Page 22 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Seventeen

Corentin

“Time to go,” Draken says, jumping up the second he hears the timekeeper go off.

“Itching that bad to see my little sister?” Lyker asks, snorting as he throws the last of his drink back.

“You bet your hairy wolfy ass I am. She’s so pumped right now. I can’t wait to see why.” He’s jittering with anticipation, and I shake my head at him.

All morning he’s been feeding off her emotions.

Nearly as soon as we left her, we all felt the jolt of her excitement. Caspian, Tillman, and I found contentment in it and let her be. Of course I’ve been checking on the bond, but I never made myself known. I just wanted to make sure she was having a good time.

Whereas Draken latched onto their bond in a death grip. Hell, a couple hours ago, we couldn’t get him to shut up or stop bouncing around. Then moments ago, he just quit.

Silence.

He sat down as though something realm-changing was happening. His announcement of time to go is the first he’s spoken since then .

Watching her day basically through him has honestly been hilarious and one of the most entertaining days I’ve had in a very long time. It made for an exciting morning for us—he kept us all dying laughing—but I’m thrilled to know she had an amazing girls’ day too.

I’m curious now to see what it was that calmed then enthralled her so much so quickly.

I also can’t wait to see what she’s wearing.

I need to see my handprint on her heart.

Anytime her hand grazes her mark, alerting my own, I have to hold myself up. The feeling is still new and it damn near brings me to my knees every time. I’ve repeatedly had to remind myself I can’t run my fingers across it all the time like I do my ring. It’s more difficult for me to keep my hands off it than it should be.

“Let’s go so we can beat them to the foyer,” I say and the damn dragon sprints to the door, leaving us all behind laughing.

Cas chuckles while muttering ‘idiot,’ then he casts out a huge cloud of shadows. Draken doesn’t have time to stop for them. The moment he runs into it, Cas snatches them back.

“Shit.” Draken laughs as he stumbles out of the darkness. “That was so fucking weird moving without you.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have left me behind then,” Cas says right before he cloaks the four of us and moves us to the central foyer.

The other three Nexuses, Keeper, and Gaster didn’t hang around for our horseplaying and are already standing here, staring around at the transformation that’s been made.

The foyer has been cleared of all my parents’ furniture and the grand spring decorations are everywhere. The wall that would normally separate this room and the one used for parties has been removed. It nearly triples the space in here and expands out toward the gardens. There’ll be plenty of room for an overwhelming number of people.

Unfortunately.

“Any minute, boys. This is always my favorite part,” my dad, Dyce, says as he rubs his hands together.

All four of them stand tall together. Their eyes on the hallway our Primaries are going to walk out of. Their smiles are large, loving. Each feature is etched with a devotion that makes my fidgeting fingers freeze.

We’ve stood beside them like this before waiting for Mom, but this is the first time in my life I see through the same lens they have on. That reality seems to hit me like an earthquake.

“Yeah,” Tillman says softly, squeezing my shoulder as he steps to one side of me, Cas and Draken on the other.

I swallow roughly when the sound of Mom’s door shutting echoes down toward us. The first giggles float through the air with it and I pinpoint the sound of Willow’s out of the group like it’s nothing.

The small sound causes my heart to halt.

The seconds morph into hours.

The pattering of feet and laughing grows closer.

The air stalls in my lungs.

Then silence.

Everything ceases to exist the moment my whiskey eyes fall on her. Everyone other than the men my soul connects with fades from the room.

The mirth falling from her lips stops, but the smile she wears lights the room brighter than my gift ever could. Her shine doesn’t dim, but her face does transform as she starts her appraisal of the four of us.

The longer her gaze lingers, the more her lips part. Each quick breath falling from her chest steals what little air I’m able to intake. The silver tie around my neck that matches her eyes, her dress, the crown on her head pulls tighter. Suffocating me.

None of us can move.

We’re trapped in a stasis of staring at each other like this is the first time we’ve ever laid our eyes on one another.

“Fuck, she’s breathtaking,” Tillman whispers.

“She’s the light,” Cas declares.

“She’s truly a fucking goddess amongst us men,” Draken purrs.

My feet are moving before my mind even pushes out the words.

I need her. I need her touch.

“She’s more than that. She’s where it begins and ends. She’s life. ”

The second she’s within reach, I cup her cheeks and pull her face to mine. Her lips breathe air back into my desperate lungs and my soul bursts to life.

I try to speak a million words with my kiss. It’s slow, powerful, and all-consuming. I give every piece of myself over to her. It’s all hers.

My Primary.

My princess.

My queen.

My entire reason for living.

“Willow,” I breathe. Not trusting the words to actually leave my mouth.

“Core.”

“I don’t have the words to express what I’m feeling right now, princess.”

“I don’t need words. I feel it. I can’t breathe,” she says. A little winded.

I lay my hand to her heart and a shuddering breath falls from both of us. My air slowly leaks from me into her and our chests expand together.

“Better?”

“Much.” She smiles up at me, then her jaw falls open once again when my brothers close in around us.

“You were supposed to get her, then escort her to us. Not hog her,” Caspian says.

His eyes take in every inch of her. Starting from the bottom to the top.

He raises his hand slowly to caress her crown, then drags his fingers down her cheek until he cups her jaw.

“Devastating, little Primary. There will be many dead at my feet tonight because of you.”

“That shouldn’t sound so tempting.”

He chuckles darkly before devouring her lips. She sways the second he pulls away, but Tillman’s behind her. Waiting and ready. He tilts her head back to look at him and smiles down.

The two of them keep their conversation private and Draken, Cas, and I share a smirk with each other. We already know the biggest of our bunch has the most romantic side. He’ll have her a puddle on the floor with his words .

Or he’s being completely filthy with his compliments.

One or the other.

Judging by the sweet and soft kisses he lays to her lips, he went with sweet nothings. That’s not what she’ll get from the dragon, though. He’s practically ready to rip out of his skin.

He doesn’t bother to say anything. Instead, he grabs the back of her neck and kisses her like a man crazed. Purrs fall from both of them and thankfully Cas’s shadows conceal us so no one hears the small little moans falling from her mouth.

“Fuck, little wanderer. My dragon wants me to throw you over my shoulder and hide you away. You look good enough to eat.”

“Later,” she breathes.

Quite seriously and we all crowd in closer.

“You ready, princess?” I ask as her eyes begin to lose their lustful cloud.

“Yeah, I’m ready. I didn’t put all this work in for nothing.” She smirks, running her hands down her gorgeous dress.

“Don’t grow too attached to that,” Cas murmurs, causing another jolt of desire to zap through her, and we chuckle.

“Get me out of the Vito men cocoon before we miss the ball.”

The four of us grin down at her flustered state, but I nod at Cas, telling him to drop the shadows. She isn’t the only one feeling that, though, I can assure you.

“Shit,” she says when the sight of what was the foyer comes into view. Her eyes eat up all the changes and her eagerness runs through my chest.

We’ve all known that she was looking forward to this night. Even with everything that’s been going on, she wanted to experience this with us. Despite all our distaste for these events, I’m determined to make sure she has a wonderful time.

“Come on, princess. Let’s join the others so we can get out of everyone’s way. They’ve got to finish up.”

“They aren’t finished? This is amazing.”

“No, they still have some finishing touches, then they’ll start letting people in. They’re probably already starting to arrive. ”

The foyer’s already empty of our family. Apparently, we were taking too long or they all figured they’d give us some space. Either way, I appreciate it because I’m selfishly eating up how Willow’s reacting to everything with such wonder.

I’ll never grow tired of being able to stand at her side as she experiences things for the first time.

With my hand on her lower back, I guide her toward the grand staircase and we both get our first good look at it.

My parents always keep it pristine and nice, but today it’s a little more, of course. There’s a gold runner coming down the middle of the stairs and the railing has matching fabric interwoven around it. On each step, at the ends, a candle within a globe around it casts a glow across the space that makes it look like we’re walking on stars.

The landing at the top has been extended in order to accommodate the entirety of our family. To the left, hanging from the banister, are the more elegant, royal flags that represent air and earth. To the right, water and fire. Dead center, hanging from the ceiling, is the flag that represents a Primary.

Again, I get a sense of seeing it for the first time in my life.

Its appearance is different. The structure of it makes more sense.

The symbols of the elements are all placed in a position that if you took a pen and connected them, they’d form the mark of the Nexus. The swirl in the middle of them is the Primary bringing us all together as one.

It still feels like more, though. Like this particular flag is for my Primary. How she legitimately brings not only us but all four elements together.

As we reach the landing, I find myself experiencing another first. I’m not dreading standing at the top of these stairs with all eyes on my brothers and I like I normally would.

Being announced was always my least favorite part. Granted, we never stayed for the after, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I’m finding myself both anxious and ready.

Tonight, the people will see the Vito heirs for the first time as completed men. A completed Nexus. Everyone will witness the woman who means more to me than this realm that they live in.

“So about how long now?” Willow asks, pulling me out of my mind .

“Thirty minutes, give or take. We’ll go into the dining room up here, Mom will more than likely make a toast for us, say something emotional, then we’ll hang out until the palace Master of Events comes for us.”

“At first, I thought it was really funny there was a whole-ass role for that, like on a Master level. Seeing everything now, though, I get it. This is a lot of work,” she says, shaking her head as we make our way down the hall.

“It is, but it’s typically in their personality to enjoy stuff like this. Mom doesn’t enjoy putting parties together. I don’t believe you will either. And honestly, he’ll like that. Give him the reins to do as he pleases, and he’ll have it all taken care of.”

“Yep, I’ll greatly appreciate that.”

I will as well. Maybe…

Laughter and conversations drift the short distance down the hallway toward us and Willow’s bond glows. The second we step through the open double doors, all heads turn toward us.

“Well, that was quick,” Oakly cheers, winking.

Multiple groans sound from all the men while the four Primaries laugh like she just told the realm’s funniest joke.

“Elementra, I have the filthiest-minded granddaughters in the realm,” Gaster says as he hustles over to us. His eyes betray the teasing in his tone as they land softly on Willow. “Let me get a look at you, child.”

“Is it too much?” she asks, doing a slow spin.

“Nothing is too much. If anyone says otherwise, they are simply not enough.”

She smiles brightly at him as she holds his hands out and takes in his outfit. Unlike us, he isn’t in a suit, but he’s still arranged his outfit to color coordinate with hers.

Instead of his typical beige cloak, the one he wears now is purple on the outside, silver on the inside. His attire underneath is all black.

Matter of fact, now that I’ve seen them, he matches both Willow and Oakly perfectly .

Her Nexus is in all black. They look like elegantly dressed E.F. uniforms. Whereas we’re wearing black suits, with a purple waistcoat that has silver filigree designs, and a silver tie.

Somehow, Tillman and Willow damn near matched our embroidery perfectly. I even asked him if the two of them coordinated and he told me only colors.

Peeking out the corner of my eye, there’s red creeping up the side of his neck.

“Nosy ass,” I mumble.

“I took a look weeks ago. I didn’t know if she had changed her mind or not, so I just decided to go with it.”

Running my hand across my mouth to hide my smirk, he scowls at me and I have to choke my laugh down. I really shouldn’t be surprised he did this. I think he wanted to make her dress anyways but knew how excited she was to make hers and Oakly’s.

“Next year, big guy,” I say, patting him on the back, to which he twitches me off.

“Look at you, little dragon,” Lyker says as he pulls Willow into a hug.

“And you. Red is really your color,” she says slyly, and it goes right over her brother’s head.

“I am liking the red-and-black combo, thank you very much.”

I shake my head.

For one of the smartest, most strategic men I’ve met in my life, he’s a fool.

Willow subtly reaches back and pops my thigh while he continues talking. I wait until she goes to open her mouth again before I tap her on the ass.

“Ah,” she cries, whipping around to look at the daring smirk on my face.

“Come on, kids, gather around,” my mom calls and I wink at the mischievousness in Willow’s glare.

Leading her over to the table, I grab a flute and pass it to her, then my brothers, and one for myself. I roll my eyes at my mom’s little dreamy sigh when Willow tucks herself into my side and I clear my throat to get her to carry on.

“Typically, every year, it’s only ever my Nexus and the boys in here waiting. This ball was the only one I asked them to attend after their gifts emerged and even then, they left after being presented. It’s been a decision I’ve stood by. Keeping them safe has always been my priority and recent discoveries solidify my decisions for myself. If I’m being honest with all of you now, though, part of me wants to tell you all to leave after we’re announced. That’s the motherly love and protectiveness speaking, though.” She sighs, looking down at her drink before raising her head and scanning all of us.

“This year is so different, in so many ways. Each year, our royal court, the council, waited on the landing for their announcement. This year, they won’t be recognized at all. It’s a statement that will be noticed tonight. The people will see the Ruling Nexus emerging for the first time in my rule with a true court. Full of family. They’ll see and get to speak to the heirs who are now a completed Nexus. They will meet the Awaiting Matriarch. The first Awaiting Matriarch we’ve had come into the Vito line rather than be born from it in over two thousand years. If that doesn’t scream change is coming, I’m not sure how else to tell them.

“It’s a change I am so ready for. I’ve worked hard over the years to undo the damage my mother did to the people of this realm. With my daughter now here, I will work harder at getting this realm ready for her. I refuse to pass over a mess to you, my girl.” She trails off when she looks at Willow. Her emotions rise like the waves to the surface and my dads move in closer.

“No, nope. I’m not going to cry, so I’m going to wrap this up. If you will, please raise your glasses,” she says, raising her flute, and we all follow suit. “I’m so incredibly proud, honored, and thankful for how large my family has grown. Each of you holds a special place in my heart, so take care of one another tonight. Watch each other’s back. We all know what we must be on the lookout for as well as what we need to do. But also, have fun. These past few months have been trying for each of you and the times to come will still be hard, but for tonight, embrace the love you have among each other. Elementra, bless us all tonight. ”

She presses her glass to her lips, tilts her head back, and we all do the same. The sweet bubbly drink makes me cringe on the inside, but four happy hums sound from the ladies, so I keep my grimace internal.

“Ugh, I obviously should’ve drunk that before talking. All you kids have me so sensitive tonight,” Mom says, blaming us for her feeling overwhelmed with love.

“They’re grown adults, Rory. It’s not them making you emotional,” my dad, Roye, comments sarcastically and Mom shoots him a look for calling her out.

“I need like ten more of those before we walk out. I can’t believe you all are making me go first.” Oakly huffs.

“We’ve switched enough things up tonight. We’re sticking with tradition on the way we walk out at least.” Mom laughs as Oakly groans.

The entire room falls into easy conversation and I grunt a thanks when Cas passes me a glass of whiskey. He and Draken, unlike Tillman and me, did not hide their disgust at the drink that was obviously made to cater to the girls.

As the smooth drink slides down my throat, I can’t help but think about Oakly’s teasing comment.

It honestly puts everything more into perspective for me.

This room is really full of the people we’ll be spending the rest of our lives with.

Oakly and her Nexus will be announced first. She’s the right hand to Willow and will be recognized as first advisor. Not only that, but Ry and the guys, once they finish with the E.F., will always serve as our advisors and confidants.

Aria will be announced second as Willow’s next advisor, but the same will go for Lyker and his brothers. He will be addressed by his title but also as the Awaiting Matriarch’s brother. By default, he will fall as her advisor, but we know he’ll serve beside us just as much.

Gaster and Keeper will go next.

Gaster is already in the position of Master Archivist, which is a title he will keep, but today, he’ll stand beside Keeper as Willow’s parental figures .

I thought the ancient vampire was going to faint when she asked him to stand with Gaster.

We all thought it would be safer not to announce him as heir to Essemist Keep or Draken’s father. Willow wouldn’t hear anything about him not being involved, though. Not that we wanted to exclude him, but we were trying to figure out a way that was safest for him.

My princess said it made the most sense for him to be claimed as related to her since no one in the realm truly knew her outside of the Mastery. It would send a statement to the Everglows and the Gales, while also giving Keeper the recognition of family that he deserves.

He kneeled before her and said he’d be honored to do whatever she wanted. She cried. Draken growled. It was a whole emotional thing. But we finally reached a good compromise.

Looking over all the faces in here, my heart thuds a million miles a second.

This is a lot of people to keep safe. They all hold a special place in our lives, and we can’t lose any of them.

My head swims with the possibilities of any and everything that could go wrong. Not just tonight, but at any moment.

At any moment the Summum-Master could strike and take one of them from me.

I refuse it.

I’ll do whatever it takes to stop that.

“Your highness.” A soft, warm hand cups my cheek.

“Princess,” I say, blinking my eyes and forcing them to focus on her.

“It’s time to line up. Will you get everyone where they’re supposed to be? It’s a little chaotic in here,” she says softly.

I know what she’s trying to do. And it’s working.

My dark thoughts slow and my breathing falls evenly from my chest. When I see Aria on the outside of her men rather than in the middle where the Primary is supposed to be, my eye twitches.

Yeah, yeah, they aren’t technically being announced together, but they’re walking out together and lining up together.

“I can do that,” I say, then instantly start barking orders .

Everyone’s shoulders straighten as they get in place. As each Nexus lines up properly and the Master of Events hustles into the room. The tension in me bleeds out completely.

Tillman stands to my left, and on my right, is Willow in the middle. On the other side of her is Caspian, then Draken.

There’s no reasoning to our order other than Draken and Tillman are the tallest, while Cas and me are the same height. Each Nexus is lined up this way.

It’s organized, uniformed, and just right.

“Okay, current and future rulers, are we ready?” the Master of Events calls out, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.

The man is maddening on days like today. Really, though, he’s the one running the show, so none of us are going to say anything.

The sound of the announcer welcoming the people drifts in through the doors. She’s giving her normal speech about all our blessing from Elementra and what a wonderful spring this was. The words never change really, but the enthusiasm behind her tone always gets everyone excited.

“We’re more ready than ever, Janko. Thank you very much,” Mom says.

“Of course, my lady.” He bows slightly, then straights back up, clapping his hands once again. “On me. Come on, Lady Mercie, you and your men first.”

Oakly turns around to look at us and I smile as she mouths, “Lady Mercie. Oh my Elementra.”

Willow and Aria both snicker at her.

The way Willow’s eyes grow out of focus just a smidge the moment Oakly’s shoulders straighten tells me she’s talking her through this.

The rest of us follow them out of the room and down the hall, but we stay a few feet back as the announcer calls for attention. You can’t see any of the people from here. We won’t be able to until we pass through the newly hung curtain and step down to the first step.

Oakly’s Nexus will go down three steps and to the right. Aria, Lyker, Lennox, Kyan, and Zane will go to that same step and to the left. Gaster and Keeper will each go down two steps, then one of them on each side .

On our turn, we will stay center but a step down.

My parents will stand behind us.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Elementra. On behalf of the Ruling Nexus, it is my pleasure to introduce to you our royal court. Please welcome our Awaiting First Advisor, sister of our Awaiting Matriarch, Lady Oakly Mercie, and her Nexus, Second-in-Commands to our Elemental Forces, Ry, San, Nikoli, and Master of Science Jamie Mercie.”

Willow’s gasp is barely audible over the roaring happening in the foyer as Oakly and her men walk forward. They each hold their composure and I know they’ve kept their shock to themselves.

“Did they know they’d be announced like that? Is it official for San and Nikoli? When did Jamie earn his title?” she asks our link.

“No, they didn’t. It was a surprise. Well, it was a complete surprise to everyone but Ry. He asked Tillman and me if we would consider it. We told him we’d discuss it. They’ve each more than earned them and they deserve to be recognized as such.”

“Any more surprises?”

“Yes, but your brother asked we keep it to ourselves,” I say slyly.

She’ll just have to wait to hear that one.

She groans a little but sucks it up quickly when the announcer holds her hand up to silence the crowd.

“Next, please welcome our Awaiting Second Advisor, Lady Aria Conan. Accompanying our lady is Alpha of the Terravile Wolf Pack, Lyker Quinn, and his brothers Kyan, Lennox, and Zane Quinn. The Quinn Nexus is formally and officially recognized as the brothers of our Awaiting Matriarch.”

Her body startles and she laces our fingers together as she steadies herself.

“They all wanted to claim me as their sister?”

“They were adamant about it,” I say, leaning down to give her a kiss on her forehead.

“Annoying is a better word,” Cas grumbles.

“And Lyker—”

“Was pleased they were being enthusiastic about it. It took him some time to grasp the fact he was in the royal court. After that, his brothers all jumped on board and asked for his blessing to officially claim the title as your brothers as well,” I say.

A harsh exhale falls from her. The pulse of her racing heart beats through her fingers, and I rub soothing circles across her knuckles to calm her. Her shock quickly gives way to a profound feeling of appreciation and approval.

She knows the magnitude of what it means to be formally claimed as family in this realm.

We aren’t just teasing when we say she’s collecting one. She really is.

A breathtaking smile takes over her face as her brothers and Aria take their first step down the stairs. It’s a sweet look that pulls me into her orbit.

All I see is her.

“I’ve gained so much since coming here.”

“So have we, princess.”

“Last but certainly not least of our royal court, please welcome Guardian of the Awaiting Matriarch and heirs, Lord Keeper Tanith.”

Willow and Draken both giggle quietly. Giving Keeper a last name was difficult, you know, since Keeper is his last name. His sassy little golden dragon planted that idea in my head, so I went with it.

“Accompanying him is long-lived advisor to the ruling family, formally and officially recognized as the grandfather of the Awaiting Matriarch and her Awaiting First Advisor, Master Archivist, Gaster Cato.”

The crowd below is deafening now as we step up to our place at the curtain, and a bolt of nerves finally spears my chest. I was wondering when she’d get nervous. It took far longer than I had assumed. It isn’t just her nerves, though.

It’s my own and my brothers’.

Tillman’s clenching his fists. His fingers flex against my side every time he opens and closes his hand. Over Willow’s head, Cas looks disinterested, but peering down, his shadows tie their wrist and cover her mark. They’re even locked onto Draken, who’s bouncing on his toes, on his other side .

Going from not caring about this part whatsoever to feeling like this is a moment to be witnessed in history has my gift itching at my skin. Part of me wants to let it out. Make us shine so bright no one can even see us.

The other part wants to show my princess off at my side.

I want the realm to see the strength and growth in my brothers and me.

We’re changed men who are ready to change this realm.

And we’ll do that with her leading the way.

I send a burst of calm confidence through my bond to my entire Nexus. The ties that connect us naturally gravitate toward one another, and we squeeze in closer.

Our exhales are simultaneous.

As one, we flood each other. Whatever positive emotion we can feel that wipes away the center of attention fright, we send out.

“We’ve got this,” I say.

“I love you all so much.”

My brothers and I express our love for her as strongly as we can.

“Ladies and gentlemen. It is my honor to announce to you the heirs of Elementra. Standing in front of you for the first time as a true completed Nexus, I present to you, our Awaiting Matriarch, Willow Vito, and the heirs to the Ruling Nexus, Corentin, Tillman, Caspian, and Draken Vito.”

Stepping through the curtain, my ears ring. The sound is so loud, I can barely hear myself count backward. The collective beat from the five of our hearts keeps me on track.

As we take our steps down, my eyes meet our family, who turn and slightly bow their heads to us. It doesn’t settle well inside my stomach.

So I break a customary rule.

I bow back.

As do my brothers and Willow.

The small move doesn’t go unnoticed. The roaring booms around us even more.

My eyes scan the massive crowd. I don’t bother giving the five a millisecond of my focus. I know they’re at the bottom of the stairs, moping for the loss of attention .

What I concentrate on are the many faces and undistinguishable voices shouting and chanting our names. Their eyes stay glued to my princess. There’s a shared pulse of thrill thrumming through the entire space.

Gazing down at her, her face is glowing. Her smile is true and just as I had done, she doesn’t take her eyes off the people of our realm. The ones that are being louder and more excited than I’ve ever seen at a Spring Ball.

It’s for her.

Because of her.

And they don’t even know her true importance.

They just hear Awaiting Matriarch and see a small crown on her head.

They have no idea everything the woman in the middle of us has endured for them or what she’s capable of. They couldn’t begin to fathom that she’s been doing everything in her power to keep them and the realm they cherish safe.

But I do.

And I’ll worship her for the rest of my life.

I break a second customary rule.

Grabbing Willow’s hand, I bring it to my lips.

“I see you. I cherish you. I love you. You are my reason, Willow Vito, and I will spend my life making sure you know that every day.”