Page 177 of Gift from the Wing

“Keep reading. Read my uncle’s insert.”

Her breathing shudders out of her as she runs her fingers down the page, passing the recipe, to where he wrote his notes.

“After many trials and errors with this little fickle tonic, I’ve found the results that heed what I wish of them. Firstly, don’t mix the tonic in with sleeping tea as the recipe calls for. I’ve learned I have no control over the crazy shit that comes to my mind that way, like the other night when I was almost eaten by a giant.” She snorts, then chuckles, as do we all before she clears her throat again and carries on. “Also don’t drink it straight. I woke thirteen hours later, completely unaware if I was back to reality or not. Mixing it with a calming tea, such as chamomile or peppermint has worked best in my favor.

“Second, create the tonic per use, not batch. That’s why the measurements have decreased. By doing this, I can set my intentions on a single individual while brewing the tonic. Thirdly, I’ve found it best if I go to sleep with an object of said individual’s. This allows my magic to connect with theirs.” She flips the page, searching for more of his words, but that’s where it ends. It’s enough for me.

“Cas, I still don’t understand.”

“Holy shit,” Tillman mumbles, and I shoot him a glare for reading my mind. He doesn’t get to announce my brilliant idea.

I sneer at him when his lip tilts up, and these are moments I wish the gigantic asshole would be more like the Primary and respect boundaries.

“This is your way to connect with the Dreamwalker, little Primary,” I say quickly.

“What?” the entire room, aside from Tillman, asks.

“You’ll brew and drink the dream tonic. I’ll walk you through all the steps following. I have them mapped out in my mind,” I tell her confidently when I see the doubt creeping in.

“I have no doubt you do, but I don’t see how it’ll work. Also, I don’t have an object of his. I don’t even know where he is.”

“We don’t need an object. We have his brothers.”

Her head whips up to mine lightning fast and her mouth falls open as the rest of the room falls silent, I’m sure still trying to figure the schematics out. It’s a bit more complicated than just taking this tonic, I’ll admit, but I have complete faith in her and the wild plan running through my mind.

“Shit…” she breathes. “Okay. What do we do?”

“Go get the mind reader and sleeper. Then you’re going to take a little nap.”

“Then let’s go,” she says excitedly.

“Wait a second, princess. Cas, I need the entire plan you have laid out,” Corentin declares, standing and crossing his arms.

“You’ll get it as soon as we get to them. It’ll be best if everyone hears it at one time anyway. There’re some kinks that have to be worked out,” I tell him with a sly smile.

“Fine, let’s go then,” he grunts, lacing his fingers with Willow’s, dragging her toward the stairs. Draken, Tillman, and I laugh at his hasty retreat now that he’s shitten ’cause he doesn’t know every detail, but nonetheless we keep our teasing internal.

“Here, Caspian, while you all go inform them, I’ll gather the ingredients for the tonic. Where would you like me to meet you?” Gaster volunteers, holding his hand out for the book.

“Three tonics and the mansion,” I say.

Everyone turns to look at me, but I don’t explain further for now.

“Okay then. I’ll be there soon,” he says, then transports out.

“Oakly, if you’d like to be there for this, you and San can go get the others from the academy, then meet us at the mansion,” Tillman says.

She nods at him, lacing her fingers through San’s before blowing Willow a quick kiss, and leaves the room as well.

“You wanna go get Tanith and fly over?” Draken asks Keeper and I hold in my eye roll.

Not sure why everyone we know needs to be there, but whatever.

“We’ll meet you there, son,” Keeper says, clapping Draken on the shoulder, then speeding from the room. The dragon doesn’t cringe like he normally does when the vampire calls him that, and my little Primary smiles softly.

“You came up with this brilliant plan. Don’t know why you didn’t think everyone would want to witness it,” Tillman remarks as our Nexus surrounds Willow.

“Fuck off. Ready, Primary?”

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