Page 179 of Gift from the Wing

Jumping straight in to explaining the Dream tonic to Codi and Trex, they listen with unwavering concentration and determination to make this work no matter what. Their eagerness will either help or hinder, but I haven’t even gotten to the important bits before Codi cuts me off.

Which is a hindrance.

“So if I’m catching on to what you haven’t said yet, I assume you want me to put her to sleep. That way she’s connected to Dec in a way,” he says.

“Yes, but not only that,” I say, glaring at him to shut the hell up. Then I look between all three of them, Codi, Trex, and Willow, softening my gaze for her. “I want Willow to wrap her magic around your minds and you all go to sleep. You’ll put Willow and Trex to sleep first, then you’ll join them. I believe by her pulling you both into her mind while she’s dreaming, it’ll create a stronger connection to him, and he won’t be able to ignore it. She may even be able to pull you directly into her dream, or at least that’s what I’m hoping for by you both taking a tonic. If that doesn’t work, your presence will still be felt in hers, and I think Dec will respond.”

The two men’s eyes grow comically large, but Willow nods mindlessly, working out what she needs to do and what she believes she’s capable of doing.

“If the goal is for me to pull them in with me, we’ll need to weave the same reality, and each make our own tonic with Dec being the center intention. I think, like I pull everyone into my memories, it’s going to have to work the same. But I won’t be for certain until we’re asleep. Plus, how are we supposed to keep the connection between the three of us strong once we’re asleep?” she asks.

I grit my teeth because I thought of that as well, and I fucking hate it.

“Touch,” I grunt out and the immediate rejection of that notion from her in my chest eases the displeasure I’m feeling.

“The three of you can lie down in a triangular formation, with your heads touching. Nothing intimate, and it’ll probably best serve you in that position as well with the amount of mind power you’ll be using.” Gaster offers, and the compromise seems to help the tension in all of us.

Breathing the way Tillman taught her, she settles herself down and a wave of calm rolls through her.

“You’ll have to open yourself to me, Willow. I wouldn’t usually be able to put you to sleep,” Codi says.

“I will. Keeper will me wrapping my mind around Trex’s mess with anything?”

“No, all should be fine, but if not, I’m here to help,” he says, shooting Trex a wink.

“If all that is settled then,” Gaster says, glancing around the entire table for confirmation. “Okay then. Let’s get to brewing. Very good job, Caspian, my boy.”

Yeah. Now let’s just hope this shit works so my Primary can get some fucking peace.

Twenty-Five

Willow

I love the tranquil feeling that brewing something brings.

It allows my mind to be silent and focus solely on the task in front of me, and in this case, Dec. I’m able to put him at the forefront of my thoughts and really push the best intentions out possible to finding him.

Despite knowing his hatred for me, I know it’s misguided and hopefully soon enough, it’ll be nonexistent.

Unlike anything else I’ve ever brewed, the Dream tonic doesn’t require any fermenting. All it takes is a few minutes of seeping and stirring, and it’ll be ready to go. It also doesn’t resemble anything I’m familiar with either.

It’s brewed directly into our intended tea, which Gaster suggested chamomile, so that’s what we went with. Two ingredients are liquids that just blend right on in, and the third is a flower called the Nightbloom that is supposed to soak, then we eat it before drinking our tea. One liquid is called moon water—which is actually rain collected at night. The other is nectar extracted from lavender.

It honestly smells sweet and delicious. If I didn’t know what it was, I’d drink it down no questions asked justfrom its aroma.

At the sound of someone’s timekeeper, I’m pulled from my concentration and pour my little concoction in the mug Gaster placed in front of me as Codi and Trex do the same.

I’m absolutely tickled with Gaster because he went all out for this like it’s a party. In minutes after we decided we were doing this, he basically crafted an entire kitchen outside for us to make our drinks individually, while also setting up a comfy pallet out in the lawn for us to lie on.

The guys were furious about that and wanted to destroy it, but Gaster put his foot down, explaining we have no clue how long I’ll be asleep for, and he refuses to allow me to just lie on the ground for hours. The guys still weren’t convinced, so he suggested we all go lie in my bed.

That swiftly changed their minds.

“Ready?” Trex asks me as we walk through the grass.

“I think so. You?”

He blows out a shaky breath before smiling tightly. “Ready, yes, but trying not to get my hopes up.”

---