Page 126 of Gift from the Source
His eyes follow my finger curiously and when he steps toward them, I come to stand beside him.
My heart does a wild thud as I watch the multitude of emotions cross his face. First shock, then denial, and finally astonishment. My fingers twitch when he slowly lifts his to the spines and traces them. There’s hesitation in his movements like he’s afraid this is fake but also fearful this is real.
Swallowing roughly, I clear my throat. “Willow’s mom brought these back from the Keep. In one of them is a letter your parents, I guess my grandparents, wrote in response to the one that my uncle wrote to them. I’ve never read it. I haven’t even opened all these books.”
“My…he wrote a letter to them? What did it say?”
“He told them the truth of what had happened to you. I guess also told them I would come from your imprisonment. He didn’t tell them what you were forced to do, though.”
“That’s a relief. As loving and understanding as your grandparents are, my abilities have always worried them. It’s been many, many generations since someone in the Keeper line had extraordinary abilities. When mine manifested, it made them fearful. Bonding with Tanith eased their fears a little while. Then they just became protective over both of us. It took me years to convince them I was ready to travel the realms and begin myascension to rule. I was far older than my father was when he started. I truly had to prove to them I’d be fine, and I was ready. Then this happened.”
Guilt rages in my chest. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that. I don’t want you to think I wish differently now. Before, yes. So many nights in that forest I wished I had never left my realm. Now…it’s almost painful to think about going back.”
His quiet words cause my heart to crawl up my throat. I’ve been purposely avoiding thinking about him leaving since deciding to give this relationship a shot.
Since yesterday, I’ve toyed with the idea of asking him not to go back. I’d ask my little wanderer to send someone just like Uncle Oreo did with word that he was staying here. Or she could open the portal long enough for him to go through, tell them himself, then come right back.
I know those are all selfish thoughts on my part, though. One day, he’ll have to go back. The vampires deserve to go home, and he has a whole realm waiting on him.
We’ll figure it out later.
“Would you like to look for the letter? It’s only like eight books. It shouldn’t be too hard to find.” I offer after our silence stretches.
“Best to just slice the artery, huh?”
The image makes me cringe, then smirk. “If that’s your way of saying just get it over with, then yeah.”
We both reach for a book at the same time. Him from one end, me from the other. I really was just planning on grabbing and shaking them out until the letter fell out, but he gently opens the cover.
He laughs lightly to himself as his eyes begin scanning the page, so I decide I probably shouldn’t be so impatient.
Actually, looking down at the book I grabbed, I’m pleasantly surprised when the words that are written in the language of the Keep come to me easily.
A loud laugh falls from my lips the more pages I flip and I realize I’ve picked up what obviously would be a book that teaches you the language. Cas would have a damn fit for this if he finds out I haveit.
I’ll hide this one.
Make him sit through language lessons with me.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about something,” I say, and he snorts.
“What would that be?”
“You haven’t brought up me accepting your bestowing at all, but you haven’t been the least bit surprised when I’ve spoken to you in the language of the Keep. Or moved surprisingly fast, tracked your movements. Really, you haven’t pointed out any difference in me that I obviously get from you.”
He flinches and a guilty look crosses his face that has me closing my book and crossing my arms.
“I didn’t want to freak you out.”
“I’ve been freaking out silently because of all the weird shit happening to me that I don’t understand.”
His face again fills with guilt, but he nods. He quickly flips through the pages of the book in his hand, and I hold in my laugh when he dumps it over just like I’d been planning on doing.
He steps back over to the bookshelves silently and slides the book back in place before grabbing another one.
“If you’re ever up to reading, this book will have more of the ins and outs on beloveds and bestowings in the Keep.” I trade books with him and run my finger over the cover.Culture of the Keep.
