Page 11 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Eight

Willow

Contrary to previous statements I’ve made about how time moves slower in Elementra, the past few days have come and gone in the blink of an eye.

We’ve barely been able to breathe.

The morning after our adventurous day, I declared we had to go to the Forsaken Forest and close the portal there. Cas surprised all of us by declaring we leave it open. His hunch is if the Summum-Master goes to the nonmagical realm, it’ll be wasted time for him, time saved for us.

When asked, Keeper confirmed there are handfuls of vampires in the forest that respect who he still is even outside of their realm. They’ll tell him anything he asked about the Summum-Master’s movement.

So we went with Cas’s plan.

For the past six mornings, he’s shadowed Keeper to the forest to check everything out, then taken him to the academy to be with Draken. After that, he spends every waking moment combing through every book, scroll, and journal he can get his hands on.

He’s looking for something, but what, he hasn’t shared yet. I know Dillon and Pran are on his list of things. The split between betrayal and loyalty is driving him mad, but he’s not going to make a move until he knows more .

My dragon man and Corentin have been at the academy all day, every day figuring things out for Carrington, Layton, and all the other students. Draken spends his day between learning how to teach from Vince, helping the boys, and helping Tillman with the non-wolf shifter E.F. members since the wolves have officially moved to the Terravile Pack lands.

Corentin still has to be the Headmaster and all that entails. Plus, he’s working with Lyker on plans for his new academy.

With everything going on, the academy itself hasn’t broken ground, but space has been made for the new wolves, and training starts tomorrow for those who were already in the E.F. and for those who want to join. New or younger wolves will step in once the academy is open.

Tillman’s been bouncing between the academy and the palace compound nonstop. When I asked why the sudden upped ante on training between the two places, he mentioned he and Theo have modified the full-scale protocol. Which apparently requires additional training and preparation across all the E.F. stations, not just those two.

Oakly and Gaster have been studying the relics we brought back with us like they hold all the answers. She’s finally allowed him to look in her book and I’m pretty sure that’s made her the favorite granddaughter.

He’s confident there’s more to the Gods Binding than we can even imagine and that’s driving him crazy.

I’ve been bouncing between everyone. Helping wherever I can, with whatever I can.

I start my day by checking all the portals just to be on the safe side. Not only that, but I relish the connection to my family and Elementra every time I do it. Each time I ground my bloody hands into the earth, the energy that thrums through me is indescribable. For a brief, fleeting moment, everything feels right, and it’s become my morning routine that I look forward to.

Regardless of that, it’s all been exhausting, to say the least. None of us can shake the feeling that time’s speeding up and we can’t slow down.

We know we’ve set things in motion. We’ve been doing that ever since we rescued Keeper from the forest, but every time we do something else big, it seems the hands on the invisible clock spin faster .

The anxiety increases more daily because of the lack of retaliation. Not that we’re hoping for someone to get attacked, or something else horrid to happen, but the silence is telling.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looks as though the realm has found a sense of peace. While to us, it has us on eggshells. We tiptoe around while waiting for something to blow up. There’s an aura around all of us that won’t allow us to take time to relax or take a break.

The only Nexus that has been an exception to that has been Trex, Codi, Dec, and Xander. That was simply because I put my foot down with the guys and told them to give them a few days to get reacquainted and settled. Just because we can’t enjoy some downtime doesn’t mean we shouldn’t allow someone else the opportunity.

Especially with what all they’ve been through.

That ends today apparently.

This morning, Gaster, Oakly, and I are making a new secret room to move the relics into. Then after that, Tillman declared we have a sit down with the new members of our group, find out all we can, and set something else in motion. Whether that means going on the offense like we previously discussed and start hunting down Mastery compounds, or maybe they tell us something that sparks a new idea.

Something’s better than nothing, according to the guys.

That ‘better than nothing’ comment hurt although I know it wasn’t directed at me or intentional.

I’ve asked, prayed, for my sight to show me what’s to come. It hasn’t shown me anything, but a newer development in our relationship is, it stirs in my mind when I call for it. It’s like a gentle nudge telling me that it’s there and will eventually show me what I need to see.

“It will, filia. The way none of your minds silence is baffling to me. I thought it was just Draken, but it’s all of you. Exhausting,” V says as he perches himself on my shoulder.

The other newest addition has been both a comical and enlightening surprise. He’s just as much of a smart-ass, funny and intelligent as Tanith, but he’s much more secretive. He, to my disappointment, lives by the code of guiding and doesn’t give answers unless the right questions are asked .

I haven’t been asking the right questions obviously.

When Draken warned me of his secretive nature, I scuffed, claiming it was only because he doesn’t know us yet.

Well, I was wrong.

V seems to know far more than he’ll ever be willing to tell. I still don’t know how he can hear everything anyone thinks, and I’ve quickly learned when to push Draken for answers on him and when I’ve overstepped with my nosiness.

For reasons we still don’t know, Draken and I get the most attention. He’s only spoken a few words to the others. Just enough to let them know he can and will infiltrate their minds if he pleases.

What my dragon man and I need from him is unclear. It’s only clear that he’s guiding both of us in two totally different ways.

“We’ve got a lot going on, V. Not much time to stop thinking.”

“I suppose that’s true. The Ancient one and your bonded sister are looking for you,” he hoots.

“I have no doubt they know where I am. They’re just slowly making their way to me to make sure I’ve finished checking on the portals.”

“And you have. So why are you playing in the grass like an animal?”

Snorting, I shake my head against his feathers, deciding blunt honesty is best with him. He’ll just call me out if I give him any other answer. “I miss the connection once I break it. The more I do it, the more I crave it.”

“That is natural. Your lineage runs through the threads of magic in this realm. It will feel more settled once the portals are reopened,” he says nonchalantly and my head whips to the side so fast, he squawks and glides to the ground in front of me.

“Reopened? I can’t reopen the portals right now. That would be devastating. The Summum-Master would be able to travel wherever he wanted.”

“Not right now, no, but one day, you must. They’re an intricate part of who you are, how you were made, and what this realm stands for. They can’t remain closed forever,” he says without any further explanation.

“I’m going to need a little more than that, V. As much as I appreciate the small nuggets of things you’ve been dropping for Draken and me, some answers would be much more appreciated. I’m already having to suck up the fact he knows what kind of creature you are and I don’t. And supposedly I can’t know yet, so why don’t you throw me a bone here?”

“Throw me a bone…I do love to hear the mortal terms every now and again.”

“V.”

“Fine, you impatient girl. Much like your Guardria, I’m a being of guidance. The main difference between us is I don’t have a bond that will connect us for all of time. I connect for the time being, when I am needed. You will learn soon enough why I am here to guide you, then you will guide me. Draken needs me now because his greatest asset is manifesting differently than his kind would usually garner their communal knowledge. He is the king of creatures, so he needs guidance, creature to creature. That is all I will speak on him. He may share with you what he pleases, within reason of what I tell him.

“My purpose of being created was to guide powerful beings in a way they don’t allow their power to corrupt them. The moment my eyes meet with my ‘connections,’ I know everything there is to know about them. I know the challenges they face and what could fix it all, but that’s not what I’m supposed to do.

“I’m well aware it drives all of you insane that you don’t get the answers you seek immediately. But it’s crucial you all learn that it would be detrimental to any involved if we told you what to do. It’s frustrating for you, yes, but I assure you, Elementra, your Guardrias, myself, none of us like to withhold information from you. It’s a matter of what’s best for you.

“You’d never grow or succeed if someone told you all the answers all the time. Not only that, but I swear to you, Willow, it’s not always best to know all the answers. That can be very lonely, haunting, and some things are just best left unknown, maybe even forgotten,” he says softly, making me feel guilty for pushing for answers.

I’ve learned the hard way the importance of timing and finding things out gradually.

It’s a level of patience I’ve yet to reach .

“You’re right. But it does get frustrating waiting for answers when you know there’re individuals who have them but won’t, maybe can’t, give them to you,” I whisper.

“I’ll give you a tip and let you in on a little secret. You need to suspend the belief you have on what all-knowing and all-powerful means. Even for creators such as yours, there are rules and exceptions. They come from forces even the most knowledgeable and ancient as me do not understand. But yes, Elementra knows everything, millennia in the making. But that includes all possibilities. She doesn’t get the right answer right away either because the paths haven’t narrowed enough for her to know one hundred percent. That doesn’t happen until the time is almost upon her. That’s why she begins her preparations so many years in advance. Multiple plans, many paths, and countless outcomes.”

“What—”

“Oh, Willy. Ready to go get thrown to our asses?” Oakly cheers behind me.

“Yeah, one sec,” I call out mindlessly while staring at V. “What do you mean? Are you telling me she doesn’t know how any of this will end either?”

“Go and learn, filia. We will have our time together soon. As will you and your creator,” he says, then hoots to Oakly and Gaster as he flies away.

“Magnificent, isn’t he?” Gaster asks as he watches him soar through the sky.

“Magnificently frustrating. I asked him for answers, he gave me answers, then left me with more questions,” I huff.

“I don’t believe you’ll ever run out of those, child. Come on now, let’s go create another secret room we can lock the boys out of.”

The three of us walk back through the gardens laughing, although my mind is whirling. I have so many questions about everything V just said. He didn’t help at all rather than just give me more things to obsess over.

We continue walking through the gardens until we reach the central foyer, and I honestly haven’t heard a word either of them has said. It isn’t until a prick of panic vibrates through my chest that I turn to Oakly.

“Are you okay?”

She arches her brow. “Have you listened to anything he said? ”

“Umm…”

“Great, we’re really going to get our asses handed to us. You didn’t listen to a lick of instruction he just gave us.” She chuckles as we walk into the central foyer.

“Sorry. Something V said is stuck in my head. Well, a couple of things he said, but one in particular is consuming my thoughts.”

“Well, put it out of your mind before you get us killed,” she teases.

Maybe.

“No one is getting killed today. The two of you will be surprised how simple this is with the three of us doing it together. It doesn’t require nearly as much power usage,” Gaster says as we step into CC’s bedroom. “I assume I need to go over it again?”

His amused smile causes a guilty smirk to cross my face. “Possibly. No more distractions. I’m ready.”

“It may be good for Oakly to hear again since she’s so out of bits about this.”

This time, it’s my turn to laugh. I’m not exactly sure why she’s so nervous and hell-bent on not creating her own pocket dimension. The only thing I can think is it’s not so much about being slung to her ass, but the amount of power it drains creating one.

Granted, I wasn’t bonded at all when I did mine, so I didn’t have an extra boost. She does and her time to avoid this is coming to an end, judging by Gaster’s eyes.

Huffing, she crosses her arms and plops down on the couch, and I gracefully—smugly—take a seat beside her. I know Gaster means business when he pulls out his black infinity journal, licks his finger, then starts flipping pages.

“Now, girls, before I jump into it, do we want a key to open our secret room or draw our openings?”

“A key,” we say simultaneously.

“I should’ve known, but just so you both know, that doesn’t add mystery to the room,” he says, laughing.

“Yes, it does.”

“It most certainly does.” I snicker back to Oakly.

He shakes his head knowingly, then carries on. “Very well. What would you like the key to be?”

“Let’s make it a dick so the guys really won’t want to touch it.” She giggles.

“I can promise you that won’t stop Corentin and his need to know. Draken would say I molded it to match his. Cas would roll his eyes and use his shadows to touch it. Tillman simply wouldn’t care.”

“All valid points.”

“If I have a say, I’d prefer it not be genitalia,” Gaster says, unamused, which we find hilarious.

“Of course you have a say, Gaster,” I say, batting my lashes innocently. “How about an actual door? I think it’d be funny for someone to try to turn the knob, only for it to shock the shit out of them.”

Both laugh at my expense. It’s happened enough times to me that it’s definitely now a running joke.

“It’ll shock them whether the dimension is accepting their signature or warding them away. I like that idea,” Oakly says mischievously.

“A door it is then. I’ll go ahead and make that, then explain what to do from there, girls,” Gaster says, heading over to the corner of the room where the wall is bare.

Him being the master craftsman he is with his earth element, it’s only milliseconds before a vintage door appears on the wall. It’ll never get old to me how his mind can imagine something so creative in only seconds.

The dark stain shines like it were just polished and the arch carved in the wood adds just enough mystery to make you wonder what’s behind it. Instead of a knob, he added a knocker in the center and that makes imagining someone nosy, such as myself, getting shocked from knocking even funnier.

“You both know how to create a pocket dimension, but the difference with this one will be its size and now a key to open it. We’re going to start with putting our signatures on the door, so up you both go, come on,” he orders, waving us over.

We both jump up with unfiltered excitement and I’m happy Oakly’s enthusiasm is now outweighing her nerves .

“The three of us together are going to lay our hands on the door and push our magic into it. Imagine our magic painting it. It needs to travel across every surface and embed itself everywhere.”

Quietly and obediently, we hop up and lay our hands on either side of his. Although we both know how to place our magical signature on something, I still love it when he gets into teaching mode. Even if it’s more of a recap. He gives perfect examples and explains as simply as possible.

“Okay, girls, one, two, three.”

We release our magic at the same time and I smirk as their threads of magic weave excitedly with mine.

“Good. Now don’t remove your hands. We’ll need to keep contact throughout the whole process. Do you both prefer I explain again as I did earlier and you missed it, Willow, or would the two of you like a more hands-on, step-by-step explanation as we go?”

“I’m fine diving in,” I say, looking at Oakly.

She rolls her eyes. “Of course you are. You already know what this feels like.”

“Okay, spill. You had no problem marching up to a relic that could literally kill you, but you’re tripping up over a pocket dimension. What gives?” I ask, chuckling, but the sudden gloominess that covers her silences the sound. “Oak?”

“I don’t want to feel powerless,” she mumbles and my body heats.

I knew it was deeper than the pocket dimension.

“Would you like me to ask Draken to come while we do this? I can tell your guys to come as well just in case,” I offer immediately.

“No…just tell me what’s it going to feel like.”

“I think it’s going to feel a lot different this time than it did for me. One, I wasn’t bonded. Everything was still bound to my Memoria stone, so all I had at my disposal was my air and earth element. No gifts or anything. I don’t know if the location where we weave the pocket dimension has anything to do with it, but mine is woven directly into Elementra’s fabric so I access it anywhere. This one will be stationary right here. Gaster?”

“Everything Willow said is a factor. You won’t be drained, Oakly, I swear it. It’ll be three forces working together rather than one. The location won’t affect the process. Also, you have far, far more of a magic reserve now that you’ve completed your true Nexus. You’ll feel a slip of power, but nothing that won’t be fixed instantly with some tea and pastries as soon as we’re done,” Gaster says gently.

“We don’t have to do this at all if you don’t want to,” I say.

She takes a few deep breaths. Her eyes trace the door and our hands before she shakes her head. “No, we’re doing it. I’m safe and everything and everyone I need to make it better is within my reach. Just having a moment.”

“Take as much time as you need.”

“That’s all I needed. My arm’s getting tired,” she says, shooting me a wink that I know is partially forced, partially her sarcasm.

Regardless, I’m proud of her for both admitting what was going on and overcoming it.

“You heard the girl, Gaster,” I say.

“Okay then. First things first, we need to picture what we want the room to look like. We all need to have the same concept in mind. There will be no furnishings or anything of the sort. We will add that once we have the dimension opened, but we need an example to picture for size.”

The first thing that comes to my mind is his pocket dimension in his office. I’ve loved it since the moment I hauled ass down his mysterious hallway. We have that whole layout mapped out already and I don’t see a reason to change anything when it’s the perfect example.

“How about our other secret room? Hallway and all?”

“Great minds think alike. I couldn’t picture anything else but that room,” Oakly agrees and Gaster smiles warmly at both of us.

“Perfect. Get a good picture of it and hold onto that. Now, going forward, I know this is going to be difficult for the two of you but don’t speak unless I instruct you to or ask questions. Completely focus on my voice and what I’m saying.”

We both start laughing and he tsks at us.

“Knew it would be hard.”

“Wait. Are you going to be able to do this and give instructions at the same time?” I ask .

It took all my concentration to do this under his instructions last time. I can’t imagine talking and doing this simultaneously.

“Of course I’ll be able to,” he scoffs. “Open our line of communication. Maybe if I’m in your heads, you both can focus on me better and not question my capabilities.”

Doing as he ordered with a smirk still lingering on my lips because of his sass, I open the lines that connect me to them in my mind, then broadcast that to them.

“Better?”

“Yes, now shush. I’m going to tell you what we’re going to do, then we do it together. So follow along. Command your magic to flow through your body. It needs to spread everywhere from your mind to your toes, into the door, then hold it. Don’t let it flow out.”

Another smile breaks out across my face as I listen to the familiar instructions. The same feeling of glowing and tingling from the inside out is just as present as it was the day I did this on my own, but this time, I don’t feel like I’m going to explode. It’s all warm and fuzzies.

“Steady yourselves. Once we repeat these words in Elema Lingua Vetus, it’s going to feel like our magic wants to burst free, but don’t allow it. We must hold it in. Out loud, we’re going to say ‘Open my sight to the land of old, show Elementra’s fabric unfold.’ After that, once the threads of her magic are visible everywhere in front of us, we’ll repeat the next words.”

Locking down my magic is much easier this time and I shift my feet into a better position to ground myself. I hear Oakly shuffle to do the same and Gaster slides one foot slightly behind the other.

“Ready…One, two, three.”

“ Aperi conspectum meum ad terram antiquam, ostende fabricam Elementra explica .”

Small grunts fall from the three of us as our magic attempts to leak out, but the force behind it is very manageable. My body does heat a little and I clench my fist that’s not on the door out of habit when my skin pulls tight. Other than that, though, I keep my eyes trained on what’s in front of me.

The reality of what I can see of CC’s bedroom begins to shift. The few bookshelves on the other side of me subtly vibrate before their appearance starts to change. The dark hardwood shelves and different shades of bound leathers take on the familiar hazy blue hue. I want badly to reach out and touch the flowing brightly colored threads of magic.

The pure, raw power calls to me, and I can’t help but wonder what my blood looks like when it travels through these passageways.

“Without lifting your hands from the door, slide them upward and grip the knocker,” he instructs, and we silently do as we’re told. “Now what we will do is, as we repeat these next words, we’re going to knock on the door. Once we say them, we’ll release our magic. The entire time, you must be picturing the room. That intention needs to be at the forefront the whole time. The dimension is going to pull your magic into it and once it has enough, the pull will cease. At that point, we step through the door together. Nod that you understand.”

Turning my head, my eyes connect with Oakly’s. She gives me a small smile and as Gaster peers down at her, she nods. I do the same as he glances at me.

“Good. In Elema Lingua Vetus, we’re going to say, ‘Connect these threads through time and space. Elementra, bless this borrowed place.’ Ready…One, two, three.”

The language of old flows from our lips and our magic pours from our chests. I hold in my elated squeal as the threads are visible for me. The three streams join as one in a wave of purple and flows into the door. For a brief moment, I do worry for Oakly as I notice the slight weight I start to feel from the pull of my magic leaving me, but then the sensation lessens.

Gaster doesn’t have to speak or instruct us. The tugging fades completely and we all know it’s time to step forward.

Passing through a wall of our combined magic feels exactly the same way as if we were having a group hug. I relish the sensation until my attention is stolen by the still blueprinted sight in front of me.

“Come, girls,” Gaster says, then starts walking down the small hallway.

We enter the empty square room and I glare around in confusion. It looks just like it does when Elementra’s fabric first becomes visible.

Gripping onto our elbows, Gaster commands, “Accept. ”

Like a rope around our waist was cut, the dimension vibrates and jerks, causing us to stumble into him.

We watch with our jaws slack as the blue haze is sucked out of existence, leaving behind the exact hardwood floor and brick walls that we pictured. It’s so different without the books, desk, carpets, lamps, and all the things Gaster has in his to make it homey, but there’s no doubt it’s shaped the exact same.

“That was incredible,” Oakly cheers, pulling the two of us in as she jumps up and down.

“I was so confused there for a second.” I laugh.

“I figured it would just be easier for me to accept the signatures and creation than having to explain it all to you both. Next time, one of you can do it.”

The feral smile Oakly shoots me nearly causes me to keel over laughing. How quickly she went from worried about the amount of magic this would take to now willing to fight me over accepting rights next time is hilarious.

“Well…” I say as I perch my hands on my hips and turn in place. “Time to get it decorated and move some deadly relics in.”

“I don’t understand why we must feed and entertain people just to get information out of them. It’s a waste of time,” Cas complains as he plops down in a chair at the patio table.

“I don’t understand why you must put all our new friends through interrogations. You know, it’s just conversation over dinner,” I say sarcastically as I sit myself in his grumpy lap.

Corentin leans down and kisses me on the forehead before taking his seat beside us. “I figured it would be nice to actually eat at a table, with hot food, friends, and our entire Nexus rather than scarf down what Chef brings up to the room. ”

“So we had to come to the mansion, extend the table, have Chef come here, and whip up some extravagant meal all for a friendly chat?”

“Enough, Cas.” Corentin sighs, causing me to laugh.

Which earns me a squeeze on my hips.

“If you’re really not in the mood for company, we don’t have to do this. We can just go to their house and talk, then leave,” I say as I lean back into his chest.

His sigh ruffles my hair, and his shadows trace my arms. “It’s fine, Primary. They aren’t the worst bunch to be around. I’m just annoyed with the fact that I’ve been going around in circles for six days with nothing to show for it. Now I’m wasting time eating and sitting around when I could be doing something else.”

I feel bad for my dark and damaged protector, but at the same time, I have to hide my chuckle. I was the same exact way when it felt like nothing was going right for me. Mom’s book wouldn’t open, the sight wasn’t cooperating. I was frustrated and pissy about it.

He had to deal with the brunt of my attitude and now the tables have turned.

“You’re not wasting time. You’re spending time with me and your brothers. We’re going to learn how the illusions around the Summum-Master work. Which is something and could lead to more. Also, it was a productive day, and we have something to show for it. Gaster, Oakly, and I got the new pocket dimension opened and the relics moved in. Look at everything from a group standpoint, not an individual one.”

“Yeah, listen to our drop-dead gorgeous and genius Primary, shadow man. It was a good day,” Draken purrs as he leans into me, causing V to hoot loudly and fly off his shoulder.

His kiss ignites me from the inside out and my smile lingers against his lips. I’m obsessed with how happy he is every day. It’s so different than the cheery charade he used to put on for the realm to witness. Now it’s genuine happiness and I can’t get enough of it. It’s a ray of sunshine against the metaphorical cloud that seems to be looming over us.

“I am listening to her, dragon,” Cas groans just as Tillman pops in with our company and Oakly’s Nexus as well .

I shake my head and press my lips to his cheek before hopping up from his lap to greet our guests. It’s barely been an hour since we finished setting up the pocket dimension and getting the relics safely secured inside, but still, after Tillman showers me with affection, I move to Oakly.

There was a moment where it felt like the realm turned dark when we brought out the Gods Binding and placed it in a case much like the one we found it in. She stared at it so hard, I thought the glass now surrounding it was going to explode.

She and Gaster swear it’s not supposed to react like it is, but the information in her book isn’t pointing to why that is. It left a chill across my skin that I’ve barely been able to warm away.

“This is the house that was in your dream,” Dec says, looking over my head as I approach him, Trex, Codi, and X next.

“Yep. We call it the mansion. This is our home.”

“I thought you all lived at the palace?” X asks.

“We do, but this is home too,” I say, ushering them over to the table.

The seats quickly fill with our crowd. My whole Nexus, Oakly’s, Trex’s, plus Gaster and Keeper. Tanith and V are a few feet away on the lawn. We’re just missing Aria, my brother, and his brothers. Well, and Aurora and my other fathers-in-law…

Damn, every time I list them all out, it really does show how much of a crowd it is.

“Well, it would seem you all are ending our vacation. So let’s get on with it. X is going to explain the illusion around the Summum-Master and Dec will explain what he’s been having to do in dreams,” Trex announces as soon as we all get comfortable.

“Still an asshole, I see,” Tillman says.

“Not an asshole. I’d just rather not beat around the topic at hand. Then I’d like to eat. We don’t cook or get fed as good as this at the academy or when we were at the palace compound. Apparently, you lot have the best chef in Elementra.”

“We most certainly do,” Corentin says smugly with a big-ass grin on his face .

“We’ll talk, then eat and we appreciate you telling us everything you can,” I say sweetly, then wrap my shadows around Caspian.

I’m ninety-nine percent certain he was about to tell them they don’t have a choice. Which I mean…they really don’t, but someone in our group has to be the nice and understanding one.

“I am nice and understanding,” Tillman chuffs.

“Yeah, if they’d have said no or weren’t offering this information to us, how long would you have waited before prying it from their minds?”

“Who’s to say I haven’t already?”

“Have you?”

“No. See, nice and understanding.”

Rolling my eyes discreetly, his laugh caresses my mind, and I ignore him. “Who’d like to start?”

“What I’ve had to do is going to piss you all off the most, so I’ll get it out of the way,” Dec says, and all eyes turn toward him. “I’ve always been tasked with infiltrating dreams. I’ve attempted to get in each of your dreams but have only ever been successful with Willow’s.”

Yeah, that, of course, was not the right place to start.

I send out a burst of calm to each of my men as I sense their guards immediately go up. It only slightly defuses their want to kill him, but it’s enough for now.

“The Ruling Nexus, the heirs, and the five families have always been on his list. I’ve successfully slipped into all the members on the councils’ dreams but two of them—”

“Dillon and Pran Gale?” Cas interrupts.

“Yeah. How’d you know that?”

“Lucky guess. How do you know who is who? It’s hard to believe before you were kidnapped as a teenager you gave a shit about any of us,” Cas fires back.

“I didn’t give a shit about the adults, no, but I knew who you all were. Aside from Willow. I don’t think there’s anyone in Elementra who doesn’t know about the heirs who all just happened to be a Nexus. The others, he has files on everyone. I need at least a sense of who a person is, their gift, to be able to jump into their dreams. He’s been able to acquire objects from the five, which makes it even easier for me. Before you ask how he did that, the Everglows or Gales would steal it, obviously. They’ve stolen from the Ruling Nexus as well, but it’s never been enough.”

Geez, this just keeps getting worse.

“Let’s remember he didn’t have a choice in any of this before you all get shitty with him,” I say as the guys’ disdain grows stronger.

“We know he isn’t the one to blame, princess. Still doesn’t make listening to it easier.”

My eyes soften at Corentin before nodding to Dec to carry on. His words may be calm and to the point, but the look of guilt on his face tells the true story. Much like Keeper and Trex, he isn’t proud of anything he’s done.

“Everything I found out, I of course reported back. Sometimes there were things of importance, sometimes there weren’t, or one of the Everglows reported it first. The reason…I was…” He trails off, looking down at his hands and the guilt that slices through me forces the breath from my lungs.

Whatever is about to come out of his mouth is going to be bad. His aura has completely shifted and even his brothers squeezing his shoulders isn’t helping.

“We understand the situation you were placed in. Trex, Keeper, Layton, the two of you. We aren’t holding you all responsible. We know who’s to blame,” Corentin says.

“You should blame me. I’ve done everything I’ve had to, to keep my brothers and Carrington safe. But at the cost of many, many others. At what point does that selfishness become too much?” His voice rises with his question, yet he keeps his head hanging low.

The hushed silence that follows is heavy.

I don’t believe any of us want to admit our truths.

“You’re asking a group of very diverse people an impossible question. None of us have the right answer for you. Some of us would never put someone else in harm’s way. Whereas I’d flood the realm and everyone in it for my Primary, my brothers, our family. I’d be selfish until my last dying breath for them. You can only ask yourself that question and accept the answer,” Caspian says.

His usual coldness is missing and instead, his tone is almost tender like that’s really his dying promise. There’s no limit he wouldn’t go to for us.

I don’t believe there’s a limit I wouldn’t go to either.

It’s hard to admit I’d put innocent people in jeopardy, but for them…

“I’m the reason that academy was attacked. Crestwood. I dream walked into the caster’s mind many nights in a row. The Summum-Master wanted to see how much influence I could have on the dreams. My objective was to visit him every night and not make myself known, but to influence the dreams, whisper plans into his mind. It took a week to convince him to let the ward down. It was practice for the other schools. When I told Trex and Codi this, Codi told me…told me the caster took his life after what happened to the students.”

The ground beneath the table shakes violently as Tillman stands and his chair crumbles like a can. His fists shake by his sides as he tries to get his breathing regulated.

He isn’t staring at Dec but at his feet. He’s hurt, furious, but he’s trying his hardest to keep his cool about him. The tremble that passes through his skin and into me when I stand and move beside him shakes me to my core.

“That isn’t all, sir,” Codi whispers.

“Spit it out. Now,” Tillman commands, sending another vibration through the table.

“Claven is Mastery. Has been since before your E.F. leader trials. He was the one who trained Dec and Xander when they were separated from Trex. Everything he learned from the academy he taught them. Then he was tasked to win and recruit the students.

“When he lost and Corentin offered him the combat instructor position, the Summum-Master told him he had to take it. Since students and staff, with the exceptions, can’t leave the academy except for breaks and closures, Claven was stuck there. Dec would dream walk with him to train, then would pass it on.” Codi delivers the news as he would if this were a mission report .

No emotion, no hesitation. But the betrayal, fear of Tillman’s reaction, and want to protect his brother are all evident in the aura surrounding him.

Tillman doesn’t say a word as he turns on his heel and marches a few feet in the lawn before taking off down the running trail. My gaze stays locked on him and my gift caresses his mind. He doesn’t shove me out, but I know he doesn’t want the invasion right now. The anger and regret pouring from him make my heart hurt.

Corentin pushes from his chair and steps around me to follow, but I latch onto his arm and shake my head. Neither of us is who will defuse him at the moment.

“Ry, he’s going to the tree house,” I say softly, asking with my eyes for him to go after him.

His anger is written across every feature, but he nods stiffly, gives Oakly a kiss on her forehead, then goes after my gentle giant.

“If Claven was Mastery the whole time, why didn’t the Summum-Master attack the academy earlier?” Nikoli asks.

“I wasn’t able to get through to your caster. It was nearly impossible to get into anyone’s minds if they were inside the wards of your academy. Claven was different because he’d been open and willing to me being in his dreams. Plus, our marks connected all of us in some weird fucked-up way,” Dec says after he clears his throat.

“Then Tillman beat Claven’s ass on Willow’s first day. Corentin fired him and told him to pack his shit. There was really no way then for any of them to reach the inside of the academy until that stalker bitch who was already on the inside got her hands on the caster,” Draken summarizes, connecting the rest of the dots.

I close my eyes for a second and breathe before sitting back down in my seat. This whole time, Tillman’s been suspecting someone was giving the Mastery our trainings and we’ve believed it was the two families betraying us.

There was more than that .

Clearing his throat, Corentin sits back down and laces his fingers with mine. “Anything else of that level of importance, Dec? We don’t need every little detail on everyone you’ve shared dreams with.”

“No,” he says mournfully.

“Do you want us to wait on you before we move to Xander?” Corentin asks Tillman.

“No. I’ll watch through Willow’s mind later,” he says gruffly.

I wish more than anything I could take away the unwarranted guilt all of them are feeling.

Dec over what he’s done.

Corentin for giving Claven the job.

And Tillman for believing it’s all his fault because he convinced Corentin to do so.

None of them are to blame. They had no way of knowing.

“Xander,” I say with a pinched smile and nod.

“I was responsible for cloaking some of the compounds around Elementra before we were moved permanently. I’ve also been brought back into the realm a couple of times without Dec to do that. It’s pretty straightforward. These are just Mastery stations that are covered with my gift to look like normal buildings, farms, houses. You’d walk right by them and never know.”

“Where?” Cas immediately asks.

“Mostly Terian. The Summum-Master is partial to that territory. More open land, places to hide, and multiple species of shifters. They’re usually brutal fighters,” X says.

“We’ll be needing those locations,” Corentin says.

“Of course. As for my biggest and main responsibility, as you all know. I’m the one who’s cast an illusion over the Summum-Master’s face. His identity being a secret has always been in his top priorities. Someone had gotten too close to knowing it or outing him and he panicked. He’s made me strengthen and reapply the illusion countless times now.”

My chest clenches painfully. I don’t have to be told who the person that got close was.

They got more than close. They knew .

Corentin, Cas, and Draken shift closer in my direction, sensing immediately where my emotions went. They each caress my bond, and I guess collectively, we all decide we aren’t going to elaborate at this time.

“Can you take the illusion down?” I ask.

“Not from here. I have to be close to him. I can cast them and leave them for all of time at this point in my life if I want, but to bring them back down, I have to be within my range of them. I don’t know the distance since I’ve never had to bring them down other than to immediately reapply them. Stronger,” he grits out.

“It’s obvious you don’t know his name. But can you tell us anything about him? What does he look like?” I ask.

“Like your father—”

“Franklin,” everyone at the table other than his Nexus corrects.

“Sorry. Franklin. They were the spitting image at one time. Now…”

“What?”

“He’s…the Summum-Master no longer looks like us. I can’t even say he looks like a person. He hasn’t sprouted extra limbs or anything like that. But his arms, up his neck, I assume everywhere, now has dark, black veins that are visible through his sickly pale skin. Even his once upon a time brown eyes are completely black.”

He paints the picture of a monster, and I swallow roughly because I’ve felt that evil that slithers all over him. I’ve seen those black eyes. There’s no telling the condition of his soul at this point and it’s no surprise that his body is now changing to match.

“It’s that damned relic, I swear it.”

My eyes flash back up to Xander’s and the way he reacted to it back in the nonmagical realm comes back to me. “You think the relic is changing him?”

“I know it. That thing is evil,” he spits out and I share a look with Oakly and Gaster.

I don’t know if that’s true. At least, I don’t believe it was always true.

“So we know he once looked normal, now he doesn’t. He’s got a shitload of stolen gifts and dark powers. But we still have no clue about his identity or why he started this fucked-up bring the realm down plot,” Draken says, running his hand through his hair.

“We know he’s bad. He’s who we need to bring down. Why does his identity even matter at this point?” Trex asks.

“Whatever he believes the realm and the Vito family did to deserve his hatred starts with who he is. If we knew his history, it could lead to his motivations, habits, patterns, where he’s from, and possibly where he’s been hiding himself. Plus, we simply just need his name to have it. He doesn’t get to die a masked coward without us all knowing who he was,” Caspian growls.

“Not only that,” Keeper says, and we all face him. “Names have power.”

“Names have power,” Cas mimics quietly.

“So how the hell do we figure out his identity? I’m pretty sure the two people who knew who he was are both dead,” Draken says.

“I’ve already told you, that knowledge has already been provided to the one who would look for it,” V says and we look at him while Trex, Codi, Dec, and Xander flinch in surprise.

“When did he tell you that? Who hasn’t been looking for it?” Caspian asks.

“You have not been looking, little Shadow God.”

Caspian slices his shadows through the air, attempting to catch V when he hoots and flies away. It’s pointless and shocking.

Faster than my eyes can follow, the magical bird disappears into the sky.

“What the fuck is he talking about?” Cas asks, turning and glaring at Draken.

“I have no clue.”

A furious sound falls from Cas’s throat, then he too disappears through a cloud of shadows.

Leaving all of us sitting here in stunned silence, staring in two directions with countless question.