Page 256 of Gift from the Source
She just gave me the biggest piece of historical records ever known to our realm.
Thirty-three
Tillman
Twenty-five years after that
“Wrap it up.”
The first years scurry to get into place at Carrington’s bellow.
Ry and I laugh inside our minds while sternly looking onward as they bump into one another like they’ve suddenly forgotten how to walk after that brutal training.
“This is going to be a great year.”
“It’s their first day, give them some slack.”
“Willow’s made you soft after all these years.”
“Okay, Mr. my Firecracker’s going to be gone a whole day with Gaster, San, Willow, Cas, and Draken as they visit The Keep’s Library on their annual trip.”
“Fuck off. Were you or were you not just as bad when she and Corentin went to the nonmagical realm to try their piss coffee?”
The sample they brought back sure did taste something vile. I’ve personally never tasted piss, but the smell of that brown water was similar.
And yes, I was just as bad.
After thirty years, though, I have no problem admitting that my little warrior can bring me to my knees.
A hush falls over the group after they gasp and stand a little straighter.
I don’t have to turn around to know who’s there. I sense it in my chest.
“We sure as fuck don’t get that reaction when we walk up to them.”
“Of course not. The ladies of the realm are much deadlier.”I clap him on the shoulder as I turn around to see Willow and Oakly walking up to us together while the rest of our Nexuses trail behind them.
It’s become a tradition for her to show up on the first day of school at some point and time during the day. She says she likes to make all first days better than her own and be the sweet face while I’m the harsh one.
Her face is sweet as sugar right now too as she smiles and waves at the first years like they’re children.
“They feel like children compared to us.”
“You’re fifty-six years old, little warrior. You’ve barely scratched the surface.”
I tug her into my arms and lay a kiss to her grinning lips. In my eyes, she doesn’t look a day older than the day she arrived. We stood damn near in this same spot the first time she touched my soul.
It craves her even more nowadays.
I hum against her mouth and fuck if the first years don’t ooh and aah.
Idiots. None of them are helping my case or their own right now.
“Hey, Will,” Carrington says, and he swallows her up in a hug. I roll my eyes at the use of my nickname.
He picked up the habit all those years ago and never let it go.
The day we broke the news to him and Layton about Vince, an anger brewed in the little giant that could barely be tamed.
