Page 59 of Gift from the Source
Guess I’ll never know.
Both Tillman and Willow make noises of disgust, aimed directly at me. I just shrug my shoulders. They should be used to it, so I won’t be defending my curiosity.
“Oh my goodness. What is this place?” Willow asks quietly when she turns her scrunched nose from me and takes in the house in front of us.
“My parents’ Nexus house. It was designed with higher ceilings, frames, and walls to fit Wesling better. It’ll still be a squeeze for Carrington, but we can modify what needs to be for him,” Tillman says softly, then clears his throat.
This place is a long-forgotten—well, not forgotten, more so off-limits—slice of paradise. It’s tucked away in the forest around the academy. From the front door, you can see the grounds, but from the academy, you can’t see it.
Tillman’s parents took great care of it. He’s made sure to do the same. I was made aware of its existence when I first arrived because he’d bring us with him to touch it up. House maintenance. But it was Cas who had to explain to me what it was and told me it wasn’t a topic for discussion.
So I’ve never brought it up. It looks like our big guy is ready to let it go, though.
“I don’t feel like I deserve all these upgrades I keep getting,” Vince announces as he bounds out the front door with a goofy feline grin on his face.
“You do. We wouldn’t trust anyone else with all these new responsibilities,” Corentin says as he pats Vince on the shoulder. “This is Carr—”
Corentin’s eyes grow wide as his sentence falls short and we all follow what’s stolen his attention.
Standing a few feet away from us, Carrington’s eyes have completely bled orange and he’s shaking violently. None of us have any clue what it is that’s set him off and we all jump into a protective stance.
“Carrington…” Xander coaxes softly, but the giant just growls, stomping past him.
My heart crawls up my throat when I realize he’s not charging into the forest, or even the house, but the person standing in front of it. My ownprotective instincts flare to life and my eyes fully shift as my fear for Layton intensifies. I attempt to shove my way through my Nexus to get to him in time, but my little wanderer latches onto me with all her might.
“No, Draken, stop. Stop,” she purrs and my body shivers from the command. “Oh, Elementra.”
“What is happening?” I growl.
“Watch,” she breathes.
I turn my head back in just enough time to catch the biggest and brightest smiles I’ve ever seen on the little chameleon’s face right before he’s lifted off the ground.
Power explodes around us, sending us sliding feet back as a flash of light from a shift steals our sight. It’s so blinding we each cover our faces until the heat from it simmers down.
That bright halo stays covering the two of them and as it finally fades, my jaw drops to the ground.
My gaze falls on Layton first, who looks happier than I’ve ever seen him. He stands taller, more confident, and due to his excitement, his skin keeps shifting colors.
Carrington…fuck, Carrington is a mixture of confusion and pure joy. His orange eyes are glowing, but his body…
Shit.
No longer stands twelve feet tall. From the distance separating us, he’s still got a couple inches on me, maybe Tillman, but he’s no longer the giant we brought with us.
“What the fuck?” Cas murmurs.
“You all found one of my brothers,” Layton cheers before crossing the distance between us and wrapping me in a hug.
In my state of shock, all I can do is pat him on the back as I look at my Nexus for some guidance.
And I mouth, “What the fuck,” back to Cas.
“Layton, let’s properly introduce you, okay?” Willow asks sugary sweet, and he beams at her.
“I can’t believe it happened this fast. I didn’t even know you all were going to another academy already,” he says and all of us shift.
This will be a story he and Carrington need to share together, but at least, it doesn’t seem to faze Layton that just a few moments ago, his new Nexus brother was a literal giant.
