Page 3 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

Two

Willow

“What are we doing?” I ask as the five of us materialize outside right at the tree line that separates the two estates.

Everyone’s already standing around, waiting for us, and my head whips toward the sound of sloshing water before Gaster’s magic cuts the noise off with a silencing bubble.

I track the line of the robotic vacuum as it slowly makes its way around the crystal-clear pool, cleaning the nonexistent mess just as it always did every single morning.

Panic, a flashback, nor a shiver passes through me as I glare at the shimmering sight.

No. Those may be easier to manage than what I experience now.

Rage—the becoming all familiar emotion—burns through my blood as I recall what that piece of shit did to me that night.

How could he, anyone, be so vile to do that to someone who didn’t deserve that treatment? Just for catching an attitude. He knew there was a possibility I possessed the magic that does in fact run through me.

Was that just another way for him to see if he could force it out of me?

“Look at me, little wanderer,” Draken commands softly, coming to stand in front of me to cut off my sight. “It’s just water, flowing broken and whole. You command it. It doesn’t command you.”

His soft words soothe the beast ruffling her beautiful body out in my chest, and I nod repeatedly as I latch onto the fire in his eyes that matches the flames burning in mine. The elusive but loving element living within me swirls, practically telling me to listen to my dragon man.

Never again will the water harm me.

Exhaling sharply on my last nod, I ask again, “What are we doing?”

“Fourteen of the fifteen inside wore the mark. The last was a nonmagical being contracted to work for the estate. House maintenance and whatnot. Gaster gave them a memory tonic and sent them on their way with instructions to go home and never come back here,” Tillman states and I smile appreciatively at him. I don’t need to ask about the other fourteen.

“That still doesn’t tell me what we’re doing out here rather than going under the house,” I say softly, and his eyes move to Corentin, so I follow his direction.

“According to the information we pulled from the others, the entry to get under the house from this estate is locked with an enchanted key that belongs to Drin. He took it with him when the Summum-Master collected him. We potentially could break through it, but they have no clue about the protections or wards in place that would react as soon as we broke through. We won’t have to face that going through the other estate,” Corentin says matter-of-factly.

“What makes that one—oh.” Realization instantly hits me when his eyes soften on me. “My blood will unlock the door or whatever through Donald’s estate.”

“Yeah, princess.”

Of course it will.

Rolling my eyes, I catch fidgeting out the corner of my glare, and the harsh breath that wanted to fall from my lips halts as I take in Trex’s jittery body. Codi is silently soothing him, standing right at his side, but I see the toll it’s taking on both of them .

It’s not just my blood we’re here to find.

That mental reminder instantly shoves away my anger at the sick and twisted shit I was put through. What happened here doesn’t matter anymore. Not in the sense that it’s forgivable or forgettable, but it’s not a barrier that should slow our mission anymore today.

The man who put me through hell and back isn’t inside. He’s back in my realm, and his days are numbered.

Right now, there’re two innocent men waiting to be reunited with their brothers and a stockpile of my blood that’s being used to do disgusting, unspeakable things.

That’s all that matters right now.

Focus, Willow.

“How many people are inside?”

“Twenty-three. They’re spread across all the floors. There’s heat covering the entire flooring of the house, so I can’t get a body count, but whatever’s down there gives off a signature,” Ry answers.

“Both heat and magical. I can sense it as well. Just judging with a glance, all individuals inside are magical beings as well,” Gaster tacks on.

“Okay. Going in through those French doors, we’ll enter Donald’s study. From there, if we follow the first floor past the kitchen and dining room, there’s a hallway that leads to a single door. It’s always been locked, and I’ve never entered it. That’s the only place in the house I’ve never ventured to. Not for lack of trying, but I couldn’t ever pick the lock or get it opened, so we can assume that’s where we need to go,” I say, my words firm and sure.

“You got exact body counts on the floors?” Tillman asks Ry.

“Four on the third, eight on the second, and the remaining eleven on the first.”

“That makes sense. Third is bedrooms, that I assume are now empty. Second is guest and staffing rooms, storage, an office space, art rooms. Showy spaces. Bottom floor is the main rooms. Kitchen, living room, sun room, dining room, Donald’s office, a foyer, and laundry room,” I inform them .

“Cas, you, Draken, and Keeper shadow up to the third, handle that, then join us back on the bottom floor. Lyker, take your Nexus, Codi, and Trex to the second. The rest of my Nexus, Ry’s, and Gaster will clear the bottom. Meet back in the kitchen,” Tillman orders and everyone nods.

“Third floor is a little of an overkill, don’t you think?” I ask slyly.

“Oh, absolutely. I’m just trying to get Caspian in trouble.”

“You lot are a four for one deal. If he’s in trouble, so are all of you.”

Tillman whips his head toward me, the unfairness he feels about my statement screaming through his eyes, but before he can call Cas off, shadows swarm the three of them.

Draken blows me a kiss, Caspian himself shoots me a wink, Keeper just smiles, and right before our eyes, they disappear into the darkness.

“Better get a move on.” I snicker.

“Move out,” Tillman orders and like a well-oiled machine, my family moves as one, crossing the green grass in a matter of seconds.

The French doors stand no chance as Lyker, with a swift kick, has the wooden frame shattering to bits. The rest of us pile in behind him as he casts out his earth element, tying up the single staff member who was in Donald’s study. I don’t recognize him nor do I care to stick around long enough to find out who he is.

“Take a right outside the door. It’ll lead you up the stairs,” I murmur to Lyker quickly as we begin crossing the room.

“Be careful, fortune teller,” he barks as he leads his Nexus, Codi, and Trex out the door.

The rest of us don’t linger, and I don’t let my gaze venture around the study. I ignore the nauseating smell of stale cigars and liquor and the rug beneath my feet that I’m sure still holds particles of my blood in its fabric. I focus on getting across the room as fast as we can and on the pounding of love in my chest from Gaster.

His eyes burn a hole in the side of my cheek, and I reach out to him mentally because I know what’s on his mind. “I’m so thankful for you, and I love you so much.”

“And I you, child. The thought of what you went through that dreadful night will always haunt me, as I know it will you, but I’m so, so selfishly grateful to have found you. Just like that night, I’m making a mockery with my words, but I hope you know what I mean and how much I love you and am so thankful for you.”

A lump forms in my throat as we exit the threshold through the study, and my hand reaches out, lacing my fingers with his quickly.

“Not a mockery, Gaster. As hard as it is to admit most of the time, I may hate everything that has happened to me, but it all led me to where I am. By your side, by theirs. My new family. I’ve found my home, and I’ll never regret that, no matter how hard it was to get to.”

His bright aura warms my heart and my skin, but the sentimental moment is shattered when Tillman’s element coats me, leaving a thin layer of stone around me as the floor beneath my feet trembles.

As we burst through the end of the hall and enter the large foyer, seven of the eleven individuals are gathered, elements at the ready, waiting for us to enter.

A whip of fire cracks through the air, and my heart thunders in my chest as I watch it come directly toward us. Protectiveness like no other surges through me, mingling with the pulses being passed to me from Corentin and Tillman. My reaction is quicker than my thought process as I shove Gaster behind me on a current of air.

My hands land on my men in front of me as soon as I spin back around, and the second their bodies open up to mine, I push my elements, both air and earth, through to them. The wisp of flames stands no chance against them even without my added power, but with the kick I’m giving them, they unleash hell.

Oakly stands strong at my side, mimicking me and pushing her water as fiercely as she can through to Nikoli. Her other men join him, shoving everything they have at the enemies across from us as though this is nothing more than practice.

This small altercation is over in a blink of an eye. Honestly, it’s an overkill, but my anxiety is skyrocketing. I whirl around to face the person who I’m blaming for that.

“Corentin is right. You’re not to come back to this realm, or any mission, or fight or anything ever again. You’re to stay in the comfort of the palace, mansion, or academy forever and ever.” I heave as I place my hands on my hips and stare Gaster down.

“I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, thank you very much, missy.”

“Who’s being overprotective and possessive now?” Caspian says sarcastically as he emerges from the shadows with Draken and Keeper in tow.

They honestly took far longer than I figured they would’ve.

“Did you witness any of that? He could’ve been burned.” I fuss, being far too dramatic, but I swear my heart feels like it’s trying to crawl up and out of my throat.

“You’re one hundred percent correct, Adored,” Keeper says, bowing his head, but I see the shit-eating grin on his face.

He’s just trying to stir the pot.

“You see how it feels, huh, Willy? It’s never easy watching you run into danger.”

“Traitor, whose side are you on? You should be fussing at him as well.” I snark at Oakly as she chuckles.

“I’ll stay out of trouble, child. Don’t fuss over me anymore. We had that completely handled, right, boys?” Gaster asks, and I narrow my eyes, daring my men to disagree with me on this.

“Stay behind us at all times, Gaster,” Tillman orders, drawing a victorious smile to my face. “See Lyker on your way back down?”

“Yeah, they’re on the way down now,” Draken answers as he comes to stand by my side.

Not two seconds later, Lyker, Aria, Lennox, Kyan, Zane, Codi, and Trex all enter the room and my gaze trails over each of them, making sure they’re okay.

I’m not sure if it’s just being in this house, not knowing what we’re getting ready to face, or what, but my protective instincts are in overdrive. My dragon is restless in my chest, needing to sense and make sure each of her family, her flight , is okay. It’s bleeding throughout me and I can’t tame it .

Draken’s eyes trace along my body, but they linger for a while on my chest before they lift and meet mine. It’s as though he knows what’s running through my mind.

“It’s not a bad thing or anything you should try to shove down, little wanderer. It’s her natural response. It’s likely the tight quarters that’s making her even more jumpy. There’s nowhere here for her to spread her wings if need be, so she’s hypervigilant. Embrace it.”

Apparently, he does.

The moment I take a deep breath and tell my dragon everything’s okay, we’ll protect them, she calms right down, standing guard, ready for anything.

“How did you know?”

“My dragon sent me an impression of your dragon pacing back and forth. I’ve felt that instinct every day for fourteen years. I knew what you needed,” he says cockily, shooting me a wink.

My dragon and I roll our eyes while giving him a grateful smile before I focus on Tillman. “So that leaves four.”

“Ry.”

“They’re in the exact direction Willow said we’d be heading. Looks like the door has guards now.”

“Four against nineteen. Easy-peasy,” Oakly cheers, earning herself a glare from her most burly of men.

She isn’t wrong.

Hopefully.

Other than Ry’s intense stare, no one disagrees or discourages her words and we set back off throughout the house. With each step, the tension in my body grows. The closer we get to what we’ve been preparing, training weeks for, the more anxious I grow.

Not fearfully anxious, but excitedly.

My body is jittery with the multitude of emotions coursing through me. The instincts of my dragon that are still surging, the love pounding in my heart from my men, Gaster, Oakly, even my brother. The thrill of finally getting rid of the blood that ran through generations of females in my family .

It’s a lifeforce that was stolen from all of us, and now I get to set it free.

We’re about to reunite brothers that have spent years separated from one another. Never knowing if today or any day was going to be their last. Not only that, the two of them trapped here, get to meet and awaken their fourth and final bond.

It’s exhilarating.

“You just don’t know when to give up, do you, girl?”

The voice that travels down the hall to us halts our footsteps momentarily and it snatches me right out of my mind, causing my exhilaration to give way to a mixture of confusion and aggravation.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Breaking out of my shock, I haul ass around the corner to the lone hallway with everyone right on my heels behind me. As soon as my eyes lock onto those that stand blocking the door we need to get through, I grimace.

“Fuckface. You’ve seen better days.”

I don’t have an ounce of guilt or remorse as I take in the angry, melted skin that’s butchered and hanging from Gish’s face. It’s a sickening sight to behold, that’s for sure. Although someone tried their damnedest to heal him. It looks as though the healer didn’t attempt to remove the melted skin but tried to mold it back together.

That didn’t work and now his face droops in dead, wrinkled layers.

All the hair on his head is gone, leaving behind a shiny scarred scalp that’s no longer tan like the rest of his skin but multiple shades of angry red. One side of his face took far more of the burn than the other and I can’t help but stare at the closed over indention of where an eyeball should be.

“This isn’t going to end the way you think it’s going to, girl,” Gish barks and his brothers step closer to his side.

“Yeah, yeah. You said that last time. Look at you now. I assume demoted, stuck in the nonmagical realm because really, what use are you to the Summum-Master with one eye?”

“You’re not getting through this—”

“I’m so fucking over this.”

Shockingly, it’s Corentin who growls out that sentiment, and faster than I was prepared for, four of his clones stand in front of Gish and his brothers.

I follow the outstretched hand that rises beside my face and turn just in time to see his replicas slam their hands on the men’s chests. He gives them no warning as his air forces what I assume is more than their lungs to explode. Their bodies hit the ground simultaneously with echoing thuds and the four Corentins turn around to face us as one.

“That’s incredibly unnerving,” my brother whispers behind me.

That’s incredibly hot.

“Could’ve let me read their minds before you impulsively did that,” Tillman remarks sarcastically.

“That would’ve required apprehending them, removing the runes, then reading their minds. I don’t have the time or patience for that currently. They didn’t have anything we want or need, and they honestly got off easy in my opinion. Cas, clean up if you don’t mind,” Corentin says smoothly as he calls his gift back to him expertly.

I nearly melt into a puddle when he smirks over at me and flicks away imaginary lint off his shirt.

“Your turn, Primary,” Caspian says chuckling, smiling proudly at his brother after a wave of his shadows covers the bodies, leaving nothing in my way to approach the door.

Riding the high of Corentin’s well-deserved confidence, I pull my shoulders back and walk toward the daunting door that’s no longer concealed from view.

It’s different now than any other time I’ve seen it.

My finger traces the new groove in the wood that’s never been there before. There are no designs, nothing grand, just a large circle chiseled smack in the center of the door.

“Whatever you’re tracing, child, we can’t see,” Gaster says quietly behind me.

“None of you see the circle?” I ask, peering over my shoulder to watch everyone shake their heads .

Humming, I mentally modify the spell I’ve learned a few different ways now, and on my exhale, I cast my magic out.

“Reveal the truth for our knowing eyes,

Show us the secrets behind their disguise.”

A wave of power flows through us as a shimmering layer falls away from the door. I know it’s clear for everyone now to witness as they all make some sort of acknowledging noise.

“I assume my blood is supposed to travel the circle.”

“It’d seem that way, Adored. There’re remnants of your blood along the outline,” Keeper says as he leans forward, observing the carving.

Here goes nothing.

“Everyone ready?”

A stream of grunts and mumbled yeses echo around the hallway, and I take a deep breath, shifting my nail into a claw. I barely feel the piercing in my skin as I press the sharp tip into my other hand and wait as my blood begins to pool on the pad of my index finger.

I place the digit into the grove of the circle at the very top and slowly, I drag my hand around. Vibrations through the door continue to intensify and by the time my bloody points meet, my entire arm is shaking.

For a moment, the grove locks me in place, not allowing me to pull my hand free, and uncertainty skirts through me along with the tremors now rocking my body from the magic shattering around the door.

Not just the door.

Almost as though a hundred locks on the other side all release at once, metal sliding across metal booms around us. Right before our eyes, the entire wall shimmers out of existence.