Page 23 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Eighteen

Willow

“May Elementra bless our night. Let the Spring Ball commence,” the announcer shouts and the roaring returns.

It’s so loud, I barely hear the music start playing.

Elementra, this is it.

Please don’t let me fall on my face.

This is the largest gathering of people I’ve ever been around in my life.

My head is still spinning from the abundant noise from when we were announced. It was followed by quietness that lasted long enough for the announcer to present Aurora and her men.

Then the walls were back to shaking.

I thought I was going to embarrass myself by falling down the stairs with Corentin’s sweet words. Him taking my hand and meeting my eyes was just the brief reprieve I needed in the moment. Then he said what he said, and I thought I was going to turn into a puddle.

My legs were still a little wobbly as we made our way down the remainder of the steps and the crowd parted the way for us to cross the room to the center of the floor.

Which is where we are now.

Getting ready to dance for this army of people .

Oakly, Aurora, Aria, and I have our right hands joined together in the middle of our circle. We walk clockwise while we wait for the music to change and one of our men will get us once it’s time.

It’s taking everything in me to focus on my breathing. This has been far more than I ever could’ve expected. I’m not just referring to all the people. It’s their outpour of love and support for me. A stranger. It’s the meaning behind it all.

I’m really going to rule this realm one day…

I sink into Aurora’s humored eyes and let her little snicker fill my heart with ease. She felt this as well when it was declared she’d be ruling, not CC.

Just focus on the night.

I’ve been harping on how I want to be spun around and have a magical night with my men, but that was before I saw the true amount of people here. My stomach turns thinking about them watching me now.

What if I trip over my own feet?

“How are you holding up?” I ask Oakly to distract my thoughts before I cause myself to mess the dance up before it even really begins.

“Perfect, glorious. I was made for this,” she says, sarcastic as shit.

A very unladylike snort falls from my lips and thankfully all three of them chuckle. It makes me feel so normal in a moment that’s far from that.

“Good, we’re on the same page then,” I say, winking at her.

“Oh, so you’re about to pee yourself too? Fuck, I shouldn’t have drunk that extra drink.”

Oh no.

“You can hold it, right?” My gaze widens in concern.

Her peeing on this dance floor right now would be the worst possible thing to happen.

If I thought my snort was unladylike, surely whisking her away in shadows, leaving a puddle of her mess on the floor, then die laughing so loud the whole palace would hear me, would be frowned upon.

“We’re going to find out. Oh, Elementra, bless my bladder, please.”

My laugh is silenced when a hand hot as a flame links its way through my fingers.

I love this part of the dance .

Never knowing which man I’ll end up with first. There’s something very sensual about waiting and having to rely on my senses to tell who it is without seeing them first.

When Draken pulls me into his chest and easily flows into our first steps, I fall into his cobalt eyes. Every dark worry and nerve about the gazes on me fades away.

Leaving me basking in his fire.

“There’s my fierce little wanderer. What had you so nervous?” he asks.

“All the eyes. I was worried about falling on my face.”

He, unlike what I’ve been doing, doesn’t muffle his laugh. He throws his head back and the sound makes my heart flutter like the first time I ever heard it.

“We’d never let you fall. But if you had, I would’ve just thrown myself down too. We’d go down together.”

His smile says he’s being funny, but his eyes tell the truth. He most certainly would’ve done something, anything to get the attention off me. Even if it meant embarrassing himself.

You never think you can love someone more than you already do. Until they say something so small. Yet the words themselves weigh a thousand pounds.

“Thankfully, you’re here to hold me up now. Let’s soar, my dragon.”

Soar we do.

The beat of the music is the only thing I pay attention to outside of him. His flirty smile, his teasing touches. How he continuously grazes my hip softly as I run circles on his shoulder.

He consumes me and I burn gladly.

“Who do you think will be next, little wanderer?” he asks as the tempo begins to change.

“I haven’t a clue.”

“No inkling or sight giving away the surprise?”

“No. This is probably the only time I’d ever be thankful for it not to,” I say as he leans in slowly, laying his lips to mine.

He chuckles low before pulling away. His hand joins his brother’s at the same time and my breath shudders out of me. I close my eyes and wait .

“Eyes on me, princess.”

They fly open at Corentin’s command. His smile is so bright, it calls to my gift. My light wants to burst through my skin and wrap around him.

“Couldn’t imagine looking anywhere else, your highness.”

His features turn devastating as they heat.

It’s crazy for me to look at him now and think about how he used to keep that mask of his in place. He kept the many sides of himself away from me.

I’d never allow it now.

He is mine. All mine. Masks and all.

He hums approvingly as my eyes flash violet then back. My dragon just needed to put her agreement in there for a moment. He’s too observant of me and everything I do to have missed it, though.

“What’s got you so possessive, baby?”

“Just thinking about how you used to hide yourself from me and how I’d never deal with it now. You’re mine as are all the many masks you must wear.”

He tilts my chin up until my neck is craned back to where I see nothing but him. Only him. “Those are the truest words ever spoken. I am yours. All yours.”

He lays a soft kiss to my lips. Much like the first one he ever gave me.

It’s so gentle yet commanding.

When he pulls away, no more words pass between the two of us as he glides me across the floor like we’re dancing with the wind. His moves are precise, controlled, but flow freely like we’ve been doing this together for years not days.

The warm touch of his gift beneath his fingertips keeps my own right on the surface. It’s waiting on his command to be set free.

As the music begins to change once again, he lays his hand to my heart, forcing the heat of his light to flood my body completely.

He joins the others in their circle, and I squirm, waiting to see which of my two left it will be.

I gasp as darkness descends on the light burning through me. The chill spreads through my blood and creates its own sensation .

All my senses come to life.

“Naughty little Primary.”

Blinking my lids open, they collide with whiskey that burns down to my belly. “I haven’t been naughty at all.”

Cas shakes his head as he spins me around. When he pulls me back into his arms, my lips part at the look on his face.

It’s dark and delicious.

“The darkness I see isn’t always a bad thing. At least not anymore. If you don’t believe I can’t see those little dark desires running through your mind, you’re mistaken.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lies.

“You want me to spell it out for you. Is that it, Primary?”

“Yes.”

That’s exactly what I want him to do. Why? Because he makes me feel like it’s okay to want things I’ve never wanted before. He makes it safe for me to explore things. He knows exactly how far to push me in any situation.

So yeah. I want him to spell it out for me now so I know it’s okay I have a craving for something I’ve never tried nor realized I might like until recently.

Like today recently.

“That blindfold this morning planted a little seed in your mind. You’re wondering what it would be like to be fucked by your men but not knowing which one it was. You’d easily be able to tap into a bond and figure it out, but you wouldn’t do that. You’d want to experience the sensations of figuring it out on your own. By our touch, our tongues, or our cocks alone.

“Then this little dance. Not knowing which man you’re about to have in your arms. It takes away the pressure of you having to choose. Although we’d never make you choose. We’d do that for you. But if you want us to remove your sight so you can experience what it’s like being worshipped blindly, we’ll do that for you, sweet Willow. ”

I don’t know if sweet is what I’d call myself right now. There’re nothing but dirty scenarios playing through my mind. I just pictured them doing to me exactly what he’d just described.

The only exception to my mental creation was even then I didn’t allow myself to choose who was doing what. I let my imagination run wild.

Fuck, maybe we shouldn’t have had this discussion on the dance floor.

“Sounds like you already have it planned out,” I say low.

“I have every intention of fulfilling that little fantasy of yours. Call it a promise, Primary.”

He spins me out away from him once more. On my return, my back hits his front and he lays his lips to my neck. Goose bumps break out across my skin, and I force myself to swallow down a moan.

As his hand grazes my lower back, it’s only then that I realize the change of music.

My breathing is erratic as I gaze at Tillman standing in front of me with a knowing smirk.

“Breathe in and out, little warrior. I’ve got you,” he says as he takes me into his arms. “You let him get you all hot and bothered.”

“Let him, is not at all the words I’d use to describe anything Cas does. He’s a naughty ghost with a mouth and mind as foul as yours.”

His deep laugh wraps around me like armor.

“That’s one of my fondest memories. I’ll never forget the first time I heard you call him a ghost.”

“I’m glad you find so much entertainment from invading my mind. Honestly, I’m surprised you don’t get a headache listening to everything constantly running through there.”

A small smile crosses his face and he runs his hand up my body until he wraps it around the side of my neck. For a moment, he stares at the mark I left on his hand lovingly.

I hope every time he looks at it, he knows I left it there to remind him how he’d never hurt me. His strength holds me up when I feel like I’m crumbling.

“I do know that, Will. I promise I do. And I never get headaches from the noise. Not when it comes to you. You are the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I never know what’s going to come across. It’s a brand of mayhem that keeps me balanced and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. Mayhem is the perfect word to describe the daily condition of my mind. If it weren’t for him and everything he’s taught me, it would be even worse.

One day, the gorgeous green-eyed giant is going to hear something that really surprises him.

He shakes his head at me, but the smile never fades from his face.

I allow the music to invade my mind and calm the many thoughts as he moves us around the dance floor gracefully. Our steps are sure and swift. We move as fluidly with each other as we would practicing anything else together. We mold as one.

“This is our cue, little warrior,” he says as the music begins to taper off.

“What next?”

“We’ll move over to the thrones with my aunt and uncles. The five and others are going to start approaching us. In no particular order. We’ll do that, while our guests eat, mingle, and begin dancing if they please. Then there will be another dance for us.”

I give him a nod as he pulls away from me. I know the actual itinerary for the ball, but at any moment they could hear something that changes everything. I’d rather just get the plans directly from them.

The guys surround me and on the last beat of the song, they each bow and I curtsy to them.

Once again, the noise absolutely erupts and my eye twitches from how boisterous it is.

“Let’s move on over—”

“I need Willow to come to the bathroom with me,” Oakly whisper-yells, cutting Corentin off as she, Aria, and their Nexuses approach us.

“Oh, me too,” Aria immediately says.

Aurora and her men are already maneuvering through the clearing the people are making for them to reach the thrones. My guys look in their direction, then back at us.

“She’s got to get up there, firecracker. We’ll walk the two of you, then come back,” Ry says, but I cringe a little. It doesn’t get past my guys .

“What is it?” Corentin asks.

“I didn’t really consider bathroom breaks when I designed the dresses. She nor Aria are going to let the guys help them in this situation.”

Draken throws his head back laughing and I try to glare at him to stop him from speaking, but it doesn’t work. “So what you’re trying to say is, you all will have to go hold each other’s dresses up while you pee. I’d do that for you if you needed me to, little wanderer.”

Oakly and Aria both gasp as all the men bark his name.

I knew it was coming.

I know he would help me if I needed him to, and I’d honestly probably let him. He’s never had a sense of boundaries, and I don’t feel the need to put a boundary on him. Not to mention, he’s literally taken care of my body for me when I was physically unable to.

Oakly and Aria? No. They’re not at a place where they’d let their guys see them using the bathroom. They may never get there.

Completely understandable.

“Are the three of us okay to walk alone or will we need some escorts?” I ask.

“Alone. Fuck, there’s E.F. swimming this place and you’re a damn dragon. Come on,” Oakly says, gripping Aria’s and my hands and pulling us forward.

“You’ve all had guards on you this whole time,” Cas says like it’s obvious, but it wasn’t. At least not until he nods and four men who I hadn’t noticed whatsoever seemly just walk up to us out of thin air. “Escort them to the Ruling Nexus’s private hall.”

“Please,” I add to his command.

Wordlessly, one of the men walk in front of us, another behind, one at our side, and I honestly couldn’t tell you where the fourth went. My men all give me meaningful looks as we begin walking away and the girls crowd in closer to me.

Making this short walk to the heavily guarded hallway feels like it takes a century. People everywhere are calling our names, and our guards, who don’t speak apparently, are glaring in every direction .

When we finally make it to the hall, the guards that are blocking it part like the red sea and allow us through. Oakly damn near starts sprinting toward the bathroom, while Aria and I follow behind her, laughing.

The second we get in there, it’s a clusterfuck of material. The tule I added to our dresses to give it body is all over the place, in my face, tangled around Aria, and Oakly’s screeching for us to hurry it up. If I wasn’t so proud of my masterpiece, I’d disintegrate the damn thing and start again.

“That was way too close,” Oakly scolds the moment she’s finally free.

“Sorry about that, but look, no accidents at all,” I say, spitting out a layer of her dress that’s in my mouth.

“Barely,” she says, glaring at me like this is my fault.

“I can’t believe they sent us on our way with a couple escorts. Actually, I can’t believe we have guards,” Aria says.

“The guards were definitely a surprise, but I saw the five making their way closely behind Aurora and her Nexus. My men are itching to speak to them, hear what they have to say, or find anything out they can. If they had been worried for a second about us going to the bathroom, they all would’ve followed. Plus, like she said, I’m a damn dragon.”

“I’m itching too. I want to punch Kellie Everglow in her fucking face. Then go throw her in the cells with my mom.” Oakly practically growls and I pat her on the back.

“You’ll get your time. If you want me to, I’ll tie her up with my shadows for you.”

“We’ll add that to the list of ideas,” she says as she struggles to stand back up. “Aria, your turn.”

It’s absolute chaos for the two of them to switch spots, but once they do, we get to work. It goes a lot smoother this time now that I’ve had some practice. It’s even easier by the time we move on to me.

When the three of us attempt to walk out the door together and get stuck, we immediately fall into a fit of laughter.

I’m going to write this event down in my journal as a necessary bonding experience for sisterhood.

“I’m not drinking another thing for the rest of the night,” Oakly declares as we walk back toward the guards .

“Ma’am, Leader Tillman wants you all back to the thrones,” one of them says as soon as we walk up. I quickly catch the way his pupils go in and out of focus.

So technically my men did follow. It was just mentally.

“No time for a quick flight?” I ask, but when his eyes widen like I’m about to get him in trouble, I backtrack, “I’m joking. Lead the way.”

The three of us laugh and smile on our way back through the crowd of people. It isn’t until we get to just about where we were standing on the dance floor that I feel a burst of extreme aggravation. Matter of fact, it isn’t an extreme burst, it’s just the same emotion coming from all four of my men.

Peering around my guard to look in front of me, the five are spread out amongst our family. All the Primaries are congregated in front of Aurora, and the men are speaking to all the other men. Front and center of my Nexus, though, is Gean Everglow.

“Go directly to your Nexuses. Aurora will call us over when she’s ready for us to be introduced to the Primaries,” I whisper.

Both look ahead of us and instantly go serious.

The guard behind us steps up beside Oakly, giving her a nod as he escorts her toward Ry. Another does the same for Aria. I still don’t know where in the crowd the fourth is, nor am I trying to call attention to him by looking around.

My guard approaches the Everglow Nexus and clears his throat. To which the assholes ignore him.

“Move,” he commands. Definitely gaining their attention.

“Excuse—”

Gean Everglow seals his lips as I step from around my guard. I hold my chin high, shoulders back, and wait for him to speak. My men’s eyes are eating me up, but they aren’t an ounce worried. If anything, they’re anxiously excited.

I’m confident Cas and Draken are hoping I throw a flame.

“Ah, Willow, I was just asking about your whereabouts.”

“It’s Lady Vito, Councilman Everglow,” I say .

My sweet tone completely contradicts the straight face I say it with. I take the page right out of Corentin’s book. Although he was a lot harsher. His pride sears my chest, and it takes considerable effort not to crack a smile.

I have no clue how he holds his looks so firmly in place.

After a tense beat of silence, one potent enough to tell me my voice carried and the rest of the five heard me, he bows his head a minuscule and mutters, “Of course.”

Stepping in the direction of my men, I stop about a foot away from Gean and turn my head toward him. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Gima spoke so highly of you. Please enjoy your night.”

His eyes fill with fire for a fleeting second before he schools his features. He knows I caught it, though. I make sure to wink at him just so he knows that without a shadow of a doubt.

Centering myself in between my men, their gazes are full of hunger. Those looks make me want to say fuck the rest of this ball and get me out of here.

Unfortunately, though, me mouthing off to Gean isn’t doing anything helpful tonight other than making myself feel better.

“I was just asking your Nexus for permission to have your hand in a dance,” Gean grits out.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Aurora was so right.

“Is he fucking serious right now?” I ask.

“Seriously fucking stupid, but yes, serious nonetheless. He just asked us before you walked up. Want me to eat him?”

“Possibly.”

“It wouldn’t be my Nexus’s permission you’d need.”

“It most certainly—”

“Access to me, Gean , is a privilege I’ll not be awarding you tonight. Nor will my Awaiting Advisors. I do appreciate your time, but I have others to attend to now,” I say as confidently and regally as I’ve heard Corentin be when speaking to members of the five or elite .

He doesn’t take the dismissal well, but he doesn’t push me any further. With an obvious sneer, he turns and walks casually down the line as though the conversation never even happened.

“Fuck, I’m so hard right now,” Draken groans.

“Same,” Cas agrees.

I ignore both of them to the best of my abilities.

“ You handled that perfectly, princess,” Corentin says, laying his hand to my lower back and kissing me on my temple.

“Eww, I feel like I was on an undeserving power trip. It was so awkward I wanted to bust out laughing. I don’t like talking like that whatsoever. I’d have preferred a good old-fashioned cussing out.”

“You could’ve done that and we still would’ve been fine with it, but you did just set a precedence. None of the rest of the men will mess with you now that you made an example out of him.”

Turning my head, I do find the remainder of them giving me more cautionary looks rather than the curious ones when I first walked up. I’m not sure if it’s a good or a bad thing.

My fathers-in-law look giddy and proud. Aurora’s holding her head high with a small smile. Just before she turns back to the Primaries, she shoots me a wink. Keeper and Gaster chuckle behind me.

So I have my family’s approval and I made my stance clear with Gean Everglow.

I’ll take it as a good thing.

The next however long passes by in a blur as I’m introduced to more people and told more names than I’ll ever be able to remember.

It doesn’t go unnoticed to me that the entire Gale Nexus has avoided me.

I only got a glimpse of Pran and Dillon when I first walked up. They’ve since disappeared somewhere in the crowd. Their Primary hasn’t tried to speak to me yet, but she also hasn’t left from under Aurora’s feet.

“The whiskey is divine, but is there any food here?” Keeper asks.

He looks so adorable in his three-piece tuxedo. His tailcoat and all black undershirt are paired with a shiny silver vest. His fluffy purple bow tie matches the guys and me to perfection. I absolutely love this style, and I’d love to see if this is how all the vampires dress up in the Keep.

“There’s food everywhere. Those little meat things are so good. I snagged me a whole tray a few minutes ago when the waiter walked by,” Draken says excitedly, and I shake my head. I knew when he was talking earlier his words sounded muffled.

“Not that kind of food, son,” Keeper says quietly.

“What—oh. Yeah, there is. I asked Core to arrange for you some of those bloody cocktails from that book that talked about Keep cuisines .”

The guys and I chuckle at the way Draken attempted to say that with a fancy tone, but Keeper looks shocked.

“You did that for me?”

“Yeah, of course. There’s just normal blood too,” he says, waving his hand around in the air like a madman. Lo and behold, though, a waiter walks right up to Keeper.

“Your special-order, sir,” the waiter says as he offers Keeper a glass.

“Thank you, my good man.”

A delighted hum leaves Keeper the moment the glass touches his lips and his eyes slowly slip closed. My dragon man sits there staring, waiting for his full reaction.

“Perfection, my boy.”

“We didn’t have the exact ingredients, but Nikoli helped me get some he thought would be close enough,” Draken comments, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It tastes like home, son,” Keeper says, squeezing his shoulder.

I can’t stop smiling at the two of them. My heart flutters witnessing this moment between them. Even if my other men are trying to play it off, their happiness for Draken swells in my chest.

“Willow, Oakly, Aria, would you join me, please?”

I turn around at the sound of Aurora’s voice. She’s standing at her throne but with the five Primaries still in front of her. I internally groan but keep my face soft.

Yay us…

“I’ll escort you, child,” Gaster says, offering me his elbow.

“Don’t kill anyone without us,” Cas mumbles before lifting his glass to his mouth.

“She won’t be killing in this dress. It’s far too beautiful to ruin with sullied blood,” Gaster says before I can respond, and a surprised laugh bursts out of me. He winks as he pats my hand, and all my guys smile darkly at him.

Oakly and Aria join us as we walk the few feet toward the throne. The setup of this area has us all close enough to one another we’re in the same space, but we’ve also kept our distance to give people room to come by.

Technically, my Nexus was supposed to stand beside Aurora the whole time. My guys vetoed that, and Aurora agreed it would be best for us to be spread out. If asked—which we wouldn’t be, people would just talk—we decided we’d say it’s because we have such a large court and needed the room.

Approaching Aurora and the other Primaries, all heads turn toward us.

Vicki Gale, Kellie Everglow, Tris Drover, Reny Tealwaters, and Aaren Alewood each appraise me. They don’t spare Gaster, Oakly, or Aria a glance and that pisses me plus my dragon all the way off.

“Council-ladies, let me introduce you to our Awaiting Matriarch and her Awaiting Advisors. You each know Master Archivist Gaster Cato,” Aurora says, nodding in Gaster’s direction. The Primaries tilt their heads, and he does it in return. “This is our Awaiting First Advisor Oakly Mercie.” This time they all nod but Kellie Everglow and I narrow my eyes on her. “Our next Awaiting Advisor, Aria Conan.”

Again, they all tilt their heads the slightest, but I can’t take my venomous stare off Kellie. She has one more time to disrespect Oakly and I’m going to blow the roof off this Spring Ball.

“And of course, our Awaiting Matriarch, Willow Vito,” Aurora says pridefully and for the moment, I soften my eyes and smile at her.

Each of the Primaries curtsy. I’m supposed to do a smaller one in return as a show of respect.

I’m not going to do that .

“My Willow, the rumors have done your beauty no justice,” Vicki Gale says smugly, looking me over from head to toe.

“They haven’t. Those heirs are lucky to have such a pretty thing on their arms,” Kellie adds on, and the heat of my flame fills my face.

“You will address my granddaughter properly or you will not address her at all,” Gaster says low, sending a chill through our circle.

Each of the females reacts differently to his authoritative tone. Even I’m caught off guard by the power behind it.

Tris Drover almost makes me smirk with the feral smile that crosses her face. Her aura screams respect but also a little bit of eagerness. I never would’ve thought, what they consider a prey shifter, would be giddy for a fight. It would seem though being mated to all predators have made her a little more vicious.

Both Reny Tealwaters and Aaren Alewood bow. I wouldn’t call it respectfully. More so indifferently.

It’s the traitors in our midst who put on a show of offense. Their mouths fall open and loud gasps pour out. It’s a mockery.

“How—”

“You know, Master Cato, I’d actually like to hear these rumors. Not of her beauty, though. I have eyes of my own. What’s been said of her power? Her flame is quite…unforgiving,” Oakly says, cutting Vicki off as she steps closer beside me.

“Don’t forget the beautiful beast she can shift into,” Aria growls, stepping up on Gasters side.

The first look of unease crosses all their faces. That solidifies that the smear campaign against my ability to shift into a dragon stuck at least somewhat.

For them and their Nexuses, my dragon will be an issue.

For at least two of them, that is.

The rest of Elementra won’t have to worry about her. I’m not a monster. Nor is Draken or Tanith. They may fear what they don’t understand, but they’ll come to realize we aren’t and never will be a threat to those who aren’t a threat to us .

“I’ll put the rumors to rest now and confirm for everyone my daughter is powerful far beyond what you may have heard. More so than me. She is going to rule this realm well with strength and compassion. How lucky we will be to witness it,” Aurora states firmly, holding her hand out for me to take. Which I do immediately with a smug smile on my face. “I’m so happy we were able to make these formal introductions. Now, if you all will go spend time with our people. It is almost time for us to return to the dance floor.”

She finishes with a much more elegant dismissal than I would’ve given them. It’s only then when they curtsy with low murmured “My ladies,” do I realize I never spoke a word to them.

“You four are as bad as the boys, I swear,” Aurora says with a cocked brow and a small smile.

“I didn’t even say anything,” I say, faking offense by mimicking how Vicki and Kellie acted.

They all laugh at me, even my fathers-in-law as they come up behind Aurora. “You didn’t have to. Your face and body language screamed ‘Try me.’”

That may be true.

“Come on, Rory. We’ve done our duties of entertaining the council. Time to dance,” Roye says so boredly it makes his words confusing. The gleam in his eye as he stares at her smile says he’s doing this to make her happy.

“Finally. Now I can shake this anger out,” Oakly says, hip bumping me.

“Ready, little dragon?” I startle at the sound of my brother’s voice right behind me.

Whipping around, my Nexus is standing around him as is Oakly’s, the rest of Aria’s, and Keeper. At the same time, the announcer sounds overhead, announcing us coming to the dance floor.

Lyker strolls up to me and offers me his arm, which I look at suspiciously. “Are you offering me a dance?”

He snorts. “Obviously. ”

“I thought you weren’t too keen on dancing?” I ask as I slowly release Gaster.

“I’m not. I’ll suck it up tonight,” he says with a wink.

I take his arm and shoot my men a victory smile. I’d already told myself not to expect him to be excited about the festivities, so this is a wonderful surprise.

Or my men are making him. Either way, I’ll take the win.

“Not forcing him.” Tillman chuckles. “Aunt Rory is going to insist on dancing with us, so this won’t be a Nexus dance. Expect a round of surprise dance partners, little warrior.”

That’s so exciting.

I was already planning on asking Gaster and Keeper if they’d have a dance with me. I have no clue if Keeper’s learned the steps to the dances here, but we could’ve winged it for a good time.

If I thought when we were presented the crowd went wild, it’s nothing now that they’ve got some food, drinks, and fun in their system.

Everyone is all smiles, surprise, and warm welcome as we make our way through them to the center floor. It doesn’t shock me whatsoever that everyone out here is what the elite and five consider beneath them.

Apparently, to them having fun is hoarding around the thrones and looking their noses down at everyone else.

Not a single person we pass attempts to touch one of us, demand a dance, or even remotely come off in any ill way. It’s no wonder that Aurora said these are the people she most enjoys spending time with.

These are normal people.

The ones who make this realm what it is.

The announcer’s booming voice has the crowd clearing the center for all of us, but they partner up all around. The song that will be playing first is called and I smile at the giddy girls and flirting guys.

To them, this night is probably a dream.

The pulse of excitement is contagious.

“Don’t step on my feet and ruin my new shoes,” Lyker mutters.

“Same for you, Alphahole,” I tease just as the music starts .

I can’t help but laugh at how he bounces between paying attention to me, searching for Aria, and scanning the crowd. So vigilant.

So not in the moment.

“How does the announcer do that?” I ask.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“Make their voice so loud. Back in the nonmagical realm, there were tools they used to project their voices, but the announcer just talks.”

“Oh, that. It’s a speaker spell. I have to do it when addressing the pack.”

“It’s a spell that just makes you talk louder?”

“You don’t shout or anything, but the spell itself will carry your voice outward. They sound so loud because we’re inside and it’s banging off the walls,” he grumbles.

“Well, that’ll be helpful for when you need to holler down hallways at some rowdy pups.”

“Or hear me out, you can come to the academy and help me interview instructors and keep the wolves in line.” He throws that out nonchalantly and I freeze. He doesn’t miss a beat, though, pulling me along before I trip us both up.

“You want my help with the academy?”

“I could use it,” he says, looking down at me.

Warmth spreads throughout my chest. It’s an indescribable feeling having your big brother say he needs you. There’s nothing in this realm I wouldn’t do for him.

“I’ll be there,” I easily agree.

He smiles down at me before spinning me away and letting go of my hand. I’m suddenly caught by another one and find Kyan looking over my head.

“She agreed,” Lyker says from behind me and Kyan smirks.

“Ready to run with the wolves, sis?”

“A better question is, are the wolves ready to fly with me?”

A deep laugh falls from him, then he’s off.

My stomach hurts from laughing as somehow Aria and I end up being twirled and tossed between my brothers. The four of them, like most Nexuses, move so smoothly together, so we never know where we’re going to end up.

Every now and then, one of my men jumps in the rotation. I’ve never seen them so carefree in front of this many people. To hear them joke and tease my brothers and Aria as though it’s just us out here on the dance floor warms my heart.

On my next spin away from Lennox, I somehow pick up a shit ton of speed and a small shriek escapes me.

“Your brothers are hogging you, Adored.”

“Shit, that was fast,” I groan, shaking my head out before chuckling at Keeper. “There’s enough time for everyone. Do you know the steps?”

“Absolutely not. I was hoping you’d honor me with a dance from the Keep,” he says as we just rock back and forth.

“I don’t know those dances at all.”

“No worries. Hop on,” he says, sticking his feet out.

“What? Keeper, I can’t stand on you.”

“Nonsense. Of course you can. Extra strength, remember?”

Looking into his eyes, I start to shake my head, but then I’m silenced as a thin veil covers my mind. I hold my breath.

“I taught you how to dance by you standing on my feet,” CC says softly.

“I remember. I was so clumsy. You constantly had to catch me.” I close my eyes, letting the memory comfort me.

“He’ll catch you as well. You look beautiful, by the way, filia mea.”

“Thank you. I’m so happy Elementra let you see this moment.”

“My presence is needed.” He doesn’t expand any more than that. Before I can say anything else, Keeper clears his throat.

“I’ll warn you, I’m a tad clumsy,” I say as I open my eyes and meet his hopeful stare.

“I’ve got you, Adored.”

My shrill morphs into a laugh as he whisks us across the floor so fast everything around me is a blur. My feet move right along on top of his, but I couldn’t even begin to tell you what we’re doing.

“Is this really how you all dance in the Keep? ”

“Yes. Granted, everyone is moving like this, but we do know how to go slower,” he says as his speed descends to match everyone around us.

“I’d say that would be fascinating to watch, but I don’t know if I would be able to keep up.”

“If you were to come to the Keep, we’d put on a royal show you’d be able to watch.”

“If? You mean when. I have every intention of us visiting you in the Keep. You won’t be losing us when you go home,” I say, squeezing his hand.

“You are a treasure, Willow Vito.”

“As are you, Dericko Keeper,” I whisper.

Another voice clears and the two of us turn at the noise. “I’d like the opportunity to twirl my granddaughter around.”

I grin as Keeper helps me off his feet and passes me over to Gaster. They bow to each other dramatically and I shake my head at how these ancient men act like children together.

“He’s a showoff,” Gaster teases as we start our dance.

“He’s a grand ol’ time.” I laugh.

“If you say so.” He rolls his eyes playfully before his brow smooths out. “How are you enjoying your first ball?”

“It’s wonderful,” I say.

“That was very unconvincing, and your aura flashed,” he scoffs, calling me out.

I hum, thinking about how I want to put this into words. I really am having a wonderful time. Aside from the bullshit with the five, it’s been a magical night just like I wished for.

I’ve laughed so much my cheeks hurt. The looks and touches I’ve been receiving from my men constantly just add to their reddening.

Watching my best friends and all the other girls here get twirled around like princesses as well has been a beautiful show to see.

“Much like every day here lately, it seems to be flying by. There’s been moments that will go down in my memory as the funniest and most enjoyable I’ve ever had. I had a magical dance with my men like I wanted. Reached a new level in sisterhood. Confronted some adversaries. And have spent time with all my family.”

“But?” he presses.

“But…I feel like there’s something I’m missing.”

“Well, it’s a good thing the night is still young. Plenty of time for more fun, child.”

Plenty of time.

I give him a grateful smile and lean my head on his chest as we continue to twirl around. My chest shakes with laughter as Corentin, Aurora, and Cas spin into my sight. She’s forcing both to dance with her.

Despite their act of being miserable, they both have bright glows surrounding them. Those Vito brothers can pretend all they want they don’t need their momma, but that’s a lie.

Emotion clogs my throat on the next turn. Tillman is doing some awkward roundabout with Ry and Oakly. He gently runs his finger over her crown and she quickly wipes a tear from her eye. The small smile never falters from his face, so whatever his words are, they’re no doubt sweet and approving.

As the music starts to slow, all my men begin making their way to me and I lean up from Gaster.

“Thank you for being a part of this night,” I say.

“I’ll always be here for you, Willow. Always,” he swears as he gives me a kiss on the top of my head.

He guides me in between my awaiting men, and I sigh in relief to be back in their embraces. They surround me silently and slowly start rocking back and forth with the beat of the music. None of us speak, just absorb our moment together.

Their gentle touches and the caress of their bonds have my mind clearing and eyes closing.

“Excuse me, I do hate to interrupt this moment.”

I flinch at the voice.

My eyes fly open wide and collide with Tillman’s. He recognizes it as well.

“That’s the voice from Layton’s mind.”

“Dillon or Pran were one of the men who met with the Summum-Master,” I say.

Time to put a face to the voice.