Page 20 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Fifteen

Draken

“Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course I am, kitty cat.”

I’m not. Not at all.

I couldn’t tell you anything Vince has said to me in the last five minutes since we sent Layton and Carrington back home after their lessons.

The boys were excited about getting the next few days off from lessons since they can’t attend the Spring Ball. Then they started picking on the two of us about what we were going to wear. Their laughs continued on as they walked away from us, but my mind went to what my little wanderer is going to wear.

Then it went to yesterday’s mating ceremony with the guys.

She looks so fucking good with our marks on her. She’s wearing them with pride today. Well, you can’t see mine and Tillman’s. Or Corentin’s depending on the shirt she’s wearing. But she walked around her bedroom in just her bra and pants for longer than she normally would.

I took that as her showing them off.

I really want to lick each one of them.

I wonder what that would feel like to the guys? Probably weird.

I might try it .

Now that’s all I’m thinking about.

I really wanna brag about it to Vince. Him being a shifter and all scholarly, he’ll be super curious to get the scoop on how non-shifters manage to mark a mate.

The thought of him knowing also makes me want to rip his head off. He may ask too many questions about Willow, then I’d be forced to eat my good friend.

“Why the hell are you growling at me?” he asks with a punch to my shoulder that seems to bring me back to reality.

I smile big as I clap him on the back. “Sorry. I was creating a fake scenario in my mind that made me want to eat you. My bad.”

His eyes fill with confused horror. “What the fuck, Draken?”

My face falls slightly at his shell-shocked look and quiet tone. I obviously just made it clear I wasn’t going to do that, so I don’t know why he looks so offended.

“I just said it was fake. I’d never do that to you, lion man.”

He runs his hand down his face, sighing something that’s a mixture of a rumble and prayer for patience, then he puts his hands on his hips. So I mimic him.

“Did you hear any of the lesson plans I was telling you about for when classes resume after the ball?” he asks.

“No, not exactly. But”—I hold my finger up to hold his rant off when he throws his hands in the air—“based on their evaluations today, I can see where we’re headed. Layton’s ability to hold his shifted form has doubled in time since he first got here. So now we’ll move on to him being able to hold and camouflage at the same time against different environments. He’s actually pretty graceful with his water element. That’ll continue to come to him.

“Carrington has gained control of his strength. He knows how to manage it now, but I don’t think that little earthy rumble today was a slip of his control or the boulder hitting the ground too hard.”

“What do you think happened? He was disappointed in himself and seemed pretty convinced he did put too much pressure behind the boulder. ”

“Nah. If he had put too much pressure on it, it would’ve sunk beneath the surface. Not sit on top the way it did. No. Our resident giant has an earth element that’s emerging.”

“What?” Vince laughs as though I’m being silly.

I’m not. I know this. I could…feel it. Well, my dragon could.

I tell Vince this and once again he looks shocked and confused.

“How do you just know this?”

“Because he is the King of Creatures. It is built into his instincts to be able to detect natural movements or externally caused ones. A protective mechanism his dragon has that will warn him against different threats. The little giant boy used the earth’s natural resources today to make the ground shake. Unknowingly, of course. He subconsciously was attempting to protect the ground from the boulder he was preparing to drop,” V answers before I can try to explain that much simpler as he flies over and perches on my shoulder.

“What V said.”

“And how do you just know that, V?” Vince asks.

“This is not the first time I’ve witnessed a non-Elementrian gain blessings. It’s quite the evolution. You should go and warn the boy of his newest ability before something happens and it scares him. I need a moment with Draken before his father comes to meet him,” V says, basically dismissing Vince, and I chuckle at the scoff that comes out of him.

“Fine, but we need to nail these lesson plans down. Especially if what the two of you are saying is true. Neither of us has an earth element, so this will be interesting.”

“Neither of us has a water element, but we’re doing fine with Layton. We’ve got plenty of time, kitty cat. Go home and chill. Tomorrow, we party, then worry about the rest,” I cheer, pulling him in for a hug that he hisses about.

“The lion’s heart is strong. You give him purpose,” V says softly once Vince takes a few steps from us, then shifts into his massive beast.

“He’s been here for me since day one. So what did you want to talk about, ol’ wise one?”

“You finally told Willow the truth. ”

I clutch my chest, gasping in faux outrage. “How do you know that? You weren’t being some creepy stalker, were you?”

He hoots loudly, then plucks me painfully on my shoulder. “Vile lizard. Your connections have grown stronger and mine is growing weaker.”

I instantly stop rubbing my shoulder and look at him seriously. “What do you mean weaker? I don’t feel any different.”

“You wouldn’t notice this.”

“So what is this? Your premature goodbye?”

“No. Not yet.”

An unhappy rumble falls from my chest at that. To say I’m not excited about his inevitable departure from our lives is an understatement. I’ve claimed him, my beast has claimed him, Willow has. Hell, I think even Cas has grown to really like him.

The things he’s taught me in secret or whispered in my mind randomly have changed my whole life, it feels like. There’s so much he’s told me I can’t tell anyone else. Not yet at least. Something deep within me knows that to share what he’s told me could cause him harm. I refuse to be the cause of that.

He hasn’t shared as much about himself as I’d like, but again, whatever this is growing within me—this strange and strong primal connection from me to other creatures—knows…V is alone in this realm. Well, he is across all realms.

It’s what makes me feel so close to him.

I know what it feels like to be alone. Even though I have Willow now, I will never forget how it felt to be the only one of my kind.

“I have told you before you are still the only one of your kind. That is why you are the King of Creatures. It has been recognized and that is why your primal connection is coming through so strongly alongside your communal knowledge.”

“And I’ve told you, until you tell me why it is you claim Willow is not the same as me, then I am not the only one of my kind. Also, if that’s really the case, then why aren’t you the King of Creatures?” I ask the burning question. Since he wanted to call me out on only some of my thoughts.

“Because I am not. ”

The tinge of sadness in his tone forces me to shut my mouth and I immediately feel guilty for pushing. This is obviously a touchy subject.

Clearing my throat, I reach up gently and with a forced smile I run my fingers down his wing. “Okay then. Well, if our connection is growing weaker, I vote you just go ahead and tell me everything I need to know so we can enjoy our time left together.”

“There isn’t much left for me to tell you, Draken. I know it seems I’ve handed you riddles, but that’s because you only needed a nugget of information and some guidance for everything inside of you to do the rest. You only needed to meet a creature close enough to your strength to awaken your rightful claim. Whatever questions you may have, I will gladly answer for you.”

I swallow harshly as his big eyes bore into mine. I do have one and he knows it. He knows I’ve been putting it off since the day we got to this realm, and I know he won’t answer it without my asking.

I release a deep breath and he ruffles out his wings like he can’t wait to finally hear the words. “I’m different than the guys. I know this. So is that why my power boost seems…not less, that isn’t the word I’m looking for, but it happened, then it was just done. Why?”

“You’re right. You’re not like your brothers, nor can you evolve as such. You’re a being of not one but two creators. You possess primal connections, communal knowledge, and your father’s bestowing. All of which are far more valuable to you than I will ever be.”

I want to disagree with him and I open my mouth to do so, but he plucks me again, hooting.

“When you and Willow bonded and you received your Elementra-blessed power boost, that was its limit. Your actual dragon form will grow no more. What that connection between the two of you did, though, was unlock the other abilities waiting inside of you that you received from others. You must be ready to receive such things. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. You are reaching each of those points.

“You have a primal connection to both creatures and creation because you are one of a kind. The only one. Your communal knowledge comes from all ties that you’ve had through your life. A piece of them that you needed latched onto your mind in different ways. The passing of that didn’t happen when you were born like a hatchling but as you’ve grown. Your father’s bestowing…I will allow him to explain.

“It is all overwhelming, young dragon, yes, but you are growing into exactly who you were always meant to be. I was only meant to be a little wind beneath your wings to get you off the ground. The rest will be all you and it will come with time.”

“V, wait!” I shout as he flies off the second he finishes his speech.

For someone claiming he wasn’t saying goodbye yet, it sure as shit felt like it.

Running my hands through my hair, I pace in a little circle. Yes, he did just answer a really important question for me, but at the same time, I still have questions. Those answers really just created more.

Not gonna lie, I’ve been trying real hard to call on my inner Willow here lately. The way she can compartmentalize issues, solve problems as they come, and for the most part, stay patient through all the shit that hits her, is something I really strive to mimic.

Sure, she gets overwhelmed, and we step in to help her. That’s what we’re supposed to do. Balance her.

But right now, we all got shit going on and I’ve been keeping this overwhelming amount of change to myself. I don’t want to burden everyone with it. It’s not like these are bad changes.

They’re just a lot.

At least now knowing they’re supposed to be happening helps.

Sort of.

One thing at a time, dragon. One thing at a time. One thing at…

“You okay, son?”

“Oh,” I say, spinning on my heels at Keeper’s voice. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just…thinking.”

He cocks his eyebrow at me and glances down at the grass. “Doesn’t really look like thinking. Looks more like you’re ruining a path in this fine Elementrian grass here.”

I give him a little lighthearted chuckle. “I guess I was thinking a little too hard. ”

“You want to talk about it?” he asks.

“No, it’s…” I pause when I notice his eyes cloud over slightly in disappointment. “Actually, I do need to talk to you about something. That’s why I asked you to meet me here rather than fly back to the palace.”

A bright smile, one that would normally match my own, lights his face. “I’m all ears, son.”

“Well, I need you to be all eyes.” I laugh, sticking my arm out for him to grab for transport.

“Whatever you need.”

With a clipped nod, I take a deep breath and release all the other shit trying to take over my thoughts. I had already made the decision yesterday when me and Willow figured out what we did, I wasn’t going to keep this from him.

He deserves a little piece of home.

When we step out of the transport, we stand in front of my shut door at the south wing. I don’t believe he’s even been in this hall since we’ve come here. I surely haven’t offered him a tour of my room. I didn’t think it was going to make me as nervous as I feel right now.

“Uh, this is my bedroom. Uncle Oreo designed it for me,” I murmur as I lay my hand on the handle.

“Lead the way,” he says with a small, understanding smile.

A low whistle blows through his lips as we step through the threshold, and he takes in the sight of my mural painted walls.

They’re masterpieces.

Even though I don’t spend a whole lot of time here, it brings me plenty of comfort when I do. I love to gaze at the amazing times somehow captured between Willow’s and my dragon.

“How…” he trails off, pointing at the painting between my bookshelves.

“The sight is one hell of a gift.”

He hums as he approaches the wall and lightly runs his finger across the image of Tanith. The small smile dotting his face is full of love, respect, and appreciation. That sassy dragon means a lot to him .

“It seems like a gift that would come with many blessings. Yet so much heartbreak.”

“I hope and pray Elementra doesn’t curse Willow with any more heartbreak, but for Uncle Oreo, yeah, he had a pretty hard time. Although he made the best of it. He was incredibly smart. The way he had to plan out steps for hundreds of years to come…mind-blowing.”

“I’ve heard many good things about the man who wore many masks. It would’ve been nice to meet him.”

I rock back and forth on my heels. The action draws his attention to me. I take my hands out of my pockets and point toward the bookshelves. “That’s kinda why I brought you here. He left something for you, well, us.”

His eyes follow my finger curiously and when he steps toward them, I come to stand beside him.

My heart does a wild thud as I watch the multitude of emotions cross his face. First shock, then denial, and finally astonishment. My fingers twitch when he slowly lifts his to the spines and traces them. There’s hesitation in his movements like he’s afraid this is fake but also fearful this is real.

Swallowing roughly, I clear my throat. “Willow’s mom brought these back from the Keep. In one of them is a letter your parents, I guess my grandparents, wrote in response to the one that my uncle wrote to them. I’ve never read it. I haven’t even opened all these books.”

“My…he wrote a letter to them? What did it say?”

“He told them the truth of what had happened to you. I guess also told them I would come from your imprisonment. He didn’t tell them what you were forced to do, though.”

“That’s a relief. As loving and understanding as your grandparents are, my abilities have always worried them. It’s been many, many generations since someone in the Keeper line had extraordinary abilities. When mine manifested, it made them fearful. Bonding with Tanith eased their fears a little while. Then they just became protective over both of us. It took me years to convince them I was ready to travel the realms and begin my ascension to rule. I was far older than my father was when he started. I truly had to prove to them I’d be fine, and I was ready. Then this happened.”

Guilt rages in my chest. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that. I don’t want you to think I wish differently now. Before, yes. So many nights in that forest I wished I had never left my realm. Now…it’s almost painful to think about going back.”

His quiet words cause my heart to crawl up my throat. I’ve been purposely avoiding thinking about him leaving since deciding to give this relationship a shot.

Since yesterday, I’ve toyed with the idea of asking him not to go back. I’d ask my little wanderer to send someone just like Uncle Oreo did with word that he was staying here. Or she could open the portal long enough for him to go through, tell them himself, then come right back.

I know those are all selfish thoughts on my part, though. One day, he’ll have to go back. The vampires deserve to go home, and he has a whole realm waiting on him.

We’ll figure it out later.

“Would you like to look for the letter? It’s only like eight books. It shouldn’t be too hard to find.” I offer after our silence stretches.

“Best to just slice the artery, huh?”

The image makes me cringe, then smirk. “If that’s your way of saying just get it over with, then yeah.”

We both reach for a book at the same time. Him from one end, me from the other. I really was just planning on grabbing and shaking them out until the letter fell out, but he gently opens the cover.

He laughs lightly to himself as his eyes begin scanning the page, so I decide I probably shouldn’t be so impatient.

Actually, looking down at the book I grabbed, I’m pleasantly surprised when the words that are written in the language of the Keep come to me easily.

A loud laugh falls from my lips the more pages I flip and I realize I’ve picked up what obviously would be a book that teaches you the language. Cas would have a damn fit for this if he finds out I have it.

I’ll hide this one.

Make him sit through language lessons with me.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about something,” I say, and he snorts.

“What would that be?”

“You haven’t brought up me accepting your bestowing at all, but you haven’t been the least bit surprised when I’ve spoken to you in the language of the Keep. Or moved surprisingly fast, tracked your movements. Really, you haven’t pointed out any difference in me that I obviously get from you.”

He flinches and a guilty look crosses his face that has me closing my book and crossing my arms.

“I didn’t want to freak you out.”

“I’ve been freaking out silently because of all the weird shit happening to me that I don’t understand.”

His face again fills with guilt, but he nods. He quickly flips through the pages of the book in his hand, and I hold in my laugh when he dumps it over just like I’d been planning on doing.

He steps back over to the bookshelves silently and slides the book back in place before grabbing another one.

“If you’re ever up to reading, this book will have more of the ins and outs on beloveds and bestowings in the Keep.” I trade books with him and run my finger over the cover. Culture of the Keep.

“I should’ve told you what would happen. If I’m being completely honest with you, though, I didn’t think much about it. My blood sang with the instinct to pass my bestowing on and I did. To me, it was incredibly natural. Like the dragons pass their communal knowledge on to a hatchling, when a vampire baby is born, both parents will pass on what we call a Claim of Protection. Think of it as a ward around you to keep you safe as you grow up.

“Once you reach a certain age or a certain level of maturity, your parents’ Protection will fall away. At that point, a father will bestow upon a son. A mother upon a daughter. That bestowing is a piece of their power, passing to you. If you had been a vampire, it would’ve just made your abilities that much stronger. ”

“So since I’m not, they’re pretty much just coming along like new gifts?”

“That’s what I’ve observed. I believe and Tanith agreed with me, it seems your fluency in the language more than likely comes from both of us.”

That makes sense.

“When did you get your father’s bestowing?”

He snorts, looking over the books lovingly. The look soon clouds with a guilt I’m not sure I understand. “You all take on far, far more responsibilities at such young ages than we do back in the Keep. You’re twenty-eight years old. That is still a baby back in my realm. I was five hundred when my parents’ Claim of Protection fell away and my father passed me his bestowing. I then left the realm to start my travels and trials for my ascension to rule.”

Damn.

You know, I’ve never really thought about his age much. I mean, he looks maybe twenty years older than me, but when he just says it like that…

I got an ol’ granddaddy daddy.

I snort at my own joke. He narrows his eyes at me.

“Sorry.” I chuckle, then cock my head to the side as the math starts not adding up. “Wait…if you didn’t leave your realm until you were five hundred, how did you even leave? The portals were closed.”

His eyes widen. “The Adored didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Well, in all honesty, she didn’t tell me either, Tanith did, but she got the information from your beloved. Whether that was from a conversation or her feeding, I’m not sure. The day we went to check on all the realm’s portals, she could detect how long they’d been closed. She found out the Keep closed nearly right after the two of us passed through.”

“What? No, it had to have closed right up there with all the other ones. That’s what we’ve always known.”

“I’m not sure why your history was written like that, or the truth was hidden, but no, it closed one year after we came through. Followed by the nonmagical realm. ”

The guilt tinting his tone confuses me. Well, I’m kind of confused about it all now.

“Little wanderer…”

“Yeah, dragon.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about when the Essemist Keep portal closed?”

“Oh…”

A knock at my door sounds, explaining why she went silent mid-word.

“Come in,” I call.

She’s wearing a guilty look on her face too…

“Am I interrupting?”

The little tone has me pulling her into my arms and kissing her on the head. “No. Just trying to put some pieces together here.”

“I can help, if it’s wanted,” she says, but she’s not looking at me. She’s staring at Keeper.

“It’s fine, Adored.”

“It is true I found out when the portal truly closed the day of our mission. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t understand why it was almost last to close and also, I was a little overwhelmed with everything else. But I’ve pieced it together now between talking to Tanith and well, just taking everything I’ve learned and putting it together. Keeper wasn’t supposed to stay in Elementra as long as he did. He was supposed to move on from here and go to the nonmagical realm. Then the next and so on.”

I turn my head to him and the guilty look now makes more sense. “How long were you supposed to stay?”

“A few months max in each realm. I stayed here a year.”

“The portal to his realm closed three months after they arrived. Leaving his only way out being the nonmagical realm. It was already closed when he went looking for it.”

“It was the first time leaving my realm and I most certainly got caught up in the newness, the culture, the people. If you ask Tanith, she’ll tell you my parents were too lenient with the time they allowed me to be gone. Which was a year and a half. Half more than my father took. So really not a crazy extension in my opinion. But…I stayed here far longer than I should’ve. When I finally listened to Tanith’s reasoning that it was time to mo ve on, I agreed and said that I’d just spend a month in each of the other realms. It was too late.”

“So what else have you pieced together, little wanderer?”

“Keeper had a choice to make,” she says quietly, looking at him. “Follow the rules set forth by his parents, or don’t and face the consequences set forth by Elementra. His arrival, the timing of the portals closing, none of that was coincidental. Just the aftermath that happened was based on his choices.”

My jaw drops as my gaze bounces between the two of them. She looks at him like she’s hurt on his behalf. His face is contorted into multiple different emotions that I don’t think he’s going to work through while she’s in here.

I lay my lips to her temple softly. “Thank you for explaining.”

“Are you upset with me? I really didn’t mean to keep this from you. We’ve just been…”

“Really fucking busy with a bunch of other shit and thinking about when portals closed is the last thing we have time to concern ourselves with.”

“It’s still important. I was working through the pieces, and I should’ve brought it up before now.”

“No, you shouldn’t have. This was perfect timing.”

With another kiss, this one plastered to her lips, she murmurs a bye to Keeper and leaves us be. His eyes trail over the books still waiting for us on the shelves and I swear I can feel the torn emotions rolling off him.

I honestly have no clue how I’d feel if I were him, but I also want him to know it’s okay to feel a lot of things. In this situation, it’s not going to hurt me or make me think he doesn’t want to have shit to do with me.

I know he does. He’s proven it.

“You don’t have to feel guilty for being upset about all that’s happened. I understand some of your guilt is directed at disobeying your parents, but it’s okay to be mad about all that happened to you. You can be both happy to be here with me and pissed you got locked in a forest unjustly for five hundred years then, fell into the clutches of that fucker.

“I can’t really apologize for Elementra’s meddling with your life. I’ll just say that typically she does things with a greater reason in mind, not harsh consequences. Those usually come from the assholes we’re trying to defeat. She tries to bless us all.”

The relief that crosses his face makes the tightness in my chest lessen. “You are a blessing, son. You’re worth every minute I spent in that forest.”

I don’t have anything to say to that. It’s good to hear that he feels that way, but I hate that he even had to experience what he did just for me to come about.

Luckily, he doesn’t push or expect a response from me. He turns back to the bookshelf and pulls out another book. As he drags it off the shelf, the letter we were originally supposed to be searching for falls out.

We both stare at it.

A laugh that breaks the tension falls from his lips as he looks down at the cover. “Well, that’s quite fitting.”

He turns it to me and I can’t help but laugh and shake my head.

Cute, Uncle Oreo.

The Keeper Line.

I chuckle to myself as I think about the first time I walked into my new room. I did in fact hold this book that day. Granted, I wasn’t the one to pull it off the shelf, Willow was.

I guess my little letter’s appearance was just waiting on us.

I’m the one to finally break the stare-off with the paper on the ground. I hold it gently in my hand as I return the book I was holding to the shelf, then I turn to look at him.

The nerves are obvious.

I give him another minute as I run my hand across the seam in the folded paper. It’s different than our parchment here. It’s thinner, but the texture feels the same. There’s a bright cobalt drop of wax holding the folds closed. It reminds me of his blood.

I offer him a smile as I lightly tap the paper against my palm. “Would you like to read it with me or after or before? Whatever you’d like.”

He gently lays the Keeper Line book down and nods. “Together.”

I release a breath as he comes to stand next to me, and I gently tear the wax seal. The ink comes to life in a delicate cursive.

Dearest Grandson ,

That’s a title we weren’t sure we’d ever be privileged enough to say.

The gifter of our letter did inform us the time of your birth and our son’s freedom are still to come. By the time you read this, years will have passed since this day, but rest assured we will feel it in our blood once you arrive. We will celebrate as though you are among us.

I arch my brow at Keeper and he clears his throat. “All born of the Keeper line know when another comes about. Our blood sings in strength. Each of us added to the line, adds to our vitality and power. The day you were born, they probably nearly fell off their thrones when they felt your strength.”

“Why didn’t you feel it?”

“I assume the lack of well, everything in the forest or maybe one of the many enchantments the Summum-Master has placed around it. Possibly even Elementra’s interference. Surely she knows I would’ve gone crazy if I felt it and couldn’t find you. Tanith did, though. She said it was her first taste of hope and home she’d had since we were separated.”

I remember her saying she felt me…

My heart clenches that he missed that experience.

It may be a very long time before you are able to come to our realm, so we wanted to send a piece of it to you. Our language, history, culture, even our most delicious cuisine recipes. We’ve identified what used to be your father’s favorites in the book. There may be some you will find you like the most as well and the two of you can share them together one day.

The many books we’ve sent come from your father’s personal study. They’ve been passed down through our line. They’re well read and annotated, and the information inside has been loved and honored greatly. Your grandfather and your father have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It’s a strong trait that no doubt has been passed down. We greatly look forward to the conversations we will have and the stories you’ll tell. We’re confident a young vampire such as you’ll be one day will have much to teach us.

I grimace and look at Keeper in panic.

Fuck. I hate reading and I’m not a vampire.

Uncle Oreo didn’t tell them everything, I see…

He sucks in a sharp hiss, but as soon as he looks at my face, he clears his throat. “It’s going to be fine. They’ll be thrilled and very surprised.”

Great. I’m going to give the ancient vampires a heart attack.

There’s so much we want to say and could honestly go on for years writing this letter to you. It’s almost time for your beloved’s mother to depart, though.

We weren’t told all of what was planned for you, but we’ve got the sense you are destined for great things. Much like your father.

So much has changed in Essemist Keep, even in our own line, since he’s been gone.

At first, we were honestly very angry at him for not returning. Then that anger turned to worry and fear. We knew he was alive, we could feel it, but we could not understand why he didn’t return home to us.

The portal to Elementra closing didn’t concern us at first because we didn’t believe he was there.

We know the truth now. We may not fully understand it, but we know our boy was meant for more than just ruling our realm. We’ve always known he wanted more out of life than that. He took his duties seriously, more than any other, but his heart has always craved more. We just didn’t want to admit that.

We admit it now and have accepted it.

For us, please tell your father we are not angry with him. We’re eagerly awaiting his return home. There will be much to figure out when the time comes, but rest assured, we will figure it out.

You will have your father. We will have our son. Two realms will have peace with one another.

You will always have a home and a place here, our young lord. No matter who you become.

We love you very much,

Your grandparents,

Dericko and Alicen Keeper.

I reread the letter a few times. It gives me a moment to collect my thoughts while Keeper collects his emotions. The burden of him disappointing them was visible for me to see, but it’s slowly fading .

It’s strange to know that I have family out there that seems incredibly excited to know me. Their acceptance of me, even though they know truly nothing, is written clearly in their words.

It also brings me a lot of comfort knowing they know the truth and aren’t mad at him.

Unfortunately, at the same time, their words cause my heart to thud wildly.

They didn’t say anything surprising—other than the reading and vampire thing—but they’re patiently and eagerly waiting for their son to return home.

Whereas I don’t want to let him go at all.

I clear my throat and pass him the letter to hold. He sighs and closes his eyes as he folds it. “You were named after your dad.”

“I was. It was a great honor that came with a lot of pressure.”

“I can imagine…” I trail off. There’s a lot I want to say but can’t exactly find the words.

“They were right about what they said. I always have taken my duties seriously. It’s not that I didn’t want to rule because I do. I just wanted to know more than only the Keep. I felt like a piece of me was missing and I wouldn’t find it there. I was right all along.” He tilts his head back to the ceiling and blinks his eyes repeatedly. “I found what I was looking for. She may not be here with me any longer, but she left me the greatest piece of her.”

My throat tightens.

I don’t want him to leave me.

He has to, though.