Page 147 of Gift from the Wing

I figured, though, the realm’s—”

She stops reading, gasping for breath as sobs begin to wrack her chest, but when I step closer to her, she waves me off.

“I figured, though, the realm’s most renowned Master Archivist deserved the first glance.

Read it. Memorize it.

As a matter of fact, ask your Absorber for the Recollection Spell. He’s stingy with that ancient knowledge.

You’re going to do amazing things, Oakly Mercie.

Don’t let anyone make you believe differently.

CC xoxo.”

Laying the letter down, she starts flipping through the pages rapidly, and her breathing quickens. Faster than I can follow, she starts spouting off facts and stats from every page and her face continues to grow brighter.

“This is crazy. The Nexus Mark, the Pyrathian Origin stone. What…” She trails off as she becomes fixated on the page she’s on.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Well, the first, you know the Nexus Mark. It’s a rune. The Pyrathian Origin stone is a relic. It’s claimed to have come from the first layer of the decimated side. From Pyra’s first ever eruption. The others…I haven’t a clue. Relics, runes, artifacts, all kinds of stuff I’ve never even heard of.”

Blood rushes to my ears and my body breaks out in a fever. Oakly’s so occupied with the book, she doesn’t even realize I’m having amoment.

It can’t be.

“Wh-What did you say?”

“You heard me—” Her eyes flash up to me, and she startles at my pale face. “Willow, what’s wrong?”

My mouth gapes open and I can’t even get the words out, so instead, I send Trex’s conversation to her and Aurora’s mind.

Tracking. Relics. Artifacts. Runes. My blood supply. The ritual.

“Oh, Elementra,” she breathes, running her hands around the rim of her new book. “We have a lot of training and studying to do, Willy.”

“Yeah, Oak,” I choke. “Yeah, we do.”

Twenty

Corentin

“I’m a tad shocked to sense all this excitement coming from you.”

Peering down at where my princess is tucked into my side, I shake my head and smile at her.

She’s so nosy.

That beautiful gaze goes from soft and sweet to narrowed in the blink of an eye and Tillman snorts beside us.

“See, it’s both of you. You’re both nosy,” I say.

“It’s not nosy when it’s just broadcast out in the open for me to feel or hear,”Willow sasses.

“Of course, princess.”

“So…”

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