Page 17 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Twelve

Corentin

In the short one week since Willow opened a portal in her mind, it feels like we’ve made incredible strides in the right directions.

Tillman’s been sending men on missions that are hitting more Mastery compounds than we’ve ever been able to infiltrate before. It’s a slow rolling process, but the number of prisoners they’ve been taking down or bringing back for interrogation is paying off.

We’re cutting their numbers daily.

Cas has been elbow deep in the history of not only our family but Malvolio Choice’s as well. He was even able to scrape up a location of a home that belonged to the Choice family. It was completely abandoned and held nothing of value within it, but nonetheless, he’s getting closer. Before long, he’ll know everything there is to know. Then he’s going to smear the name so thoroughly it’ll be as though the name is a curse.

Yet, their name will exist. It’ll be whispered. My brother will rewrite history the way it was supposed to be written. I see that truth in his eyes every time he reads a page, scoffs, then makes his own note.

Draken, surprisingly, has taken to instructing far better than I ever would’ve imagined. Vince has been top notch with guiding him in a way he can understand. He’s realizing he doesn’t have to dull himself down or make himself over the top to connect with those kids.

He’s built Layton’s confidence up so high, he’s barely recognizable. Well, and of course the little chameleon now having his giant of a brother—who is recognizable everywhere—has really helped.

I’ve been stretched thin with Headmaster duties as well as whatever else Mom needs me to do.

Although Dec is firmly on our side, after finding out about his dream walk into the caster of Crestwood Academy’s mind, keeping the other Headmasters informed and prepared has been a top priority of mine. I rotate daily meetings with them on the strength of their wards, security protocols, protections for their casters, and mental check-ins.

I can’t have any of them feeling overwhelmed where it could jeopardize the students’ safety. Just because Dec is here with us doesn’t mean the Summum-Master isn’t hunting his replacement or conjuring up a new way to steal young people. They would be the easiest to steal gifts from.

I’ve made it clear to the Headmasters I don’t care if I call and they just need to bitch about something. I’d rather them do that than bottle it up and be in the wrong frame of mind if shit were to hit their academy.

It’s not my favorite part of my job by any means, but one that must be done. I also won’t allow anyone else to take that responsibility simply because I don’t enjoy talking on the communicator all day.

Aside from that, I’ve been doing as my mom has asked of me. Which has been inserting myself into the lives of the five and the elite.

I fucking hate it, to put it mildly.

Other than the parents of the students, I’ve tried to keep my brothers and myself out of their sight. With the Spring Ball a week away, she thought it’d be best I start reintroducing us.

Some calls and meetings have been productive. Some not so much.

I have a hunch the elite parents who have claimed both Pyrathia under the Everglows and some of the Central families under the Gales are in the Mastery .

Obviously, none of them would ever just come out and say it, but word of not only Willow but Oakly as well has spread. Their loyalty was an easy thing to question after some of the conversations.

Oakly’s kidnapping wasn’t mentioned, but they questioned my respect for the rules when it came to “allowing” females to just bond with whomever they wanted without their permission.

The first two I brushed off with a simple explanation of who am I to stop anything when Elementra herself blesses those with a true bond. After that, I lost my shit and told them it’s fucking ridiculous how they continue to control their adult children’s lives.

I’ve been working hard on changing the way the females of our society are treated. Even before Willow arrived, I was doing and allowing things that our society would turn their noses up at. Now that she’s here, I’ve just got louder about it. I will not keep a Primary away from her Nexus. Chosen or true. It doesn’t make a difference to me. Parents can have an opinion, sure, everyone does, but they should not decide the fate of all their daughters.

It’s disgusting.

After my little outburst, Mom said to give speaking to them a little break. Then she gave me an even worse task.

I was on a very productive streak.

Until today. Right now.

What am I doing today per my mother’s order?

Making final arrangements for the Spring Ball.

Absolute waste of my time.

Strategically, I saved the best call for last so I didn’t end my day annoyed. Mom also switched our training from this morning to this afternoon because she had something to do. So I’d like to join my princess and brothers not in a foul mood.

“Corentin, I’m glad you called. I’ve got to talk to you about this whole picking instructors thing. I think you should just do it. Take it off my plate,” Lyker says the moment he answers the communicator.

“Well, hello, Lyker. How’s your day going? How’s the weather in Terian?” I ask sarcastically and he sighs, maybe growls .

“Sorry. I wrapped up my fifth interview just now and I’m ready to pull my hair out. How do you do this every day? Talk to a bunch of idiots. I swear people are just applying for the roles so they can say they work at the new academy. I don’t think I’ve talked to one qualified person.”

“A lot is going to come down to how you define qualified. Are you only interviewing wolf shifters for instructors? It’s going to be difficult for you to find a highly capable enchantments instructor that is a wolf. You lot don’t care about enhancing your magical abilities as much as you do your shifter form or element. But it’s a skill that’s needed and should be enhanced as much as possible,” I tell him.

“So you’re saying to bring in non-wolf shifter instructors to an all wolf school?” he asks incredulously.

“You’re a lone wolf Alpha in a mixed Nexus, are you not? And your Nexus works seamlessly. Just because the primary student body is all wolves doesn’t mean your staff has to be. Sure, your training courses and shifter classes should consist of strong wolf instructors but give yourself some wiggle room.”

“How am I supposed to properly vet non-wolves if my dominance doesn’t give me the abilities it would with a wolf?”

“Well, you do have a sister that can read minds, auras, magical signatures and gifts. Plus a dragon and a hell of a lot more.”

“Shit…you think fortune teller would come help?”

“If you asked her. She won’t overstep and ask you herself unless she senses you need help,” I say.

She’d be thrilled to help him really. Her face lights up every time his name flashes across her communicator. My number one priority after this shit show and the Summum-Master is dealt with is to give them the opportunity to spend time together.

Well, after we get our time, and I can properly spoil her rotten.

“Hell yeah, I’d love her help. It’s also hilarious to see all the pups shake when she’s mentioned. Also, the irritating omega living with me would enjoy seeing her,” he says with a tinge of annoyance, and I hold in my chuckle.

Poor, poor Alpha .

“Speaking of her, I’ve arranged for Willow, her, Oakly, and my mom to have a nice brunch, then they can spend the day together getting ready for the Spring ball. We all, including my dads, will seclude ourselves to the east or west wing of the palace and let them have the central wing for themselves.”

“Come again?” he asks.

“I’m trying to arrange a girls’ day for the ball. The south wing is off-limits. I don’t want the entire royal court in our living space. Caspian would probably kill someone.”

“The royal court? Why would we need to participate with the royal court?”

Oh Elementra, he doesn’t get it at all.

He’s just as bad as Oakly.

“You are royal court, Lyker. You’re not just Alpha of the Terravile Pack. You’re the brother of the Awaiting Matriarch and brethren to the Heirs of Elementra. I guess technically you don’t have to get ready with us if you want to be a dick and hurt your sister’s feelings, but regardless, you have to be presented with us. Just like Oakly’s Nexus, Gaster, and Keeper. It’s tradition.”

There’s a heavy pause on the other side of the line and I smile. I honestly wish I could see his face right now. I’m sure it’s a mixture of shock and disgust. It was comical enough when we told him he had to enter the Alpha trials and he didn’t want to. There’s no doubt he’s about to keel over from being told he’s also now a member of the royal court.

It’s simply a title. There’re no responsibilities per se along with it. It’s a recognition of having a relationship with the Ruling Nexus.

Usually, the five families would be presented along with the royal court, but we aren’t doing that this year. We’re only presenting our family.

One trustworthy united front.

Typically, my brothers and I show up right before it starts, stay around long enough to be announced, then we leave. We speak to no one but our parents and that’s it. It’s almost untrue to even say we’ve attended. It’s more like we made an appearance just to show everyone we’re still alive .

This year, we’ll be presented with our Primary, our whole family, then stay the entire night while we make our presence very known.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s…she’s not the Awaiting Matriarch. She’s just my little sister.”

The emotion behind his disbelieving whisper causes my smile to slip into a smaller one. His tone tells me he knows that she is, he just hasn’t recognized or thought about it. It’s easy to forget what her future truly holds because of all the shit going on.

At the end of the day, though, it doesn’t change who and what we all will become one day.

“I know she is,” I agree softly, “but she’s also going to be the ruler of this realm someday. She’ll be the best ruler this realm’s ever seen. It would mean a lot to us for you to be there, standing at our side. You’re our brother as well. In all things but blood.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “Of course I’ll be there. Well, as long as you can promise Draken isn’t going to say some weird shit,” he teases.

“I could never and will never promise that. Elementra herself I’m sure doesn’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth next.” We both let out laughs and I look down at my timekeeper going off. “Now that that’s settled, we’ll see you here then. Send a notice to Pyrathia about an enchantment instructor. Start small there. Now that we know the portal to Mystara Hollow was for sure there, it makes sense why a large colony of casters settled there.”

“Smart. I’ll do that. Thanks, Corentin.”

“Anytime.”

Ending the call, I stretch my arms over my head, then call all the light in my office to me. As much as I love being Headmaster—sometimes—fuck, I miss my princess not being here at the academy with me. With everything going on, our surprise visits to see one another are far and few between unless something big happens.

I’m openly jealous of the easy access Cas has to her all day.

He knows it too .

Transporting to the training fields, I pop in right behind where Tillman, Draken, Ry, Nikoli, and Jamie are waiting. Impatiently. The foot tapping, pause, then pacing from Draken makes it obvious.

“What took you so long? My little wanderer is gonna think something is wrong,” he says, placing his hands on his hips and staring me down.

“She isn’t going to think anything is wrong, Draken. When she gets worried, she’ll let us know.”

“Don’t tell me he’s right. I know he is. I just miss her, that’s all,” he growls at V, who’s perched on his shoulder comfortably.

V has been an interesting development in both Draken’s and Willow’s lives. I guess the rest of ours as well. Between Vince and V, my youngest brother is really shaping and coming into his own.

I don’t like this dramatic change.

The flurry of head bobs, muted grunts, and hoots coming from both Draken and V stops. When Draken’s eyebrows lower and he shoots me a mocking smirk, I know the bird just told him my thoughts.

“Don’t—”

“Tell me you love me,” he demands, cutting me off.

“I’m not doing this with you, Draken,” I groan.

“Come on, I just want to hear it once. Tell me how much you love me.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and cut my eyes to Tillman’s ridiculous snickering. I almost wish he’d leave on a mission, then see how Draken reacts when he gets back.

Purring starts up in the dragon’s chest and that makes me cave instantly. No way will I allow him to sit here and purr at me in front of people.

“Fine. I love you very much. Now stop that,” I bark as everyone laughs.

“I knew it. Whew, that gave me the warm and fuzzies,” he cheers, faking a shiver.

At least I hope he’s faking.

“On me.” Tillman laughs, and I have half a mind to shrug his hand off my shoulder, but my need to see Willow outweighs my annoyance.

The five of us pop out of the transport in front of the double doors to my parents’ gym and my shoulders sag. The tension in my body flees me the second I hear her laughter coming from the other side .

I pull them wide but then freeze as soon as I take a step in. The bright smile I was wearing slowly slips away and turns into a narrowed glare.

Willow and Oakly are in the middle of the gym floor in long, flowy dresses and doing what looks to be practice curtsies. My eyes find my mom, who is also not in workout clothes, but rather a dress. My stomach sinks with the realization of what she meant by switching up training.

“Nope, not doing this,” I declare and attempt to turn around and walk out, but my ankles are trapped in shadows. “Caspian.”

“I don’t think so, big brother. If I have to do this shit, so do you.”

“Oh, come on, you two. This isn’t shit. This is just like old times,” Mom says happily and I cross my arms over my chest.

“You lied to me, and I don’t appreciate that. You know how much I dislike this.”

“A lie by omission, I will admit, but you and Caspian wouldn’t have come, and I wanted to surprise the girls.”

Speaking of the girls, I turn my head to Willow again and find her already looking at me. Her soft gaze and sweet smile force the breath from my lungs. I cross the room to her in just a few strides and pull her in close to me.

“Did you know about this or were you surprised?” I ask as I brush my lips against hers.

“I’m still not one hundred percent sure what’s going on, although I have a good guess. We came in workout gear and Aurora told us to change into dresses. That our training today was Spring Ball training.”

“Spring ball training. Of course that’s what she said. It’s code for we’re going to spend the next hour dancing and practicing our manners.”

“Really?”

The excitement in her tone seals the deal for me. As much as I loathe this with every fiber of my being. We’re about to spend our afternoon…dancing.

“Yes,” I say, attempting to fake my own excitement.

She sees right through me, though, and giggles as Draken spins her out of my arms. My mother claps her hands excitedly and orders my fathers to get the music ready .

After my brothers shower Willow in kisses, I tug her back to my side as my mom calls for our attention.

“You kids have no idea how happy this makes me. We haven’t done this in years,” she says, shooting my brothers and me a soft smile that hushes our grumbling. “It’ll be even better now that I have two daughters, extra sons, and I get to teach Willow fresh.”

“The Primary knows how to dance, Mom,” Cas says, earning an elbow from Willow, and we all whip our heads to her.

“What? You do? How…oh.” Mom’s realization hits me square in the chest.

Uncle Orien.

It makes total sense.

He loved to dance.

Cas, Tillman, and I would sit on the couches in the central foyer while my dads and uncles played music. We’d watch, laugh, and tease like rotten kids about how Uncle Orien would spin my mom and Aunt Tilly around until their legs gave out.

Even Draken got to see a piece of it. Well, at least with my mom and Uncle Orien.

I want to kick myself for how when we got older, I’d roll my eyes and we’d run off to find something else to do. Or we’d go to the east wing because it wasn’t “cool” to hang out with our parents.

I wish I knew then that those were the moments he cherished so much. It was a small piece of fun and enjoyment that he got to experience.

I wish I hadn’t taken those moments for granted.

Beside me, Willow squeezes my side tight, and I lean down to kiss her on top of her head. My silent way of thanking her for her silent support.

“I’m rusty. I can promise you. I haven’t danced in years. So I need a good refresher,” she says with a bright smile, cheering my mom back up instantly.

“As do the boys.”

“Especially Corentin.” Draken snickers and I glare at him.

“Why especially you?” Willow asks, but I clear my throat and pretend I didn’t hear her .

“He can’t dance,” Caspian supplies unhelpfully.

“Neither can you. You’ve never participated in these practices a day in your life,” I snap back, covering the sound of Willow’s surprised gasp.

“Psst okay. Start the music, Dad,” he orders, to which Mom squeals and Theo sends out a current of air that turns the churner on the music player. “May I have the honors, Primary?”

My princess’s face flushes scarlet and although Cas is making a point to show me up right now, I still smile down at her. The nervous but thrilled beat of her bond sings through my chest.

“Take it slow, yeah? I really am rusty,” she whispers as she places her hand in his.

“I’ve got you, sweet Willow.” He smiles, wrapping his shadows around her and pulling her into the middle of the floor.

That little lying, observant shit.

Tillman earns himself an elbow from me as he snorts, but I can’t take my eyes off the makeshift dance floor. I’m witnessing something I’ve never seen in my life.

I watch as the deadliest—most stubborn, refused to ever dance a day in his life when Mom would make us—man I’ve ever known, twirl around with grace.

Willow’s first few steps are stiff and uncoordinated, much like my own will be, but Cas leans in close, whispers something to her, and her body melts into his.

My heart pounds at the sight of the two of them.

The soft, yet emotional sound of the instrumental music becomes mere background noise in my ears. My gaze tracks the two of them as they float around the floor like they’ve done this a million times together.

The smile on my brother’s face continues to grow as he makes her giggle and blush with each spin or step. Their bodies mold and flow together like a river moving over rocks.

He’s never looked happier.

Tillman nudges me softly, pulling me out of my mesmerized stare. The sound of the music comes back to me, and I hear why he was gaining my attention .

I quietly clear my throat and shake my hands out discreetly as he, Draken, and I step up to the two of them. As we circle them, it’s only then I notice that my parents’ Nexus plus Oakly’s have joined them on the dance floor.

Cas slowly pulls away from Willow with a soft kiss to the corner of her lip and joins us in our circle. We each lay a hand on her while she stands still in the middle. As we begin to rotate around her, closing in, I follow the rise and fall of her chest. Her pupils dilate, and the emotions coursing through her bond pierce my heart.

She knows the significance of this dance is different now than when she was taught it.

At the last beat in the transition of the music, Draken’s the one in front of her. He moves in on her with a gentle purr and the three of us step away from them.

The Blessing.

That’s the name of this ancient and treasured dance.

The original creation was with the intention and representation of every member of the Nexus having an equal opportunity with their Primary. A balance between everyone.

Of course that still is the main purpose of it, but just as times change, the meaning behind the moves do as well.

After the decline of true Primaries, this dance was used as a way for Nexuses to meet their potential match. They figured pairing touch and the emotions in the music, if there were to be a true connection, it would awaken in that moment.

The symphony playing is made up of four main verses. Between those is a transition, which is a slowed down beat that builds momentum as it nears the next change.

Each verse represents a Nexus member. In the slow downs, the men, like we just did, circle the Primary. The one who is in front of her when the beat picks back up is the next to dance.

The music may lack words, yet the message that comes across it is clear. It evokes intense emotions in you.

At least it’s supposed to. It never did for me .

Until this moment.

I’ve heard and watched this dance countless times. Yet something about witnessing my brothers dance with our Primary, changes everything about it. The tempo is changing to match the man spinning our blessing.

Just a minute ago, the sound was darker and deeper with a sense of unyielding connection in the air as Cas choreographed every step.

Now it’s livelier.

My heart nearly pounds out of my chest as I watch Draken twirl Willow.

Gone is his loud, over-the-top laugh or unquenchable, carefree attitude. Right now, in this moment, he just smiles softly down at her. He doesn’t utter a word, crack a joke, or do anything that will break their spell.

However, the atmosphere is filled with a dominance that demands your attention and sets you free at the same time.

I’m just as entranced as I was watching Cas dance with Willow, but this time, I’m ready for the music change and need no signal from Tillman.

When we all step up to her again, she releases a heavy exhale the second our hands are on her. The air she blows out fills my lungs and I savor the way it makes my element and gift glow.

Her eyes drift shut as the tempo picks up and Tillman wraps his hand around the back of her neck. Our hands only linger a second longer, sucking up the love that’s pouring through her skin right now.

It’s addicting, pure, and calls to us. It’s hard to pull away from it.

Cas, Draken, and I do finally step away to give them space and once again, I fall into their orbit.

You wouldn’t think with how large of a man Tillman is and how small Willow is compared to him, they’d be able to move so well together. But in fact, they may be the most gracefully paired so far.

They move as one.

No command, no order, nothing needs to be said.

If the dance floor were a battlefield, the two of them would end any who got in their way. There’s no force around us as strong as the two of them together right now .

That’s exactly what their music sounds like. The war drums that beat at the beginning and end of victory.

Each pound of the beat is mimicked against my ribs. My heart, my breathing, the flow of the air around me sync with their steps and the song intensifies it all tenfold.

As the symphony slows, for the last time, my steps are measured as I approach her.

Since I’m the last of the Nexus members to go, I don’t circle her. I stand in front of her as her other men run their hands over her body and whisper sweet nothings.

I can’t hear them.

All I hear is the erratic beat of her heart.

I’m not even sure if I truly can hear it, or if I just feel its thud through my palm where I’ve laid my hand across her heart.

As our verse begins, I run my fingers down her arm until I reach her wrist. My thumb runs slow circles across her pulse as I lift it toward my lips. I kiss the pounding beneath her skin that matches my own, then lay her hand against my neck.

Her delicate touch instantly soothes the wild thrumming, and I glide us across the floor. A soft sigh falls from her as I press a kiss on her forehead.

“Your highness.”

“Princess.”

“I don’t understand what you were so worried about,” she says softly and a small smile breaks out across my face.

“The dance isn’t over yet.”

“No, it’s not, but you had me believing you’d be stepping on my toes and tripping us up,” she teases and we both chuckle quietly.

“Well, any other attempt at this, that’s exactly what would be happening. This time is different, though.”

“How?” She cocks her head to the side as though she’s confused. And she very well may be.

Having to juggle four men with four very diverse intensities and feelings through this dance, she may not notice how truly different it is for us .

“I’ve never had the right partner. As a matter of fact, I’ve only ever tried this dance with Mom or one of my dads would play the role of the Primary. I was never going to get this right without you.”

“I don’t think that’s—”

“It is true. I see it very clearly now. I saw it watching my brothers as well. Sure, they knew the steps, they’ve practiced and done this before, but none of us have ever experienced this connection before. You were the only partner that was ever going to give us this experience. Until this moment with you, the music has always just been noise. Now it’s so much more.

“It’s the beat of your heart. The soothing sound of your soul singing to ours. The roar of your dragon meeting Draken’s. The thoughts spoken clearly between you and Tillman. Cas’s and your shadows covering us all in protection. Our light shining bright over our future. I don’t only see it now. I hear it all. This isn’t just a dance but a reminder of how perfect we were all made for one another. How perfect you are for us. You balance and complete us so truly. You are our greatest blessing, Willow Vito.”

“Core…” she breathes.

“Dance with me, princess,” I command softly.

That’s my last shred of control as I allow what I’ve always called this dreaded song to take me away.

It’s no longer dreadful. The melody is soft and sweet like a lullaby that would lull you to sleep. A hum you’d sing to find a semblance of peace.

I sweep my princess off her feet as we glide across the floor like we’re dancing in the breeze.

In this moment, I feel free.

I never want to lose this. Lose her.

She is my freedom. My forever. My beyond.