Page 104 of Gift from the Source
He’s just as bad as Oakly.
“You are royal court, Lyker. You’re not just Alpha of the Terravile Pack. You’re the brother of the Awaiting Matriarch and brethren to the Heirs of Elementra. I guess technically you don’t have to get ready with us if you want to be a dick and hurt your sister’s feelings, but regardless, you have to be presented with us. Just like Oakly’s Nexus, Gaster, and Keeper. It’s tradition.”
There’s a heavy pause on the other side of the line and I smile. I honestly wish I could see his face right now. I’m sure it’s a mixture of shock and disgust. It was comical enough when we told him he had to enter the Alpha trials and he didn’t want to. There’s no doubt he’s about to keel over from being told he’s also now a member of the royal court.
It’s simply a title. There’re no responsibilities per se along with it. It’s a recognition of having a relationship with the Ruling Nexus.
Usually, the five families would be presented along with the royal court, but we aren’t doing that this year. We’re only presenting our family.
One trustworthy united front.
Typically, my brothers and I show up right before it starts, stay around long enough to be announced, then we leave. We speak to no one but our parents and that’s it. It’s almost untrue to even say we’ve attended. It’s more like we made an appearance just to show everyone we’re still alive.
This year, we’ll be presented with our Primary, our whole family, then stay the entire night while we make our presence very known.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s…she’s not the Awaiting Matriarch. She’s just my little sister.”
The emotion behind his disbelieving whisper causes my smile to slip into a smaller one. His tone tells me he knows that she is, he just hasn’t recognized or thought about it. It’s easy to forget what her future truly holds because of all the shit going on.
At the end of the day, though, it doesn’t change who and what we all will become one day.
“I know she is,” I agree softly, “but she’s also going to be the ruler of this realm someday. She’ll be the best ruler this realm’s ever seen. It would mean a lot to us for you to be there, standing at our side. You’re our brother as well. In all things but blood.”
He lets out a deep sigh. “Of course I’ll be there. Well, as long as you can promise Draken isn’t going to say some weird shit,” he teases.
“I could never and will never promise that. Elementra herself I’m sure doesn’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth next.” We both let out laughs and I look down at my timekeeper going off. “Now that that’s settled, we’ll see you here then. Send a notice to Pyrathia about an enchantment instructor. Start small there. Now that we know the portal to Mystara Hollow was for sure there, it makes sense why a large colony of casters settled there.”
“Smart. I’ll do that. Thanks, Corentin.”
“Anytime.”
Ending the call, I stretch my arms over my head, then call all the light in my office to me. As much as I love being Headmaster—sometimes—fuck, I miss my princess not being here at the academy with me. With everything going on, our surprise visits to see one another are far and few between unless something big happens.
I’m openly jealous of the easy access Cas has to her all day.
He knows it too.
Transporting to the training fields, I pop in right behind where Tillman, Draken, Ry, Nikoli, and Jamie are waiting. Impatiently. The foot tapping, pause, then pacing from Draken makes it obvious.
“What took you so long? My little wanderer is gonna think something is wrong,” he says, placing his hands on his hips and staring me down.
“She isn’t going to think anything is wrong, Draken. When she gets worried, she’ll let us know.”
“Don’t tell me he’s right. I know he is. I just miss her, that’s all,” he growls at V, who’s perched on his shoulder comfortably.
V has been an interesting development in both Draken’s and Willow’s lives. I guess the rest of ours as well. Between Vince and V, my youngest brother is really shaping and coming into his own.
I don’t like this dramatic change.
The flurry of head bobs, muted grunts, and hoots coming from both Draken and V stops. When Draken’s eyebrows lower and he shoots me a mocking smirk, I know the bird just told him my thoughts.
“Don’t—”
“Tell me you love me,” he demands, cutting me off.
“I’m not doing this with you, Draken,” I groan.
“Come on, I just want to hear it once. Tell me how much you love me.”
