Page 90 of Gift from the Wing

“Don’t put any ideas in the little Primary’s head. She’s already gung-ho on mastering this in a week,” Caspian says sarcastically as he and Corentin move in to surround her.

“I’m right here, you know,” she says, rolling her eyes.

“I can clearly see when there’s a goddess in front of me,” he says low, causing those sassy-ass eyes to dilate.

“Enough, all of you. We’ve all got things to do. I’ll see you soon, princess,” Corentin says before getting himself a quick kiss, followed by Cas.

“You all are mine later,” she purrs, pulling groans from each of our chests.

Corentin transports to his office and Cas takes to the shadows as Draken slings his arm over her shoulder and strolls her down the hall away from me. The two of their laughs carry back my way and I can’t help but watch her as she goes. The way that woman enthralls me is crazy.

“Fix yourself before you go out there showing everyone what’s mine,”she says slyly, shooting me a wink before turning the corner to leave.

Fuck. Me.

I let my head fall back, groaning, but I do what she says. She’d kick my fucking ass if I walked out there sporting a hard-on. Even if she is the reason it’s there.

It’s ridiculous how she makes us all act like teenage boys.

Although it takes considerable effort to push the thought of my foul-minded little warrior out of my head, I have everything under control by the time I make it down the hall and out the door that leads to the training fields.

There’s a small army of E.F. members mulling around, waiting for orders, and I make my face stern before they can see anything other than their steadfast leader.

“Formation,” Uncle Roye and I bellow at the same time.

The double command has the young E.F. members scattering like mice to get in their assigned positions and the more well-seasoned ones do exactly as they should. Uncle Roye chuckles and I see his smirk out the side of my eye, but I keep my gaze focused straight. If these recruits see my more relaxed side this early on, they’ll think they can joke and fuck around with me as well.

Not happening.

“Three laps. Go,” I command, sending them on their way.

“You’re so much like her, it’s scary sometimes.” Uncle Roye again laughs. At least this time he waits until they’re all out of earshot.

“Well, she was the best of the best, so I got it honest,” I say before turning and walking toward the next group of soldiers.

“That she was,” he agrees quietly with a small sigh.

I don’t bother saying anything else. Not willing to open that can of worms out in the open for any of our men or the few women out here to hear.

It’s no secret that I’m a legend amongst the E.F. members. Besides the fact that I’m the youngest to ever hold the role of E.F. Leader, my mom made quite the name for herself, and I’ve followed those footsteps closely.

This is the longest stretch of time we’ve stayed at the palace since we started at the academy all those years ago, and apparently, it has everyone feeling nostalgic. I’ve heard my mom’s name plus the nickname she gave me more times in the few days we’ve been here than I have in the last decade. It has not only me on the edge, but Will’s picked up on it quickly and she wants answers. Answers I don’t know how to give her.

Every morning during our Nexus training with my aunt and uncles, something is said that has Will’s eyes cutting to my pinkening cheeks. Every comparison, every compliment, is coated in a small comment about how they’d be so proud or something along thoselines.

It’s not that I’m trying to hide anything from her. It’s just simply a subject I don’t talk about. I’ve accepted what I’ve had to accept and that was that. I grieved and overcame it.

Or at least that’s what I thought.

Every morning after training, when I come out here with Uncle Roye, I see the envious looks the recruits shoot my way. I hear their thoughts about the stories they heard of my mom and her Nexus. They make remarks about how cool it must have been to have a mom and dads who were badass, revered, and to be feared when their teams arrived at missions. How everyone knew shit was about to get real when they arrived.

It’s the truth. That’s exactly how it was for them, how it’s becoming for my Nexus now, and I can’t help the sadness that rises in me, wishing they were here to witness it.

What would they have taught us?

Would they have been proud of me for winning the E.F. Leader trials so early or would they have told me to wait?

Would Mom want to take over this crazy-ass war we’re in or would she let me lead like Uncle Roye’s been doing?

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