Page 143 of Gift from the Source
As the smooth drink slides down my throat, I can’t help but think about Oakly’s teasing comment.
It honestly puts everything more into perspective for me.
This room is really full of the people we’ll be spending the rest of our lives with.
Oakly and her Nexus will be announced first. She’s the right hand to Willow and will be recognized as first advisor. Not only that, but Ry and the guys, once they finish with the E.F., will always serve as our advisors and confidants.
Aria will be announced second as Willow’s next advisor, but the same will go for Lyker and his brothers. He will be addressed by his title but also as the Awaiting Matriarch’s brother. By default, he will fall as her advisor, but we know he’ll serve beside us just as much.
Gaster and Keeper will go next.
Gaster is already in the position of Master Archivist, which is a title he will keep, but today, he’ll stand beside Keeper as Willow’s parental figures.
I thought the ancient vampire was going to faint when she asked him to stand with Gaster.
We all thought it would be safer not to announce him as heir to Essemist Keep or Draken’s father. Willow wouldn’t hear anything about him not being involved, though. Not that we wanted to exclude him, but we were trying to figure out a way that was safest for him.
My princess said it made the most sense for him to be claimed as related to her since no one in the realm truly knew her outside of the Mastery. It would send a statement to the Everglows and the Gales, while also giving Keeper the recognition of family that he deserves.
He kneeled before her and said he’d be honored to do whatever she wanted. She cried. Draken growled. It was a whole emotional thing. But we finally reached a good compromise.
Looking over all the faces in here, my heart thuds a million miles a second.
This is a lot of people to keep safe. They all hold a special place in our lives, and we can’t lose any of them.
My head swims with the possibilities of any and everything that could go wrong. Not just tonight, but at any moment.
At any moment the Summum-Master could strike and take one of them from me.
I refuse it.
I’ll do whatever it takes to stop that.
“Your highness.” A soft, warm hand cups my cheek.
“Princess,” I say, blinking my eyes and forcing them to focus on her.
“It’s time to line up. Will you get everyone where they’re supposed to be? It’s a little chaotic in here,” she says softly.
I know what she’s trying to do. And it’s working.
My dark thoughts slow and my breathing falls evenly from my chest. When I see Aria on the outside of her men rather than in the middle where the Primary is supposed to be, my eye twitches.
Yeah, yeah, they aren’t technically being announced together, but they’re walking out together and lining up together.
“I can do that,” I say, then instantly start barking orders.
Everyone’s shoulders straighten as they get in place. As each Nexus lines up properly and the Master of Events hustles into the room. The tension in me bleeds out completely.
Tillman stands to my left, and on my right, is Willow in the middle. On the other side of her is Caspian, then Draken.
There’s no reasoning to our order other than Draken and Tillman are the tallest, while Cas and me are the same height. Each Nexus is lined up this way.
It’s organized, uniformed, and just right.
“Okay, current and future rulers, are we ready?” the Master of Events calls out, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.
The man is maddening on days like today. Really, though, he’s the one running the show, so none of us are going to say anything.
