Page 116 of Gift from the Source
My beastreallyenjoyed his boost in power.
“You’re thinking about me so hard, little wanderer, I can smell it.”
My shriek echoes around the silent room and Draken’s laugh soon drowns it out as he plops down on the couch beside me. I was so caught in that little yummy memory I didn’t even hear him come through the ward.
“Since when do thoughts produce a smell?” I chuckle.
“They do every time they’re naughty,” he purrs and my face flames.
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from his promising gaze. “So where is everyone else?”
His chuckle does nothing but warm my belly even more.
“I asked them all to give us a minute.”
“Did you?”
“I did. Whatcha reading?”
I sense the nervous shift in him, and I cock my head to the side. Whatever it is, he needs a minute to spit it out.
I give him some time to collect himself and tell him exactly what I was doing. He smirks about my failed plan of figuring out my gift, then teasing them with it. His face grows more thoughtful when I explain I was just thinking about how everyone reacted when I pushed my gifts through to them and how much I’ve learned from my book on true Primaries.
“Momma Iris was a badass no doubt. The egg didn’t roll far from the nest, little wanderer,” he says softly.
A slip of longing crosses his face, but he covers it quickly. Not quickly enough that I didn’t catch it, though.
Cupping his cheek, I gently guide his face down to mine and lay a kiss to his lips. “Your mom was too, Draken.”
He gives me a small smile and nods. When he leans back against the couch, he pulls me with him. “You think they would’ve been friends? Well, you know, if both of their situations had been different, do you think they would’ve gotten along?”
A snort creeps out of me as I think about the things I know about both of our mothers.
Without taking into consideration what became of Eryken after the forest, just picturing how she was when she went in. She was strong and so fiery.
They both were sweet, but damn, they also had some sass to them.
I think Draken and I get it honest.
“I do. I think they would’ve been really great friends and would’ve given their men hell.”
“They got along splendidly.”
CC’s voice silences my laugh, and I flinch as his words sink in. Draken’s still chuckling to himself and if not for the shaking of his chest, I’d be completely shocked frozen.
“I’m sorry?”I ask.
“Iris and Eryken spent time together once.”
“What? When, where, why?”I fire off as I sit straight up.
“What’s wrong?” Draken asks, but my mouth just opens and closes repeatedly. I can’t get the words out, so I open my mind for him to hear.
“This was one of those moments I was waiting to tell you about. Two of the three adventures your mother took now affect Draken. It was only fair and best from him to be present to hear it.”
Draken’s eyes widen and a spark of excitement travels through my chest from him.“Well, I’m here now, Uncle Oreo. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Of course, my boy.”He laughs, and Draken laces our fingers together.“My first request of Iris was to travel to Essemist Keep. I wrote a letter to your grandparents, informing them of what had happened to their son. In my letter, I told them what I could. They know he’s been unlawfully imprisoned and at that time, he couldn’t be freed. I left out what he was being forced to do. I knew it would do nothing but anger them and make them worry more. I reassured them that one day he’d return home.
