Page 142 of Gift from the Source
“Nothing is too much. If anyone says otherwise, they are simply not enough.”
She smiles brightly at him as she holds his hands out and takes in his outfit. Unlike us, he isn’t in a suit, but he’s still arranged his outfit to color coordinate with hers.
Instead of his typical beige cloak, the one he wears now is purple on the outside, silver on the inside. His attire underneath is all black.
Matter of fact, now that I’ve seen them, he matches both Willow and Oakly perfectly.
Her Nexus is in all black. They look like elegantly dressed E.F. uniforms. Whereas we’re wearing black suits, with a purple waistcoat that has silver filigree designs, and a silver tie.
Somehow, Tillman and Willow damn near matched our embroidery perfectly. I even asked him if the two of them coordinated and he told me only colors.
Peeking out the corner of my eye, there’s red creeping up the side of his neck.
“Nosy ass,”I mumble.
“I took a look weeks ago. I didn’t know if she had changed her mind or not, so I just decided to go with it.”
Running my hand across my mouth to hide my smirk, he scowls at me and I have to choke my laugh down. I really shouldn’t be surprised he did this. I think he wanted to make her dress anyways but knew how excited she was to make hers and Oakly’s.
“Next year, big guy,”I say, patting him on the back, to which he twitches me off.
“Look at you, little dragon,” Lyker says as he pulls Willow into a hug.
“And you. Red is really your color,” she says slyly, and it goes right over her brother’s head.
“I am liking the red-and-black combo, thank you very much.”
I shake my head.
For one of the smartest, most strategic men I’ve met in my life, he’s a fool.
Willow subtly reaches back and pops my thigh while he continues talking. I wait until she goes to open her mouth again before I tap her on the ass.
“Ah,” she cries, whipping around to look at the daring smirk on my face.
“Come on, kids, gather around,” my mom calls and I wink at the mischievousness in Willow’s glare.
Leading her over to the table, I grab a flute and pass it to her, then my brothers, and one for myself. I roll my eyes at my mom’s little dreamy sighwhen Willow tucks herself into my side and I clear my throat to get her to carry on.
“Typically, every year, it’s only ever my Nexus and the boys in here waiting. This ball was the only one I asked them to attend after their gifts emerged and even then, they left after being presented. It’s been a decision I’ve stood by. Keeping them safe has always been my priority and recent discoveries solidify my decisions for myself. If I’m being honest with all of you now, though, part of me wants to tell you all to leave after we’re announced. That’s the motherly love and protectiveness speaking, though.” She sighs, looking down at her drink before raising her head and scanning all of us.
“This year is so different, in so many ways. Each year, our royal court, the council, waited on the landing for their announcement. This year, they won’t be recognized at all. It’s a statement that will be noticed tonight. The people will see the Ruling Nexus emerging for the first time in my rule with a true court. Full of family. They’ll see and get to speak to the heirs who are now a completed Nexus. They will meet the Awaiting Matriarch. The first Awaiting Matriarch we’ve had come into the Vito line rather than be born from it in over two thousand years. If that doesn’t scream change is coming, I’m not sure how else to tell them.
“It’s a change I am so ready for. I’ve worked hard over the years to undo the damage my mother did to the people of this realm. With my daughter now here, I will work harder at getting this realm ready for her. I refuse to pass over a mess to you, my girl.” She trails off when she looks at Willow. Her emotions rise like the waves to the surface and my dads move in closer.
“No, nope. I’m not going to cry, so I’m going to wrap this up. If you will, please raise your glasses,” she says, raising her flute, and we all follow suit. “I’m so incredibly proud, honored, and thankful for how large my family has grown. Each of you holds a special place in my heart, so take care of one another tonight. Watch each other’s back. We all know what we must be on the lookout for as well as what we need to do. But also, have fun. These past few months have been trying for each of you and the times to come will still be hard, but for tonight, embrace the love you have among each other. Elementra, bless us all tonight.”
She presses her glass to her lips, tilts her head back, and we all do the same. The sweet bubbly drink makes me cringe on the inside, but four happy hums sound from the ladies, so I keep my grimace internal.
“Ugh, I obviously should’ve drunk that before talking. All you kids have me so sensitive tonight,” Mom says, blaming us for her feeling overwhelmed with love.
“They’re grown adults, Rory. It’s not them making you emotional,” my dad, Roye, comments sarcastically and Mom shoots him a look for calling her out.
“I need like ten more of those before we walk out. I can’t believe you all are making me go first.” Oakly huffs.
“We’ve switched enough things up tonight. We’re sticking with tradition on the way we walk out at least.” Mom laughs as Oakly groans.
The entire room falls into easy conversation and I grunt a thanks when Cas passes me a glass of whiskey. He and Draken, unlike Tillman and me, did not hide their disgust at the drink that was obviously made to cater to the girls.
