Page 161 of Gift from the Source
“It can’t be,”I mumble.
“I’m sorry, filia. It’s time for me to go home.”
The five of us freeze. If it hadn’t been for my men wrapping me between them, I would’ve hit the ground. My mind malfunctions and nothing of what I’m supposed to do processes for me.
The shift in extreme emotions has my head spinning viciously.
“Now? Like you mean right this minute?”Draken asks.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Just give Willow a minute to explain what’s happening inside. We can’t leave my parents with an unknown threat and she needs just a second to get herself prepared,”Corentin declares.
And as much as I love the sentiment, I unfortunately know that we can’t put this off. He knows it as well. We’ve been over what must happen when V said when.
Shaking myself out of my stupor,my misty gaze meets V’s.
Fuck.
Even knowing that this would come eventually doesn’t make it any easier. I’m not happy he’s leaving. Nor am I happy about what has to be done.
Honestly, I’m scared shitless about what I have to do.
“There’s no threat inside. I was the only threat at the moment. I can’t…No, I can, but I shouldn’t tell you what I learned right now. It’ll do nothing but cause you all to storm in there. I promise to talk about it when we get back. For now, we’ve got to get the relic and go.” My voice trembles there at the end.
Gaster and Oakly have studied the Gods’ Binding until their eyes have gone crossed. We know as much about it as we’re going to.
Now it’s time for it and V to go home.
“Thank you, Willow,”V says softly.
My chest aches and my throat burns, but I smile at him and nod.
“It’s time for V to go. I’m going to the secret room to get the relic if you both could meet me there,”I say to Gaster and Oakly.
“Shit. Gaster, will you come get me from the dungeons?”Oakly asks frantically.
“On my way. We will meet you there, Willow.”
“To CC’s room,” I say to the guys.
My shadows surround us and we move. I avoid the ball still happening through the central foyer and head straight through the walls until we reach his bedroom.
The smell of wood and mint hits me as soon as I call my gift back in and I inhale deeply. I bask in it although my mouth dries out.
He knew the secret that was going to be shared with me. He knew, and there was nothing he could ever do about it. If he had, so much would’ve changed. The whole trajectory of our lives and who we are now would’ve been affected by his decision to act.
The guilt and anger he had to live with.
It continues to make sense.
“Are you okay?” Oakly asks as soon as she enters the room and I turn toward her worried voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just been told some…information I didn’t see coming,” I say vaguely, and she nods in understanding.
“When are you leaving? Do you need us to round up anyone else?” Gaster asks.
“We’re leaving now, as soon as we get the relic. This is a trip for just us. We won’t be running into any issues on the way there. If you could, just give Aurora, well, everyone, a heads-up that we won’t be returning to the ball after this.”
