Page 100 of Gift from the Source
“Of course I’ll close the portal back. I won’t risk him getting to your realm.”
“You misunderstand. All the portals. Close the Valorian Veil off from the realms,” she says softly.
All of them.
My head is already shaking no as my mouth falls open. I can’t trap more people where they don’t want to be or belong.
“I see the concern in your eyes. I will get as many nonnatives out as I can. Those who wish to go, may, and those who wish to stay will have to remain. They will be protected. I give you my word.”
“Trust in her, Willow,”V says.
“I will accept your word,” I say through my closing throat. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me today.”
“It is you who’s done for me,Ultima unum. You know as well as I do what it feels like for time to be suffocating you. You have blessed me with more time than I originally thought I had and desperately needed. Life is going to significantly change for me soon enough, but I now have the opportunity to prepare. I fear I’ve done nothing but speed yours along.”
My chest constricts with the truth in her words, and I force myself to swallow the bile creeping up my throat.
“Don’t fear that. Everything happens when it’s supposed to. It’ll all make sense soon enough.” I quote the exact line that I’ve hated to hear what feels like my whole life.
Only now does it feel true and so close to my grasp.
“I must go. Take care and remember to listen to the guidance you receive. It’s an honor to have been chosen for a connection. Until next time,Ultima unum.”
My eyes widen at the abrupt end of conversation and her laugh surrounds me. It’s all I hear as my own gasps pour from my mouth and I lose my sight.
Her cutting our connection snaps me out of my mind, but thankfully, I guess returning to Elementra in any sense is always easier. The swirling rainbow clouding my eyes is rapid and not dizzying in the slightest.
In seconds, I’m staring at myself in the reflective walls and the rest of the room becomes my own once again.
Turning my head around to look at everything just to make sure, I groan as my body becomes heavy.
“Easy, Willow. Give yourself a moment to adjust back,”V murmurs.
Adjusting back to my own mind isn’t the issue I’m having. I didn’t heed his warning about the power drop all that well. I mean, I believed him, but I guess I’ve grown so used to being naturally fed by Draken and haven’t experienced a dip in power since my kidnapping, I didn’t prepare for this.
I’m not drained like then by any means, but shit, exhaustion is hitting me hard. My limbs keep getting heavier and I just want to close my eyes for a little power nap.
“I need my men and outside. Then we’ve got to talk,” I groan.
“Of course. Do you want me to call for them?”
“No, not in here. I can shadow us.”
He doesn’t hesitate to hop into my lap and I don’t bother standing up. My shadows surround us, and I move through the south wing straight to the gardens. I starfish out as soon as my ass touches grass.
V hops around with his little claws in my stomach until he’s cocking his head to the side, looking down at me.
“This is a bit dramatic.”
“This is comfortable, thank you very much.” I snort, waving him off me.“I’m sorry for interrupting everyone, but I could use some help from anyone who’s free. I’m lying in the gardens,”I say to my men.
“What do you mean lying?”Corentin asks.
“She’s literally sprawled out on the ground,”Cas answers and I turn my head toward where I sense him approaching. “What in the realm did you do, Primary?”
“That was fast. You must have sensed me shadow past your room. I went to the Valorian Veil.”
“Excuse me?” Four not so happy voices all say at once. My answer was perfect timing for their arrival seeing as they apparently transported the second Cas said I was actually laid out.
