Page 201 of Gift from the Wing

I see it. I feel it.

Obviously, it’s Elema Lingua Vetus, but I’ve never heard those words before. There isn’t anything in the language I don’t know, which leads me to believe, if these are words no longer in our vocabulary, there’s significance to why.

This momentfeels larger than her asking me to address Willow by a nickname. It feels like she is blessing me with an honor far beyond my own comprehension or worthiness.

“I will. I promise,” I swear and she nods, forcefully wiping away a stray tear.

“One more thing,” she says as she swirls her hand in the air, opening a pocket dimension in front of me. “When the time comes and I must go, I’ve enchanted this so when my signature leaves this realm, it will appear in the house. Please make sure she gets it.”

Passing me over a book, I trace the Nexus mark on the front cover. Such a powerful sigil that so few have ever and will ever understand.

Opening it to the first page, I run my hand down the blank cream parchment and the vibration of her enchantment and concealment tingles through my fingertips.

“How will she know to reveal it?”

Holding her hand out for it, I pass it over with no hesitation and watch, memorizing every move she makes so when my time comes, I know what to do. She shifts her index finger into a claw, and she presses it to her other one until a small trail of blood begins to run down her hand.

“Watch and listen closely. She needs to move the points counterclockwise and say what I say, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Air, Earth, Water, Fire so bright,

Four elements, pure and right.

Remember these with joy and cheer,

The elements become one, the world becomes clear.”

I repeat the enchantment in my mind at least a dozen times, as fast as I can until I know it’s permanently imprinted on my mind.

It makes complete sense.

Knowing what Iris and Willow are, it fits perfectly.

“Got it?” she asks.

“Igot it.”

“I’m sorry for requesting so much of you. I know you already have the weight of the realm on your shoulders and I’m adding more to it. I’m sorry I won’t be here to care for them. Either of them.”

“Iris, do not look at it that way. You’re not requesting anything of me that I wouldn’t want to do. I’m sorry for keeping the truth from you for so long, but I didn’t feel worthy enough for this blessing. I too am going to have to leave her. I’ve known when my time comes for a long, long time. I felt like I was stealing something from you, that is rightfully yours. You do deserve to be a mother,” I admit quietly.

“You’re stealing nothing. You’re granting me a peace I never saw coming. Because of you, I know my daughter, my children will be okay.”

“They will be. I swear it.”

She smiles softly at me as she places her book back in her pocket dimension and closes it up. When she leans back against the bench, we both sigh at the same time. A small chuckle falls out of both of us as we notice her men standing on the porch, watching us keenly. Not for jealous reasons, or at least I hope not. More so protective because they felt her get upset.

“Should I tell them now or let it be a surprise?”

“A surprise. Make sure to wait until Kelso steps away from the stove before you say it.” I smirk. I’ve already seen the excitement unfold.

“Do you know his name?”

“I do.”

“Will you tell me?”

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