Page 43 of Gift from the Source (Source of Elementra #5)

“She can travel to the beyond. She pulled us here.”

“That she did. After we’ve discussed it numerous times that she was not allowed to do that. She’s asked me countlessly to let her try. I should’ve known eventually she’d do it anyway.”

“I should’ve brought GG too.”

My little girl pops up in front of us suddenly. The little giggling ray of sunshine pulls a smile to my face and I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“No.” Elementra says as I ask, “Who?”

“Grandpa Gaster. Duh. Grandpa CC would’ve loved it.”

My realm quakes.

My mouth pops open as everything within me freezes.

“Come on, Mommy.” She latches onto my hand and tugs me forward. I can’t get my feet to move, but a gentle shove from Elementra has me stumbling.

“A short visit will be okay. The damage is already done.”

The scene before me changes completely with every step we take. My men scurry to surround me, and it isn’t until their hands rest on me do I fill my lungs with air.

What just now was only a grassy stretch that we never seemed to cover any distance in becomes a glorious paradise.

My little girl releases me and runs off somewhere, but I’m stuck where I stand, looking at the creation in front of me.

“Where have you been, little missy? You’ve been impossible to keep up with today. ”

The voice has my neck whipping to the side so fast I’m surprised I don’t break it. My eyes fill with tears and a sob gets stuck in my throat.

“Look who’s here, Grandpa.”

CC’s smiling face turns and eyes the color of the sky collide with mine. For a fleeting second, they fill with joy before they crumble to bits.

“No,” he breathes, his gaze searching beside me as they well with tears.

“Calm yourself, Seer. It’s only a visit,” Elementra says.

“Dad,” I breathe.

He gives my daughter a kiss on her forehead before setting her down. In the blink of an eye, I’m thrown back in time as his arms wrap around me. I’m a little girl seeking comfort and love from her daddy.

My chest rattles as I cry into his chest.

I knew for sure I’d never feel this again.

“Everything’s going to be okay, filia mea .”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you more.”

My tears slow, but I don’t move. I can’t.

I’m home away from home.

“Tillme.”

The voice and nickname have my head popping up and CC slowly turns out of my arms, then pulls Caspian and Corentin to him.

“Draken.”

The second voice has my mind spinning.

“Mom.”

The overwhelming emotion packed into that echoed word, followed by the two of them racing forward has my hands flying to cover my mouth.

“Hey, my little dragonfly.”

My ears ring.

The reunion happening in front of me fades out as ever so slowly my body moves with a mind of its own. Ten feet to the right, my daughter walks hand in hand with my mom.

“Hey, Momma.”

The two of us collide .

I don’t know the time that passes as she holds me in her arms. Her hands finally cup my cheeks and she checks me over from head to toe. I do the same to her.

From her curly hair and silver eyes to the shape of our nose and build of our bodies. I got all her best features. I got everything from her.

Multiple voices clear from behind her and she glance over her shoulder, then back at me. “Would you like to meet your…” Her eyes hold a slight hint of doubt.

“My fathers. Yes. Very much so.”

The air that whooshes out of her chills the tears rolling down my face and I use my arm to wipe them away before clearing my voice. When I lift my head, my gaze lands on carbon copies of my brother.

Not exactly, but on each one of them, I can pick out a feature of his.

“Hey, baby girl,” they all say and the waterworks I just wiped away come flooding back. I’m swooped up into their arms and they hold me silently for a moment before my mom joins us.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. There’re to many different scenarios I’ve created to name because I never thought it would come true.”

“Same. There was no warning anywhere I’d have a daughter that would pull me into the beyond.”

My mom snorts and her arched brow looks at my little girl. “She’s been such a blessing. It’s because of her ability Elementra figured out a way for me to send you my letters.”

“What?”

“I don’t know the ins and outs, but your little one planted a bond in the beyond and Elementra’s grown it from there. She’s still a small mystery, but she acts exactly how I pictured you always would. So free, curious, and sweet. I’m incredibly thankful for the time I’ve had with her.”

The gratefulness I feel is no comparison. I pull her into me for another hug. “I love you, Momma. Thank you for taking care of her for me.”

“Always, filia mea .”

“Grandma, meet my daddies.”

The two of us spin around and my men are all standing there, looking at us. I can barely let my gaze linger on the red rims in their eyes and their bright smiles. The happiness and emotions I can’t even begin to explain that are rolling of them have me moving toward them with our daughter’s hand in mine.

This is one of the best days of my life.

“Mom, this is my Nexus. Corentin, Tillman, Caspian, and Draken.”

Her soft eyes fall on each of them and when she lifts her hands for a hug, Draken gets there first. “Hey, Momma Iris.”

She laughs lightly as the rest of my men move in for a group hug. “Hello, boys. Treating my baby girl right, I know.”

“Always,” they echo and I smile as they fall into easy conversation.

“Come on, Mommy. There’re so many people you have to meet.”

I chuckle a laugh that’s both tinged in amusement at her but sadness at the reality in her words. So many of our loved ones are here.

Tilly and Eryken stand side by side together as I’m led toward them.

Nerves spread throughout my body just like the first time I knew I was about to meet Aurora. I never thought I’d ever get the privilege of meeting any more mothers-in-law. Or fathers-in-law.

“This is grandma T and grandma E,” she says and the two of them scrunch their noses at her, making her laugh.

“It’s so nice to meet you both.”

They move in on me at once, wrapping me in their arms. The collective strength pouring from the two of them fills my heart to the brim. I’ve really been so blessed to have the most amazing women in my life.

“Thank you, Willow, for all you’ve done for Tillme,” Tilly whispers in my ear and I close my eyes.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”

She cups my cheek when she pulls back from me and I fall into her stunning eyes that match his. There’s so much balance and strength in her depths, I feel like I could move a mountain.

“Thank you for loving Draken the way he deserves, has always deserved, to be loved.”

“He’s so easy to love.”

“And take care of him for me, please.”

When Eryken pulls away, the guilt in her features guts me. The him she’s referring to isn’t just Draken.

“I promise I will.”

She steps away with a grateful nod and Tilly’s Nexus moves in. Each of the men welcome me as warmly as my other Patera-Nexus did and my heart’s so full I’m afraid it may burst.

For a fleeting second, I’m surrounded by family that have long since left us back in our realm. The outpour of love and support is overwhelming and it both breaks my heart and makes it whole to have been able to experience this.

I watch the way the guys cut up with CC, Tillman’s dads, my fathers. My mom, Tilly, and Eryken dote on my daughter like she’s the most precious thing they’ve ever seen.

This is magic.

“Time to go, Ultima unum .”

I sigh as I continue to watch my family. “We just got here.”

“It’s not where you’re meant to be.”

I know.

“What’s her name?” I ask finally.

“You will decide that when it’s time.”

The list starts creating instantly.

“Thank you, Elementra. For all you’ve done for me.”

“And you, Willow. We’d not be here now if not for you.”

I nod to her and choke back the tears that literally won’t stop coming. This has been the most emotional experience I’ve encountered in such a long time. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime blessing that I’ve been given.

I’ll never take it for granted.

“Time to say goodbye,” I murmur to my men and like me, a hint of disappointment hits them before they start pulling everyone into hugs.

“Come here, my girl.”

My smile widens as my little one comes skipping over to me with CC and my mom trailing behind her. She doesn’t have a care in the world about what she’s done and I shake my head at the trouble I now see that Elementra meant .

Yeah, she’s mine.

“It’s time for us to go, baby.”

“What? No, I just brought you here.”

Her eyes narrow as she tries to pull away. I gently run my hands back down her shoulders until I hold her hands. “I know, but this isn’t where Mommy and your daddies are meant to be. We live within the realm, and they need us. They always will. And one day, you’ll be there with us.”

“I know that. Grandma Elma keeps saying that, but can’t you stay a little while longer?”

My goodness, I want to say yes to that sweet little pout.

She’s going to have us so wrapped around her finger.

“Not today, baby. You’ll be with me soon.”

Her huff flutters my hair, and I laugh while tickling her sides.

“Fine, I guess.”

“You’ll have your parents all to yourself soon enough, Miss Priss,” CC says lovingly as he runs his hand down her hair.

“I am not going to be an only child. I want brothers. Two of them,” she declares, and my eyes widen.

My petrified gaze swings to Elementra. The shrug she gives me sends a mixture of pure terror and excitement through my blood.

Three children.

Holy fuck, three kids.

“I think a dragon was enough, sweet girl, don’t you?” my mom asks as she gives me a sympathetic smile as panic starts racing through my body.

“I’m sorry, Momma Iris, I misheard you. Did you say a dragon?” Draken asks.

“Silly Daddy. Of course. Prio’s my bonded dragon.”

“Someone get to explaining,” I say as I close my eyes and attempt to breathe.

My Nexus all kneel around me and run their hands over my back. They aren’t helping whatsoever. The second the four of them heard three kids, they were internally jumping for joy.

“She was very upset she wouldn’t have a dragon like you. She copied what she saw Keeper and Tanith have and sent her soul out to find her soul dragon. Prio’s heart only developed halfway. She declared she’d make him whole,” CC says, smirking.

“What do you mean sent her soul? She can do that?”

“There’s not much my soul can’t do, Mommy. It can travel wherever I need it to. That’s how I know I’m going to have two brothers.” Her little wink is the most adorable thing, but her words have me swaying again.

“That’s enough, Prima unum . Tell your parents goodbye.”

“Awww,” she grumbles as she slings her arms around her daddies, pouting sweet little goodbyes that have them struggling to let her go.

By the time she gets to me, real tears are filling her eyes.

“Hey, none of that, baby. Remember what I told you. You’ll be with me soon.”

She nods and wipes her eyes across her arm. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, filia mea .”

I hold her close as my heart breaks about letting her go. Elementra knows I don’t want to.

It’s easier, though, as I stand with her in my arms and pass her to my mom, and CC runs his hands down her back before pulling me into a hug.

“I love you as well, filia mea . We’ve got your girl for now.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, my little dragonfly. We’ll talk soon,” my mom says as she gives me a kiss on the cheek.

I fight back the tears and smile brightly at the three of them as they wave goodbye to me and disappear through the ever-changing scene.

“I still have some work to do, Ultima unum , before she’ll be ready to come to you. She’s a very determined little girl, which will serve her well, but—”

“We can’t have her shooting her soul around and tethering it to people. Or sending it across multiple realms. Or coming back and forth to the beyond whenever she wants.”

“Exactly. She’s almost there, though. The excitement of your arrival has her more bouncy than normal.”

“Wonder where she gets that from,” Cas comments sarcastically and we all snort as Draken elbows him .

“You all are going to be amazing parents to a phenomenal little girl one day, but enjoy your time and the beginning of your rule together.”

“Just a girl?” Corentin asks and I stare at him.

“We shall see. As I said, though, she isn’t ready yet. What happened today is a lot of information to hold onto. You don’t have to wait with bated breath. There’s a way to enjoy the surprise and keep the knowledge.”

Her finger lightly taps the Memoria stone around my neck and a shuddering breath escapes me.

Once all of my Memories were released to me, I said I’d never bound them again.

I don’t know if I can’t hold onto this day, though, and not drive myself crazy.

“We’ll discuss it back at home.”

“Of course, Ultima unum . Are you ready?”

No.

“Yes,” the five of us say at once although our hearts say something completely different.

Our eyes close as power surrounds us. The same sensation that comes over me when I move us through a portal fills me now and I bask in the warmth.

My body grows extremely heavy for a moment before my fingers wrap around the texture of cotton underneath me.

I sit up, gasping, and it’s quickly followed by my men doing the same. Our heavy breaths fill the silence. My heart’s beating so fast, I’m surprised that isn’t audible as well.

“Did that really happen or did you just give us the craziest damn dream you’ve ever conjured up, little wanderer?”

“No.” I shake my head. “That most certainly just happened.”

“That was so unbelievably incredible,” Tillman murmurs.

“I can’t believe that flash of light I saw was her. Our daughter shoved me out of the beyond.”

The awestruck tone in Corentin’s voice is indescribable. For so long now, we let the how of him coming back from the beyond go and were just thankful that it happened .

The how was so much more important than we ever could’ve imagined.

The silence dawns on us again. We each come to the same startling realization. It pounds through my chest in a wave of different emotions from impatient to enthralled. My heart thunders.

“I’m going to be a momma. The five of us are going to make a gorgeous, powerful, curious, sweet, and courageous little girl. She’s going to have and be everything I couldn’t be.”

A wisp of shadows wipes away the tear I hadn’t realized was falling from my eyes. Cas fills my line of sight and I exhale at the soft look in his whiskey eyes.

“How do you feel about that, Primary.”

“Terrified…I can’t wait.”

“How do you feel about keeping the memory of what we just witnessed?”

“I…want to keep it but also let it go.”

He nods in both understanding and agreement. The other three murmur their agreements as well and it makes the pressure on my chest lessen.

“We can sleep on it, princess. Talk more about it in the morning.”

“There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep after that.”

His lips freeze on my shoulder. The graze of his teeth scrapes me as his lips curl into a smile.

“I’m sure we can relax your mind enough for you to sleep, little warrior.”

As Tillman’s lips kiss down my other shoulder, a shiver rips through my body as the collective need in them intensifies. My pupils dilate and my breath hitches as they move around the bed.

“Practice makes perfect, naughty little Primary.”

“We’re going to be professionals by the time we have this belly swollen, little wanderer.”

A finger placed under my chin tilts my head back until I can see all my men in front of me.

“Are you ready, princess?”

It’s a loaded question .

Everything we’ve been through has always come with questions. And readiness was based on the situation in front of us.

We never knew if it would be hard or easy. Would we fail or succeed?

At every moment, one foot was in the light, the other in the dark.

A wing soared in the sky, while claws stayed rooted in the ground.

The only thing we never had to question was the belief we’ve had in one another.

Air became wise and sweet.

Earth stood strong, the soil beneath my feet.

Water flows whole.

And fire still feeds my soul.

So…am I ready for this next chapter in life with them?

My men.

My Nexus.

“Always.”

The End

Elementra will always welcome you home.