Page 101 of Gift from the Source
“Not physically. V taught me how to open a portal in my mind and I connected to the Goddess of Fate. If that’s really what she’s called. That’s the title I’ve given her.” They all flinch and look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Could I have a hand? Then I’ll happily explain. I’m a little worn out here.”
Before I can say anything else, my dragon man has me hauled into his lap and a purr falls from my lips with the warm, loving feeling of his magic filling me up.
“I swear we can’t leave you alone for a couple hours without you doing some unheard of nonsense,” Corentin grumbles as he grips the back of my calf and runs his thumb in circles.
I respond with a smirk, then groan as Tillman’s masterful massaging on the back of my neck loosens all my muscles. Cas’s shadows swirl around my body like I’m floating in a pool, making me feel weightless.
“Better get to explaining, little warrior,” Tillman orders teasingly as I hum and settle into them.
“Is there anything I can’t tell or show them? I’d rather they just know it all,”I direct to V.
“They can know it all. It’ll be better anyway for us all to be on the same page.”
“Show then tell,” I say to them and they all nod, knowing exactly what I mean.
Latching onto their minds, I show everything that’s happened and been said since I was nervously waiting for V in CC’s bedroom. Their shock at the situation would make me laugh if I didn’t realize how important this is. At the same time, you’d think by this point, nothing would surprise them.
There’s a small beat of silence before a heavy breath from Draken fans across my neck. Goose bumps spread across my arms and he’s quick to warm them away.
“Shit just got really real.”
“It sure feels that way, dragon,” I say.
“If what she said is true, which I see no reason why it wouldn’t be, then that would explain Xander’s reaction to the Gods Binding. Heisstill sensing a piece of his parents in there,” Tillman comments quietly.
“I thought about that, and it breaks my heart for him. He’s been couped up with that thing, probably thinking he’s going crazy. It also made me think about Aria’s strong reaction to it. She no doubt sensed the un-rightness of a piece of people’s lifeforces being trapped.”
“How is the relic used properly in the Veil? Why are you the one having to tell us when to free it and why can’t we do it now?” Cas asks in a single breath.
I wouldn’t call the look he’s giving V a glare. More of a desperate desire for the information there’s no doubt V has but probably can’t tell us.
“Always so many questions,”V mocks and Cas reaches across me to grab him. All that gets him is yet another sharp cut across his hands and a hiss falls from his mouth.“The next time will be a whole finger.”
“Empty threats, bird. My brother would eat you for that. Explain what you can,” Cas demands darkly as he uses his water to wash away his blood.
The four of us shake our heads at the two of them. They seem to be forming some weird love-hate relationship that I don’t understand. Neither of their auras shows any true animosity. Honestly, they both glow with what I interpret as respect. It’s confusing why they’re always so violent with each other.
“The Shadow God enjoys the intellectual challenge I pose for him. He, just as I, are used to beings bowing before us. He, despite having no idea what I’m capable of, views himself as my equal. I respect that because he nearly is and with time, will be. It’s refreshing to find a group who is so clueless to me that none of you mind your candidness. As for his violent tendencies, I merely entertain that for his enjoyment.”
A snort tumbles out of me, causing the guys to look at me expectantly for an answer and I just smirk.“Well, thank you for entertaining him. Could you do that now and give him, us, a few answers, please?”
“Sure, filia,”he sweetly, for once, agrees.“I won’t discuss how the relic is used in the Valorian Veil. That’s a secret and tradition of the realm, and I’llrespect that knowledge just as I’d respect the customs and secrets of Elementra. I have no doubt with time Willow will know. You can all learn from her then.
“Why am I the one to tell you all when to cleanse the Gods Binding is simply because it’ll be time for me to go home once Willow does that. Now is not the time for that. You all still have much to learn and do before then.”
“How do you know it’ll be time for you to go then?”Cas follows up.
“Because the thread of the connection between Willow, Draken, and myself ends when I step through the Valorian Veil portal. That means I’ll have fulfilled my duty to them.”
My eyes widen for a fleeting second until my mind realizes that’s obvious. Of course that’s how he’d get back. He’s never mentioned being able to move realms on his own, and he hitched a ride here.
“So our paths end at you returning home. That’s as far as you saw. Am I following that correctly?”I ask.
“You are.”
“If that’s the case, from what we watched and learned just now from Willow’s mind, you don’t know what happens afterward. So, he’s right, Cas. We have things to learn and do before we jump in halfcocked and unleash power we know will set something else in motion. We have no idea what the repercussions of us stripping the Summum-Master’s powers will be. He may go into hiding or he may retaliate. We need to have a plan in place for what happens after that,” Corentin says, cutting Caspian’s next question off before he can even open his mouth.
“Not only that, we need a plan for how we’ll move once it’s time to go to the Valorian Veil portal. We can’t take just anyone with us and disclose that location. For now, it’s a secret between our Nexus, Ry’s, Lyker’s, Gaster, Keeper, Codi, and Trex. That’s enough people knowing where the portal to the realm the Summum-Master wants to get to is. Even without Will’s blood, he doesn’t need to be able to get his hands on that information,” Tillman adds on.
