Page 16 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Eleven

Willow

A silent stare-off commences as we both feast our eyes on one another.

A real-life goddess.

Judging by her comment about ‘the mortal saying’ there’s no doubt the beings of the Valorian Veil have ventured into the nonmagical realm and made a name for themselves.

Every description of an angel or otherworldly being I ever heard, depicted them as the most stunning or beautiful beings ever seen. Even though her room is dimly lit, much like my own, and most of her face is cloaked with a covering, she still gives off a radiance that tells me why that is.

I assume it’s moonlight or the glow of the stars casting a small flicker of light around her. Gaster said their Eye of the Veil had a dome, which gives her or maybe another person closer access to the stars.

“It still fascinates me how I saw this moment what feels like a lifetime ago, and now it’s here. I suppose time moves faster when you’re managing many things,” she says, breaking both of us out of our gawking.

“I’m glad one of us was given a warning. I suppose that’s just the way timing works. Not to mention war seems to speed everything along. No matter what realm you’re in. ”

My words give her pause and we stare into each other’s eyes. There’s a shared understanding passing between the two of us. We’re both beings who get to see things others don’t.

For the time being, we’re going to share what we know.

It’s just like when I met Tanith and Aria. A feeling of openness sweeps over me and it’s clear I can speak freely for now.

“Indeed, it may. That’s why we’re here today. The time is soon going to slip away and if we don’t act fast, there will be nothing but destruction.”

“What do you need from me? Or do I need something from you?” I ask.

“You have something that belongs to the Valorian Veil. I need you to come here and return it.”

My heart pounds for a split second when my first thought goes to the crystal at my back. Obviously I became possessive over it the minute I heard my mom brought it here, but then how foolish that sounds brings clarity to my mind.

“The Gods Binding.”

“Yes. The pieces of it you have.”

“The pieces I have? They aren’t singular objects? And there’s more of them in your realm?” My voice rises with my questions, which seems to take her aback as her eyes widen in horror. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but it’s killing my people, so try to understand my outrage.”

“Killing…No, it shouldn’t be doing that. How are you wielding it?” she asks in a whisper.

“How am I? I’m not wielding it at all. It’s being used to steal gifts from those blessed with them and given to nonmagical beings. If the receiver doesn’t survive the transfer of power, the monster wielding it keeps the gift for himself.”

“No, impossible. That shouldn’t be happening.”

She says the words almost to herself, not in disagreement with me. She just can’t fathom it.

“Unfortunately, it is. He’s called the Summum-Master and he’s gathered countless gifts by now. I honestly couldn’t even begin to tell you how many or what all he can do. I only have one of the two he possessed. He still has the other.”

“This isn’t at all what I saw coming. Something has happened to change the course. I saw you…” she trails off, standing to pace the circle.

“What did you see?”

There’s a pause in her brisk pace as she stares above her, and she calms her breathing. Then with a sigh and a shake of her head, she starts talking and walking once again.

“You were here. In the middle of our war. You came through the portal with an army. You weren’t attacking the realm, though. You chose a side. If you hadn’t had, the whole Veil would’ve fallen. You wielded the Gods Binding and bound a power too dark to speak of,” she says in a flurry of flustered words.

“That makes no sense. I would never—” I cut my words abruptly as reality hits me in the face.

I would’ve gone to the Valorian Veil and joined a war to prevent one from coming here…

If the Summum-Master had used my blood supply to get the portal open, I would’ve followed him to stop him from returning with the Gods’ stolen power.

Shit. I changed her path. Or course. Same thing, whatever she calls it.

“When did you see this vision and when it is supposed to happen?” I ask.

“Many years ago. And soon. Very, very soon.”

“Soon can mean many things for immortals. Soon as in a few months, a hundred years?”

“Days, weeks maybe,” she says, never looking back at me but constantly at the stars.

Which, for the moment, is a good thing as I’m having an internal crisis. Scattered pieces all over my mind continue to snap in place and I’m just waiting for them to settle so I can see the picture.

There’s one thing I know with one hundred percent certainty and that’s I will not be going to the Valorian Veil in a few days or weeks to join a war. Our war is now confined to Elementra and that’s where it will stay if I have any say in it.

But that leaves me with a very unfortunate prediction that I have to give her.

“Your time isn’t now. My time is. The vision you saw was altered by an action I took to stop the Summum-Master from getting to your realm. I would’ve followed him there to stop him from returning with the power of a God. Your war is still to come, I’ve seen it, but it’s not right now.”

She finally stops her pacing to look at me, but the second is fleeting. I can’t help but flinch back as she takes a desperate inhale.

Then her eyes turn black and her body goes still.

I know a vision when I see one, even though she looks completely different than I believe I do. That’s exactly what’s happening.

I wait patiently, sort of, and stare into her other-realmly eyes. The entirety of them is the color of darkness, yet a ring of light surrounds the outline. It looks like two stars in the night sky.

Elementra, I can’t believe I’ve altered the path of a whole other realm. What the hell?

“It was what was meant to be, Willow. The forces had decided any other path would’ve been too much of a risk,” V says, scaring the shit out of me.

“I didn’t even know we could still communicate right now. Why haven’t you butted in at any other point in time?”

“My guidance was not needed. You and her still have much to work out, but you should have no doubt in the decision you made. Much would’ve altered had you not,” he says confidently.

“Like you not joining us here?”

“Precisely. Had you not been able to retrieve your blood and the Summum-Master had gone to the Valorian Veil, I would have gone directly there as well to defend it. Our paths would’ve eventually crossed, but there’s no telling now if I would’ve connected with you or Draken.”

“How is it you know everything?” I ask after I glance back to see the goddess still in her vision.

Gah, how rude of me. I haven’t even asked her name .

“She would not tell you even if you did, so I’d not bother bringing it up. Many know of her, some even pray to her, but there are very few beings who know who she is. It will stay that way as long as the creators can help it.

“As for knowing everything, I do not. I’m given one singular path when I connect with you, and I must do everything necessary to keep you on that path. Every little change causes me to adjust and deviate quickly, but unlike your visions, I do not get another option to take. I must get you back on track.”

“That’s what you meant by you thought we had more time and didn’t think Cas would figure out your words so fast,” I whisper with wide eyes.

I’m not sure which is worse. Me getting multiple paths and having to decide myself which is the best. Or him only getting the one and having to do everything precisely to make sure it all goes right.

“Yes. There were a few steps that would’ve happened before this time now and you would’ve been better prepared for this meeting, but you’re doing remarkably well with the time and knowledge given to you.”

“Thanks, V. Will those steps—”

My words are cut off and I whip my head back to the gasp that just fell out of the goddess’s mouth. Her vision lasted much longer than mine of the future normally would, but it was shorter than what I experience when I visit the past. So I don’t have any idea what she could’ve seen.

And damn, I hope she was able to breathe that whole time. That gasp sounded painful.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I don’t appreciate the timing, but what can I do about it?” She huffs as she takes a seat once again.

“If it makes you feel any better, my sight does the same. I only get visions when it feels like giving them out. It’s annoying, to put it mildly,” I say, trying to ease the worry swirling in her now almost cosmic eyes.

“At least we aren’t alone in our annoyance then.”

Her small laugh makes me smile although the feeling in my gut tells me she’s about to tell me something I need to hear. Good or bad. I also see it in the softening of her gaze.

“You were right. Our time is not now. At least the time of the realms isn’t. A prophecy has been told. There are many changes upon me, and I have a lot of work to do from here until then. As for you, I suppose I took my first vision of this moment, our meeting, and combined it with the vision I saw recently of the war. To me it made sense that’s what we needed to discuss, but I was only given half answers to both things I saw.”

I’m so incredibly frustrated on her behalf. I would’ve easily assumed the same thing. There’s nothing worse than only seeing a piece of something, then trying to work out what to do with the rest.

“So where does that leave us? Do you still need the Gods Binding? Or is it Bindings?” I ask.

“Binding. Those are two pieces that connect to the whole. Yes, I need the one in your possession returned. It’s not you who will bring it, though.”

“Then wh—” I stop and look down beside me. “V. You’ll return it when you return home.”

“Yes, I will.”

“When do you need him to return it?”

“He will know when it is time. Before you return it, though, it will need to be cleansed. If it has been used to do the unspeakable acts you’ve mentioned, that will have infected it. It needs to be returned in its natural state.”

“I have no idea what that means or how to do that. The one and only time I’ve been told how it works, was my father-in-law sharing with us the one time he witnessed it being done. The Summum-Master cut his hands, the hands of the men he was sacrificing, and touched it with his blood. He was also chanting what I assume is a language from your realm,” I inform her.

“That is the ways of Old. It is a stronger method of binding to use blood. A lifeforce so pure and powerful. It has not been practiced for some time. Unfortunately, though, the Binding is a being of order. To unbind, the same method will have to be used.

“Because he used his blood, there are pieces of the people he’s bound both attached to him and the Gods Binding. That is what I mean by cleansed. You will need to use his blood to strip the power attached to it.”

“I don’t have… ”

Oh Elementra.

My realm tilts on its side as my revulsion sets in. Between yesterday and right now, I absolutely hate how much and how many similarities between us keep coming up.

I have tried my hardest to deny any connection we have at every turn and any opportunity, but with the directions in front of me, I can’t.

His blood also runs through my veins.

Clearing my throat, I nod to myself, maybe her, I’m not sure, but then I push on. “Okay then. Blood we have. Do I need to chant just as he did and if so, what do I say?”

“I’m not sure where he got the words he said, nor can you speak it out loud to me. Words are used differently between our realms. My people speak worships and prayers to the Gods and stars. They pick and choose to listen depending on who’s calling upon them. They will take your name and attach it to what you beg for.” I don’t miss the disdain in her tone. Nor the underlining meaning of what she just said.

“Names have power,” I whisper.

“They do.”

“When you said strip the power from the Binding, I understand that, but what will it do to him?” I ask with so much hope in my tone as it all starts making sense to me.

“I believe you’ve already worked that out,” she says knowingly, and I could sob.

Stripping the Binding is going to strip his stolen powers.

“I’ll return the Gods Binding to you as it should be. I’ll do the same for the second when it’s retrieved,” I swear, letting my appreciation shine through my eyes.

I don’t believe she has any idea the leverage she just gave me.

“I need something else from you. Two things actually,” she says softly.

“What’s that?”

“Hold onto that one for me. Keep it safe for my realm. There will come a time that it’s needed, but the time is not now. When you do return the first, close the portals. ”

The need to ask her why is strong, but the pleading in her eyes stops me. We’ve been very open this entire time, which I am so thankful for, but there’s something that she’s seen that she can’t talk about. It has her very…I’m not sure…emotional.

“Of course I’ll close the portal back. I won’t risk him getting to your realm.”

“You misunderstand. All the portals. Close the Valorian Veil off from the realms,” she says softly.

All of them.

My head is already shaking no as my mouth falls open. I can’t trap more people where they don’t want to be or belong.

“I see the concern in your eyes. I will get as many nonnatives out as I can. Those who wish to go, may, and those who wish to stay will have to remain. They will be protected. I give you my word.”

“Trust in her, Willow,” V says.

“I will accept your word,” I say through my closing throat. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me today.”

“It is you who’s done for me, Ultima unum . You know as well as I do what it feels like for time to be suffocating you. You have blessed me with more time than I originally thought I had and desperately needed. Life is going to significantly change for me soon enough, but I now have the opportunity to prepare. I fear I’ve done nothing but speed yours along.”

My chest constricts with the truth in her words, and I force myself to swallow the bile creeping up my throat.

“Don’t fear that. Everything happens when it’s supposed to. It’ll all make sense soon enough.” I quote the exact line that I’ve hated to hear what feels like my whole life.

Only now does it feel true and so close to my grasp.

“I must go. Take care and remember to listen to the guidance you receive. It’s an honor to have been chosen for a connection. Until next time, Ultima unum .”

My eyes widen at the abrupt end of conversation and her laugh surrounds me. It’s all I hear as my own gasps pour from my mouth and I lose my sight .

Her cutting our connection snaps me out of my mind, but thankfully, I guess returning to Elementra in any sense is always easier. The swirling rainbow clouding my eyes is rapid and not dizzying in the slightest.

In seconds, I’m staring at myself in the reflective walls and the rest of the room becomes my own once again.

Turning my head around to look at everything just to make sure, I groan as my body becomes heavy.

“Easy, Willow. Give yourself a moment to adjust back,” V murmurs.

Adjusting back to my own mind isn’t the issue I’m having. I didn’t heed his warning about the power drop all that well. I mean, I believed him, but I guess I’ve grown so used to being naturally fed by Draken and haven’t experienced a dip in power since my kidnapping, I didn’t prepare for this.

I’m not drained like then by any means, but shit, exhaustion is hitting me hard. My limbs keep getting heavier and I just want to close my eyes for a little power nap.

“I need my men and outside. Then we’ve got to talk,” I groan.

“Of course. Do you want me to call for them?”

“No, not in here. I can shadow us.”

He doesn’t hesitate to hop into my lap and I don’t bother standing up. My shadows surround us, and I move through the south wing straight to the gardens. I starfish out as soon as my ass touches grass.

V hops around with his little claws in my stomach until he’s cocking his head to the side, looking down at me.

“This is a bit dramatic.”

“This is comfortable, thank you very much.” I snort, waving him off me. “I’m sorry for interrupting everyone, but I could use some help from anyone who’s free. I’m lying in the gardens,” I say to my men.

“What do you mean lying?” Corentin asks.

“She’s literally sprawled out on the ground,” Cas answers and I turn my head toward where I sense him approaching. “What in the realm did you do, Primary?”

“That was fast. You must have sensed me shadow past your room. I went to the Valorian Veil. ”

“Excuse me?” Four not so happy voices all say at once. My answer was perfect timing for their arrival seeing as they apparently transported the second Cas said I was actually laid out.

“Not physically. V taught me how to open a portal in my mind and I connected to the Goddess of Fate. If that’s really what she’s called. That’s the title I’ve given her.” They all flinch and look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Could I have a hand? Then I’ll happily explain. I’m a little worn out here.”

Before I can say anything else, my dragon man has me hauled into his lap and a purr falls from my lips with the warm, loving feeling of his magic filling me up.

“I swear we can’t leave you alone for a couple hours without you doing some unheard of nonsense,” Corentin grumbles as he grips the back of my calf and runs his thumb in circles.

I respond with a smirk, then groan as Tillman’s masterful massaging on the back of my neck loosens all my muscles. Cas’s shadows swirl around my body like I’m floating in a pool, making me feel weightless.

“Better get to explaining, little warrior,” Tillman orders teasingly as I hum and settle into them.

“Is there anything I can’t tell or show them? I’d rather they just know it all,” I direct to V.

“They can know it all. It’ll be better anyway for us all to be on the same page.”

“Show then tell,” I say to them and they all nod, knowing exactly what I mean.

Latching onto their minds, I show everything that’s happened and been said since I was nervously waiting for V in CC’s bedroom. Their shock at the situation would make me laugh if I didn’t realize how important this is. At the same time, you’d think by this point, nothing would surprise them.

There’s a small beat of silence before a heavy breath from Draken fans across my neck. Goose bumps spread across my arms and he’s quick to warm them away.

“Shit just got really real. ”

“It sure feels that way, dragon,” I say.

“If what she said is true, which I see no reason why it wouldn’t be, then that would explain Xander’s reaction to the Gods Binding. He is still sensing a piece of his parents in there,” Tillman comments quietly.

“I thought about that, and it breaks my heart for him. He’s been couped up with that thing, probably thinking he’s going crazy. It also made me think about Aria’s strong reaction to it. She no doubt sensed the un-rightness of a piece of people’s lifeforces being trapped.”

“How is the relic used properly in the Veil? Why are you the one having to tell us when to free it and why can’t we do it now?” Cas asks in a single breath.

I wouldn’t call the look he’s giving V a glare. More of a desperate desire for the information there’s no doubt V has but probably can’t tell us.

“Always so many questions,” V mocks and Cas reaches across me to grab him. All that gets him is yet another sharp cut across his hands and a hiss falls from his mouth. “The next time will be a whole finger.”

“Empty threats, bird. My brother would eat you for that. Explain what you can,” Cas demands darkly as he uses his water to wash away his blood.

The four of us shake our heads at the two of them. They seem to be forming some weird love-hate relationship that I don’t understand. Neither of their auras shows any true animosity. Honestly, they both glow with what I interpret as respect. It’s confusing why they’re always so violent with each other.

“The Shadow God enjoys the intellectual challenge I pose for him. He, just as I, are used to beings bowing before us. He, despite having no idea what I’m capable of, views himself as my equal. I respect that because he nearly is and with time, will be. It’s refreshing to find a group who is so clueless to me that none of you mind your candidness. As for his violent tendencies, I merely entertain that for his enjoyment.”

A snort tumbles out of me, causing the guys to look at me expectantly for an answer and I just smirk. “Well, thank you for entertaining him. Could you do that now and give him, us, a few answers, please?”

“Sure, filia,” he sweetly, for once, agrees. “I won’t discuss how the relic is used in the Valorian Veil. That’s a secret and tradition of the realm, and I’ll respect that knowledge just as I’d respect the customs and secrets of Elementra. I have no doubt with time Willow will know. You can all learn from her then.

“Why am I the one to tell you all when to cleanse the Gods Binding is simply because it’ll be time for me to go home once Willow does that. Now is not the time for that. You all still have much to learn and do before then.”

“How do you know it’ll be time for you to go then?” Cas follows up.

“Because the thread of the connection between Willow, Draken, and myself ends when I step through the Valorian Veil portal. That means I’ll have fulfilled my duty to them.”

My eyes widen for a fleeting second until my mind realizes that’s obvious. Of course that’s how he’d get back. He’s never mentioned being able to move realms on his own, and he hitched a ride here.

“So our paths end at you returning home. That’s as far as you saw. Am I following that correctly?” I ask.

“You are.”

“If that’s the case, from what we watched and learned just now from Willow’s mind, you don’t know what happens afterward. So, he’s right, Cas. We have things to learn and do before we jump in halfcocked and unleash power we know will set something else in motion. We have no idea what the repercussions of us stripping the Summum-Master’s powers will be. He may go into hiding or he may retaliate. We need to have a plan in place for what happens after that,” Corentin says, cutting Caspian’s next question off before he can even open his mouth.

“Not only that, we need a plan for how we’ll move once it’s time to go to the Valorian Veil portal. We can’t take just anyone with us and disclose that location. For now, it’s a secret between our Nexus, Ry’s, Lyker’s, Gaster, Keeper, Codi, and Trex. That’s enough people knowing where the portal to the realm the Summum-Master wants to get to is. Even without Will’s blood, he doesn’t need to be able to get his hands on that information,” Tillman adds on.

They’re both right. Very right.

We need plans in place for any and everything that could happen .

“Why do you have to go home for good? Why can’t you take the Gods Binding back then return?” Draken asks.

Looking at my dragon man, his features are twisted in confusion. Not at everything we just discussed, but he’s not too happy with his new connection coming to an end. He, I believe, gets answers far easier than I do from V and he doesn’t want to lose their friendship.

“Because there’re others in my realm who need me. I go when and where I am needed. I’ve felt the pull back home for some time now, but the strength of the connection has never been what it needs to be to tie the connection. Once you and Willow entered the nonmagical realm, our connections immediately told me you both needed me first.

“Our connections will stay for eternity, just not in the same way your bonds do. It’s not something physical you will feel. There is no severing. It is a fluid thing that can be passed down. Take Willow for example. She isn’t the only one of her line that I’ve connected with. I guided her grandmother for some time in the nonmagical realm.

“I also confirmed for her mother where the strongest energy to Elementra was when she left that cursed house. At this time, though, the threads that have been forming from my realm have been building up, and once they pull tight enough, that will be my call home. Then it will be time.”

“Wait, what? My grandmother. What do you…” I trail off, thinking back to the moment at my willow tree. “You said you’ll always connect to the filiae when needed. That’s what you meant. My line. But why did you call us that?”

“That is not a lesson I will be teaching you,” he says cryptically, but I understand it all too well.

My last lesson with my mom.