Page 245 of Gift from the Source
You’ve been through enough, baby girl, and it’s time you relax.
When I first returned from the nonmagical realm and bonded with my Nexus, we did absolutely whatever we wanted for weeks.
We built our cabin, planted my garden, explored the warded woods. We spent so much time together, it almost felt like there was no before them.
I want that for you.
I want you to be so swept away by love and so cherished that the before becomes just that. Before.
The after, I want you to fully embrace, enjoy, and make the most of.
I know our situations are different. I didn’t have to worry about ruling a realm one day. I was the only Source for a short time, but my responsibilities and duties were limited.
Nothing like yours will be.
It’ll all be worth it, though.
Watching life bloom before you in any form is an experience I hope you find wonder in every time it happens.
You are going to have a long, long, fulfilling life, Willow.
I’m so incredibly proud of the woman you are and the one you will continue to shape out to be.
You survived the worst of the worst. And you will thrive the most.
It’s time to spread your wings and soar.
I love you with all my heart, my little dragonfly.
We’ll talk really soon.
Momma xoxo.
I shut my eyes along with the cover of her book and I tilt my head back to the sun. Both the rays and her words sink into my skin and warm mefrom the inside out. My shadows carry my book away for me and I bathe in the glorious feeling of just…being.
Her first letter to me was exactly what I needed.
Not too much. Just enough.
Anything groundbreaking probably would’ve broken me.
I have a feeling she knew that as well. I’m sure she can imagine, if CC hasn’t told her, life has been nonstop over the last few months.
From sunup to sundown, we’ve worked.
The ‘after’ entails so much more than all of us cheering, celebrating, and remembering. The entire realm felt this shift in energy.
It’s been on us, the Ruling Nexus, and the rest of our family to pick up the pieces left scattered about because of the Mastery’s downfall.
Their claws were dug in everywhere.
It wasn’t just the followers they accumulated over the years that left damage in their wake. There were families still begging for help and searching for their loved ones who were somewhere being held hostage.
In the end, the information left for us from Pran, Dillon, and Maxima was invaluable.
Tillman has worked nonstop bringing them all home and cleaning their minds up as much as he could. It’s a devastating task to do and I’ve been by his side every step of the way.
The list upon list of members in the Mastery had to be sorted through. Family lines and names had to be recorded for the crimes they’d committed. A task Caspian took great pleasure in.
