Page 258 of Gift from the Source
It’s also become a tradition to stay at the mansion when the academy starts back up after its month break. We’ve set quite a few traditions in place now and each one gets better and better.
“The greenhouse at the mansion or your mom’s?” Corentin asks while never taking his eyes off his communicator.
“The mansion. You all don’t have to worry yourselves with joining,”I say smugly, and he lifts his eyes to glare at me.
Willow, oblivious that I’ve already answered him, says, “The mansion, so we won’t be long.”
“We’ll joinyou, princess. It’s been a while since we’ve all been out there together.” His eyes soften on her as she leans against his chest, stealing all his attention.
He makes sure to shoot me a wink before closing both eyes and pulling her closer to him.
Cas chuckles darkly and runs his thumb across his bottom lip as he stares at her. “Well, come on, little Primary. Let’s go check on your flowers.”
His shadows wrap around all of us and he pulls us through his darkness. This is by far his favorite means of traveling and he’s gotten scarily fast at it.
It still drives him nuts that he’s about two seconds behind a transport, though.
My neck cranes up as I look at our treehouse.
It’s still our safe haven.
I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve spent there tangled up with one another. I’ll never grow tired of our sacred space.
“Hello, my babies,” Will coos as she bends down and runs her hands through her Willowrries.
She did in fact get her way about letting them spread. They don’t cover the clearing around our tree, but she’s got about twenty that’ve spawned from her one.
The guys all grin stupidly at her as I head on into the greenhouse.
We made pretty much an exact replica of her mom’s.
That was a great afternoon spent between her, Gaster, and me. It felt like learning my element all over again, but this time, with her. The dimension was a swift kick in the ass, but thanks to the dragon, we were good to grow in just a few minutes.
I make my way to the back to my little pride and joys.
Turns out, the Aconight plant isn’t deadly unless consumed in large quantities and it depends on what you mix with it. My dad’s research led to me discovering all kinds of stuff about it over the years.
They take around twenty-five years to sprout from a little leaf to a small blossoming green bud. I’ve got five in pots now from the original one hebrought back. We planted them around four months after we found out about it, and they’ve been growing since then.
This plant is the ultimate test for patience.
“How are they doing?” Willow asks as she steps up beside me and wraps her hands around my arm.
“Growing as they should. In a couple days, they’ll double in size and enter their immature stage.”
She lays her forehead to my arm and shakes her head.
Needless to say, she’s hated this wait.
“Well, come on. Draken says his stomach is eating his spine. I’ve already checked the climate controls in each area, and everything looks good.”
The dragon won’t be thinking about food soon enough.
As we leave the greenhouse and feel the ward close it off, Will turns and starts walking in the direction of the mansion. The four of us smirk as we watch those tempting hips sway.
“How about a game, little warrior? It’s been a while since we’ve played.”
She stops in her tracks.
