Page 151 of Gift from the Source
“I’m not drinking another thing for the rest of the night,” Oakly declares as we walk back toward the guards.
“Ma’am, Leader Tillman wants you all back to the thrones,” one of them says as soon as we walk up. I quickly catch the way his pupils go in and out of focus.
So technically my men did follow. It was just mentally.
“No time for a quick flight?” I ask, but when his eyes widen like I’m about to get him in trouble, I backtrack, “I’m joking. Lead the way.”
The three of us laugh and smile on our way back through the crowd of people. It isn’t until we get to just about where we were standing on the dance floor that I feel a burst of extreme aggravation. Matter of fact, it isn’t an extreme burst, it’s just the same emotion coming from all four of my men.
Peering around my guard to look in front of me, the five are spread out amongst our family. All the Primaries are congregated in front of Aurora, and the men are speaking to all the other men. Front and center of my Nexus, though, is Gean Everglow.
“Go directly to your Nexuses. Aurora will call us over when she’s ready for us to be introduced to the Primaries,” I whisper.
Both look ahead of us and instantly go serious.
The guard behind us steps up beside Oakly, giving her a nod as he escorts her toward Ry. Another does the same for Aria. I still don’t know where in the crowd the fourth is, nor am I trying to call attention to him by looking around.
My guard approaches the Everglow Nexus and clears his throat. To which the assholes ignore him.
“Move,” he commands. Definitely gaining their attention.
“Excuse—”
Gean Everglow seals his lips as I step from around my guard. I hold my chin high, shoulders back, and wait for him to speak. My men’s eyes are eating me up, but they aren’t an ounce worried. If anything, they’re anxiously excited.
I’m confident Cas and Draken are hoping I throw a flame.
“Ah, Willow, I was just asking about your whereabouts.”
“It’s Lady Vito, Councilman Everglow,” I say.
My sweet tone completely contradicts the straight face I say it with. I take the page right out of Corentin’s book. Although he was a lot harsher. His pride sears my chest, and it takes considerable effort not to crack a smile.
I have no clue how he holds his looks so firmly in place.
After a tense beat of silence, one potent enough to tell me my voice carried and the rest of the five heard me, he bows his head a minuscule and mutters, “Of course.”
Stepping in the direction of my men, I stop about a foot away from Gean and turn my head toward him. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Gima spoke so highly of you. Please enjoy your night.”
His eyes fill with fire for a fleeting second before he schools his features. He knows I caught it, though. I make sure to wink at him just so he knows that without a shadow of a doubt.
Centering myself in between my men, their gazes are full of hunger. Those looks make me want to say fuck the rest of this ball and get me out of here.
Unfortunately, though, me mouthing off to Gean isn’t doing anything helpful tonight other than making myself feel better.
“I was just asking your Nexus for permission to have your hand in a dance,” Gean grits out.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Aurora was so right.
“Is he fucking serious right now?”I ask.
“Seriously fucking stupid, but yes, serious nonetheless. He just asked us before you walked up. Want me to eat him?”
“Possibly.”
“It wouldn’t be my Nexus’s permission you’d need.”
“It most certainly—”
