Page 154 of Gift from the Wing

Tillman, Caspian, Draken, Ry, San, Nikoli, Lyker, Lennox, Kyan, Zane, my dads, Roye, and Dyce, even Keeper all say the exact answer I figured. Their years of experience, and Keeper’s years of being kept prisoner, told them immediately what the lack of attacks are hinting at.

“So what’s your plan, son?” Roye asks.

“We prepare. Starting tomorrow, everyone’s schedules will have to change up to focus on their strengths and work on weaknesses. Every morning, apart from your Nexus for now, Lyker, we’ll have Nexus training here. Following that, Draken, Tillman, Ry, Jamie, and me will report to the academy. Willow, Gaster, Oakly, Cas, San, and Keeper, you all…” I trail off just slightly. Fuck, I’m not too happy about this, but it’s how it must be for now.

“You all will be here. Studying, researching, digging through any bit of information you can. The new book Oakly received, the amplifier room, figuring out the Summum-Master’s identity, finding Willow’s blood supply, Trex’s brothers. All these things have to be taken care of. Ideally, we find Willow’s blood supply and the second family betraying us before the Spring Ball. The afternoons can be spent at the academy where you’ll work on combat, long-distance tracking, and whatever other areas need to be worked on.”

The thought of Willow being separated from me for half of the day every day is a kick to the balls. I hate it, regardless of the fact we can easilytransport to one another whenever we want. I’d feel better with her being wherever I am.

“That’s a big change from what we discussed,” Willow mumbles, her displeasure evident in her bond and tone.

“I know, princess, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for springing all of this on you and if there’s anything you disagree with, I’m all ears. This doesn’t have to be the end-all plan,” I say softly, kissing each of her knuckles as I hold her sad gaze.

“No, it’s all perfect, unfortunately. It’s what needs to be done and this way, with a schedule and plan in place, it will get done.”

Tillman pulls her closer to his chest, whispering sweet nothings to her mind and easing the worry from her brow. She mindlessly rubs her hip, both receiving and sending comfort from Draken. The shadows that dance around her wrist soothingly are braided, hers and his.

When her thumb runs across my finger, I can’t help but smile down at my ring that she caresses. The ring she put so much effort, love, and pieces of herself into. Countless times I’ve caught myself turning it in circles since she slid it in place, rubbing its smooth surface instinctively. All of us have done it.

Wherever we go, we’ll always have a piece of her.

Twenty-One

Willow

“You Primaries believe you can take on all of us? On the Mercie Nexus’s first day of training?” Dyce’s challenging tone draws a snort from Oakly, Aurora, and me.

The twelve men standing solidly in front of us all look amused at Aurora’s offer of boys versus girls to end our first training together this morning.

It wasn’t a surprise to me at all, but she and her Nexus were floored to see Oakly and her guys pick up on the true Nexus mingling—as I’m calling it—so fast. Nikoli and Oakly got it right their first time with their water elements, and it only took a few tries for her to get it right with all her men.

I had told her all about what the training was and what it required, and I lent her the book, so there’s no doubt she spent the night reading up on it in preparation for this morning.

“The lot of you really don’t believe we can take you?” I ask, gazing around at their overly confident smirks.

“This is different than E.F. training, trouble, where you and Oakly can take down six men. The twelve of us have trained the three of you in some form or fashion. We know every move you’ll make,” Ry says.

“He doesn’t know every move I can make.”

“Oakly.”

She giggles and his eyes whip to her, confused and believing she’s laughing at his words. She’s too sly to tell him the truth and just winks at the glare he’s shooting her.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea and I have a way in which we can make it fair,” Gaster says enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear at the three of us, and Keeper shakes his head beside him knowingly.

Well, I know who Gaster has his money on.

“Let’s hear it then, old man. If the Primaries want to try their luck, who are we to stop them?” Caspian says sarcastically, causing the guys to chuckle darkly and us to glare.

“A Forcefield Ring. Theo can draw out a large circular formation and once one of you boys orladiesis knocked out of the ring, you can’t enter back in. It’ll only be him that will have to be truthful about whether he gets knocked out, and obviously we’ll be able to see if that happens. This way, you can’t just continue to attack. Metaphorically speaking, you’ll be out.”

The horde of Nexus members look at each other to weigh their opinions in that scenario, while us girls are game. We were ready for this face-off without this fairness added.

“Fine, but we need rules,” Corentin declares, and Aurora scoffs.

“No rules, son. Gifts, elements, magic, it’s all fine. You men just get ready for this ass whopping we’re about to deliver.”

Oakly and I practically keel over laughing. Her voice was so sweet and soft. Nothing like the threat she’s letting linger in the air. Her Nexus stares at her heatedly and my men all groan in disgust. Of course Oakly and I swoon because it’s so romantic.

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