Page 53 of Gift from the Source
“What now?” I ask quietly after a few moments of everyone sitting in their own silence.
I’m honestly in a state of shock that I don’t know how to explain. It’s both comforting and discombobulating knowing I have every piece of memory returned to me. That’s been one of my biggest obstacles I’ve had to face since arriving. There’s no more searching for secrets inside of me.
The only ones left are what’s in front of us.
What’s the first step from here?
“Return your blood to where it belongs, filia mea. Free it at last. Then you all need to take the young giant to the academy,”CC answers, although I thought that to myself.
“What happened to not making decisions for us?”I ask at the same time Corentin speaks.
“We were taking him to the palace. Why the academy?”
“I’m not making decisions for you all. I’m making one for Carrington. He will be safer within those wards and more accepted there. This is his home now.”
All eyes turn to Corentin, and he nods, guaranteeing that’s exactly what we’ll do. While he pulls out his communicator, no doubt warning his assistant or someone at the academy, I fill my brother in on the last tidbits he missed out on.
“Then let’s go return it, little dragon. What better place than where it always belonged,” he says, slapping his hands on his legs as he pushes himself out of the chair.
“Really? In Mom’s garden?”
“Absolutely. Inourgarden.”
Following behind him, just as we step toward the door, my steps falter as I feel the thin veil around my mind grow lighter. My heart clenches, knowing what that means.
“Time for you to go, huh?”
“Just for a little while. Be with our family, my girl. Let the worries and revelations of the day rest. Enjoy the happy moments and don’t dwell on the past. Everything is as it should be.”
I release a long exhale that mimics his presence fading from my mind. The subtle heat from my Memoria stone cools just as we walk down the steps out the back door and I take his advice to heart.
I don’t fight my smile at the sight of my family gathering around Carrington and one of the taller trees back here. His massive body basically floats through the air as he jumps, grabbing and hanging onto a branch anyof us would have to use an element to touch. They’re cheering, causing his cheeks to pinken, and I just take in the small, peaceful moment.
His freedom is pure, childlike, and makes my heart so happy.
“You think you could beat him in a tree climbing race?”I ask Tillman.
“No,”he says just as Carrington loses his grip on the branch. His ass hits the ground with enough force that everyone wobbles and Tillman snorts,“Maybe.”
“Ready, child?” Gaster asks, drawing everyone’s attention to us.
“One sec,” I say, then tap into my link to Tanith.“Hey. Are you transporting or flying here?”
“Neither currently. We’re having a pointless argument. My lord has made it out like I can’t handle moving through the fabric of your creator. Insolent vampire. Who is he to question what I can handle?”
I laugh, shaking my head.“It is pretty jarring the first time. I got sick. But I’m about to release my blood and wanted to wait for you guys to get back.”
“We are on our way, Adored, don’t you worry.”
Again, I chuckle at the sass behind her words. There’s no doubt now she’s about to win that fight and I tell everyone we’re going to wait just a few more minutes for them to get here.
It’s not even a minute later and Tanith’s golden scales shine bright as she takes up space in the backyard. I’ve grown used to people poofing in and out of existence, but a dragon is a totally different story.
San and Keeper jump away from her as if she’s going to be ill or possibly breathe fire, then turn back to stare at her. After a moment, she huffs a ring of smoke that covers them both.
“She handled that far better than I assumed she would,” Keeper says with a smirk as he walks toward us, but I keep my eye on her.
“You okay?”I ask.
