Page 89 of Gift from the Source
“Little wanderer,” Draken purrs and I snap my eyes up to him.
There’s understanding swimming in his cobalt blues and my chest pinches for a whole other reason. He gets the Summum-Master’s motives as well. The two of us have just gone about our issues completely different than he has.
“Tell them,” he says as he stops his pacing and smiles softly at me.
“Tell us what?” nearly everyone asks.
Time to put on your big girl, vulnerable panties.
“I understand his motives completely,” I mumble and blow out a breath as I shut the Vito book. Everyone attempts to start talking once again, but I hold my hand up, asking them to stop. “It was the way in which Persley spared him. It was the things she said to him. It was a combination of it all. She made it very clear that she saw him as less than. She didn’t respect him or his abilities. She didn’t mince her words when telling him he was unworthy and that he wasjusta fortifier.
“She said that he never attempted to strike her or any other family, but for all we know, he in fact did. We all know what being a fortifier means. So he possibly was giving it his all and it’s only because of him, the Choice family were the last to stand against the Vitos.”
I blow out another breath that echoes through the silence now penetrating the throne room. My men’s bonds flare and I don’t have to focus on them to know that they see where I’m going with it now. It’s becoming clearer for them, but I still need to spell it out.
I need to say it out loud.
“I know what it’s like to be told repeatedly that I’m unworthy, useless, and just a woman. My need to prove myself started so young. It became an obsession that you all still witness every day even if you don’t notice it or call me out about it. I fixate on a task, a lesson, a new gift, whatever it is…Until I master it. It drives me crazy. I have multiple different reasons to want to succeed and prove myself. Now.
“At first, it was simply for survival. I needed to survive what I was facing in the nonmagical realm. Then I came here, started discovering myself and my power, and that survival started shifting. I want what’s best for myself, our Nexus, the people of the realm—of course—but on the darker side that I don’t talk about, I want revenge. I’m not satisfied with only the death of Franklin. I want the Summum-Master’s, Donald’s, Silvia’s, Drin’s, Claven’s, the Gales’, the Everglows’, any and everyone’s who’s betrayed our people.
“I want revenge for myself, my innocence, my mom, her Nexus, CC, Tilly, Eryken, everyone we’ve lost. The biggest difference between my motives and his is all of you. Because of all of you, I’m not drowning in selfish need to prove myself as the most powerful. I’m not, nor will I ever get to a point in my life where I’d be willing to risk innocent lives for my revenge. But I have no doubt, without the love and relationships I have with you all, I would get there.
“If I survived what I went through, only to be alone in the end, I’d go crazy. His need for revenge has festered because it’s become a lonely obsession. He now needs to wipe all of us out so he can prove to himself, to Elementra, to everyone he isn’tjustanything but everything.”
The heavy sigh that escapes me is a strong force of wind. I muster up as much reassurance on my face as I can when everyone’s emotions trample my chest. Their anger, sadness, and understanding are all potent, and they each know where I’m coming from on a much deeper level now.
“I obviously didn’t say all that to justify or defend anything he’s done. I merely put it into perspective what two sides of the same coin can look like. His reasoning may have started small in hindsight, but hatred is a powerful motivator. It also makes him incredibly dangerous. Maybe even more so than we thought. We all have something and someone to lose. He doesn’t.”
That little added tidbit shifts everyone’s focus. A wave of deadly and protective determination flows through the room, making me sit up a little straighter.
“We’re going to keep this Realm Trial revelation a secret. I honestly don’t even know what to make of it. I’m not sure if word got out, would the five move in on us and attempt to have another trial or what. I don’t see the people revolting against us, but you never truly know,” Aurora says, looking at her Nexus.
“I don’t believe the Summum-Master would want that secret out anyways. One, that identifies him as who he is. Two, if another Realm Trial were to commence, all the plans he’s worked toward would be null. If we were to lose, he’d have to shift his focus entirely onto the new family and he’d never get the satisfaction of killing us himself,” Roye states quite bluntly, earning himself a small love tap from Dyce.
“He isn’t going to kill any of us,” Corentin declares sternly, then turns to Tillman. “We need to start stripping his forces. We know he has us in numbers, but we haven’t a clue about the true power he alone holds. We start cutting him from the bottom up.”
Tillman nods, running his hand along his jawline. As he goes to speak, Draken cuts him off. “The Choice family was from Terian. That illusionist said he’s partial to that area because of the space, but obviously he still holds the territory as his claimed one.”
“Exactly. We’ll start there. I’ll gather teams and we’ll start with where Xander’s got his illusions in place. With Keeper tearing down runes and me snatching information out of minds, we can build from there.”
“The more runes removed, the weaker it will make him as well. Whether it’s removed by hand or just death,” Keeper adds with a bloodthirsty smirk and a shrug.
Draken tosses his head back laughing and I grin between the two of them as they share their little psycho moment together.
“We also need to get prepared for the Spring Ball. It’s two weeks away.”
The room once again falls into silence as we all stare at Caspian in shock. Never in my wildest dreams would someone have convinced me that out of everyone gathered here, he would’ve been the once to bring up a dance.
“Ready to spin my little wanderer around the foyer, huh, shadow man?” Draken teases.
“If the Primary would like that,” he says, shooting me a look that promises so much my face heats. “Other than her wants, that’s going to be the one and only time I can imagine we’re going to be in a room with all five families. Dillon and Pran will be in attendance, and we need some answers from them. If they’re as loyal as Uncle Orien has stated they are, they will have information we need.”
The teasing ceases with his words. Dillon and Pran are still quite a mystery for us all. Aurora had absolutely no clue about their interference in anything.
My skin heats for a whole other reason as I look at her and the weight of knowing what CC had to decide hangs heavy on my shoulders. The pressure eases when shadows twirl around my wrist and I glance up at their commander.
One look into Caspian’s eyes tells me he’s thinking the same thing but has no intention of ever telling her the truth.
