Page 137 of Gift from the Source
“Aurora, I can’t—” she whispers, but Aurora holds her hand up.
“Please do. It’s very fitting. This was one of Tilly’s favorite pieces. You’re like her in many ways. Most importantly, you’re an amazing sister, just like she was. I remember placing it on her head the first time.”
Oakly’s misty eyes meet hers and the pounding of both their hearts beats against my ribs. I’ve yet to see what it is in Oakly’s hand. Whatever it is has them both glowing with bliss and…acceptance.
“May I?” Aurora asks and Oakly rapidly nods, then hands her the box back.
My hand flies to my heart the second I see the small circlet crown.
The thin silver is adorned with black jewels that are going to pop against her bright purple hair. It’s stunning and matches her dress to perfection.
My breathing stalls as Oakly leans herself down to give Aurora better access to her head. I can’t tear my gaze away from the sight. This is one of the most beautiful, proudest moments I’ve ever experienced.
My sister is a literal queen in my eyes.
That little crown just adds to the high regard I hold her in.
“Thank you,” Oakly murmurs softly as she stands back straight and Aurora pulls her in for a hug. “How do I look?” she asks as she turns to Aria and me.
“Amazing.”
“Like a queen,” I hiccup. I’m trying so damn hard to hold my happy tears back.
“Don’t start,” she grumbles and I choke on a laugh.
“Aria,” Aurora says, opening and turning her box to show her. “The second I saw your dress, I knew exactly which one I wanted you to have.”
My eyes widen at the black metal with a blood-red gem in the center while Aria turns as pale as a ghost. The gem shines so bright in this light, it’s reflecting in her eyes as she gawks at it.
Again, Aurora picked one that matches her dress exactly.
“You’ve heard about my mother and her…tendencies. One party she hosted, she had a ghastly pale pink dress picked out for me. Demanded I wear it. One of the palace staff let it slip to me while I was getting ready that she was trying to color match me to a Nexus she preferred. That night, I showed up in an all-red, honestly a little too revealing dress, and this crown. It was one of my first acts of rebellion. Yet it felt like freedom.”
“I like the way freedom feels,” Aria whispers.
Aurora gives her a bright smile, one that she matches, and I have to fan my face to stop myself from crying. I bite my lip to distract myself from the elation pounding in my chest as Aria repeats what Oakly did. The dam nearly breaks as Aurora lays the small crown on her head.
“Perfect fit.”
“Thank you, your—”
“It’s always just Aurora to my girls,” she says, tilting Aria’s chin up.
“Last but not least, Willy. I’m about to die to see yours,”Oakly says and I meet her gaze.
“Calm down. It might not be a crown. It might be something else.”
“Yeah, okay.”She snorts.“You’re just trying not to cry like a baby. It’s definitely a crown and it’s about to knock you off your feet.”
Probably.
My nerves kick up a notch when Aurora lifts the lid to the last box. Her small smile and sigh give me butterflies that flap around my stomach chaotically. The way her eyes settle softly on whatever she’s staring down at makes me believe it holds a very special place in her heart.
“What’s that you say about coincidences, Willow?” she asks, peeking her eyes up at me with a teasing smirk.
“There are none in Elementra,” I mumble.
She laughs lightly, picking the box up and walking to stand in front of me. “I’d have to agree with that, my girl.”
