Page 138 of Gift from the Source
She turns the box around for me to see and my whole body freezes.
It’s most certainly a crown.
It’s a little larger than the girls’ but still small, delicate. Something fit for a princess. That isn’t what has me swaying on my feet, though.
There is silver filigree along the curves and dips all the way around the crown. Small clear crystals decorate the design randomly. Instead the points along the rim being topped with a gem, each tip is as sharp as my claws.
What stands out the most, though…
The five large violet stones that complete the piece.
It’s the shade of purple that matches my eyes, my dress, my Memoria stone.
“Where did you get this?” My question is a whisper on the wind.
“My brother gifted me this. For my first Spring Ball after I completed my Nexus. The same ball that Tillman questioned me about the other day. This crown was the only reason I could recall that night as easily as I did.”
“What did you wear that night?”
“A silver dress,” she says with a sweet smile.
“Are you sure?” I ask as she pulls the crown from its protective casing.
“I’ve never been surer,filia mea. This is yours now.”
Closing my eyes, I curtsy to Aurora.
For a moment, I swear the weight of the crown is going to cause my knees to buckle.
Then it becomes weightless, fitting to my head perfectly.
It becomes right.
Seventeen
Corentin
“Time to go,” Draken says, jumping up the second he hears the timekeeper go off.
“Itching that bad to see my little sister?” Lyker asks, snorting as he throws the last of his drink back.
“You bet your hairy wolfy ass I am. She’s so pumped right now. I can’t wait to see why.” He’s jittering with anticipation, and I shake my head at him.
All morning he’s been feeding off her emotions.
Nearly as soon as we left her, we all felt the jolt of her excitement. Caspian, Tillman, and I found contentment in it and let her be. Of course I’ve been checking on the bond, but I never made myself known. I just wanted to make sure she was having a good time.
Whereas Draken latched onto their bond in a death grip. Hell, a couple hours ago, we couldn’t get him to shut up or stop bouncing around. Then moments ago, he just quit.
Silence.
He sat down as though something realm-changing was happening. His announcement of time to go is the first he’s spoken since then.
Watching her day basically through him has honestly been hilarious and one of the most entertaining days I’ve had in a very long time. It made for an exciting morning for us—he kept us all dying laughing—but I’m thrilled to know she had an amazing girls’ day too.
I’m curious now to see what it was that calmed then enthralled her so much so quickly.
I also can’t wait to see what she’s wearing.
