell, however many more gifts.

“I’d be him,” she whispers, looking at me with glossy eyes.

Shit. Thought that too loudly.

“But that’s not the case, nor will it ever be. Never will you or Oakly be placed in those situations again. I’m prepared to lock you both away and guard you until this is all over,” I say firmly.

Fuck, I wish she’d let me do just that.

She smiles at me tenderly and brings my hand up to her lips to lay sweet kisses on. “We both know I can’t do that, but the offer is still endearing.”

Endearing…I’m being so serious.

“I got to get back to the room before Oakly wakes up. I’ll see you all in a few,” Ry says, rubbing the back of his neck. He looks like ten differentshades of shit. I didn’t think about how hearing that, knowing what the process actually entails, would make him feel.

“Thank you for telling us all this, Keeper. It’s a big help,” Willow says. It’s hitting her hard as well.

“Of course, Adored. I vowed to you I would help any way I could, and I always will.”

Cutting his eyes to me, I don’t turn away from the affection reflected at me. I nod, acknowledging him, because at the end of the day, he is helping. Tremendously. And he puts my little wanderer first.

If he keeps it up, she’s not going to let him go, and I’ll just have to accept him fully then.

Nineteen

Willow

“Look at you glowing this morning,” I tease as soon as my eyes land on Oakly when she walks into the south wing foyer.

She laughs, skipping toward me while her men surround her and mine behind me groan and whisper-shout my name. It’s the truth, though. She looks stunning this morning, and if you had been there to witness the state she was in merely two days ago, you’d never believe it.

“I gotplentyof rest.” She winks, then wraps her arms around me.

My gaze softens on her men when they give her about a foot of distance and their shoulders relax. It’d seem I’m getting the more cheerful side.

Ry’s features contort into guilt when I meet his eyes and I roll mine, knowing by that look alone he most certainly didn’t tell her about his little early morning excursion yet.

“She was crying in the shower. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her yet.”

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