7. Seven

Us. It's about us.

I repeat her lullaby over and over in my mind, analyzing every line, seeing if we missed anything.

We didn't.

Her lullaby is about the members of this Nexus, there's no doubt.

"If that's the case, your stranger would've had to know that," Tillman muses aloud. Willow's playing with her Memoria stone, running it back and forth on its chain mindlessly, shaking her head slightly.

"Maybe, but I'm not so sure. I assumed Elementra told them, and they taught it to me. I learned this when I was six. You all were what, fourteen, thirteen, thirteen, and eight. At that point, Elementra would've been the only one to know we were a Nexus. The lullaby is vague enough to sound like it's an easy way to teach me about the four elements."

The order in which they're listed is the same order as our ages. Starting with me and ending with Draken. I'm now thirty-four, Tillman and Caspian are both thirty-three, and Draken's twenty-eight, so Willow's right, we would've been children, our Nexus not even formed when her stranger taught her this.

The descriptions of the elements are vague and even if someone outside of our Nexus tried to decipher the words, they still wouldn't be able to relate it to us. But once I break it down, it's crystal clear.

Air wise and sweet.As the oldest, I've tried my hardest to lead them, teach them, and protect them as much as possible. I'm not sure I'm wise, but I try to know everything I can in order to take care of them, and now Willow as well. Sweet has never been a word used to describe me, but she gets that side of me, a side unknown even to myself. She pulls it out of me.

Earth stands strong, all Tillman. He's physically strong, a fucking beast, but it's his mental strength, his will. His will is stronger than all of ours combined, almost impenetrable. I've only seen him lose it a handful of times in our lives, the first when Aunt Tilly died and every time after has been over Willow.

I hate to think of Caspian as broken. I'd never want to think of my brother that way, but I can't deny the fact that when he was taken, pieces of him shattered and they've never been put back together, until now. Willow's slowly mending him whole.

And Draken, he's the embodiment of feeding the soul. His carefree warmth reminds us, every day, to enjoy the life we're given. His start in life was shit compared to ours and we baby him still to this day because of it, but without him, we'd be a bunch of workaholics. Lost, nothing but serious, unhappy men.

Then there's her, the one. She'll bring us all together as one.

"Knowing the identity of your stranger would answer a fuck ton of questions, but Elementra flat out said secrets would have to unfold. I guess it's a waiting game." Draken shrugs, that carefree nature of his ready and willing to just go with the flow.

"Well, none of you have said how you feel about this. I got the general idea from your emotions, but did you take it the way I did? Is this really a responsibility I have to take on?" Her eyes betray the brave face she's been putting on for us since she woke up.

She doesn't want this, she doesn't want this responsibility, but she's going to own it because the consequences are too great for her not to. She's afraid to fail.

Same, baby. Same.

"One way or another, the E.F.'s been going after them for over twenty years. I would've been a part of the fight no matter what. I hate the thought of you being involved. I've seen what they do to people they kidnap. I don't want you around it. The thought…" Tillman pauses, pulling her closer and shaking away that train of thought. "But at the same time, you've unraveled more about them in the time you've been here than we have in two decades. I don't think we'll be able to do it without you. Whatever capacity that proves to be."

"I wish it weren't you, little wanderer. I wish for this to be put on anyone else in the realm. But I'm going to be here for you no matter what and do whatever I need to do to keep you safe," Draken tells her sincerely.

Since the moment she arrived, he's been ready and willing to do whatever it is she wants. If she were to say, to hell with the realm, let it burn, he'd be the one to start the fire. Or better yet, he'd probably tell her to burn it down herself, then he'd dance with her in the flames.

"I would've been ready and willing to sacrifice anything. This realm, my life, whatever, to get what's owed to me. But you? No. Fuck this and fuck that." Caspian pushes away from the table, pacing back and forth.

In the last two days, I've seen a shift in him I never thought I'd witness. He may not think I can see that black, icy armor he has cracking, but I see everything. There's not much any of them can hide from me.

I knew it'd take time for him to come around to the idea of a true Primary, and it'd really take some work for him to be willing to get close to Willow, but over the last forty-eight hours, none of us having any idea if or when she'd pull out of this pushed him right over the edge quicker than I thought possible. He went from avoiding her to obsessing over her in a matter of days.

Now the thought of something happening to her has him fighting back his demons. His shadows swirl and wither around him in purposeful, sharp movements, casting him in a disoriented blur of black clouds.

Willow stands and slowly walks to stand in his way, stopping his pacing. He doesn't embrace her, though. He turns away from her, placing his hands on the edge of the table, and bows his shaking head.

"I'll be okay. She said I may face obstacles and sacrifices, never that I'd be sacrificing myself."

"Why do you have to sacrifice anything? You've done enough of that already." Caspian slams his fist on the table so hard it slides a few feet from him, causing Willow to flinch and jump back.

The three of us are up and out of our seats in seconds, ready to pounce, but we don't have a chance to reach either of them as he shrouds her in his shadows.

"Caspian, I fucking swear—" Draken's cut off as Caspian drops his shadows enough for us the see him holding her.

"I'd never hurt you or lay a hand on you. I'm sorry for scaring you. Don't fear me, little Primary." His eyes are nearly pitch-black as he looks down at her with a strained but soft face.

His words are gentle whispers, something I didn't know my brother was capable of, but he's letting us hear and see this, so we know he didn't mean to lose his shit.

"I know. I know you wouldn't. It was just a reflex. I'm okay, you're okay. But you can't let your fear and anger overrule us doing what's right, Caspian. We can't turn and hide from it because this may be dangerous. We know they're dangerous. We've both experienced it already. We can't continue to allow them to do it to other people because we're afraid," she says sweetly as she traces her fingers down his face in a calming gesture. Something I've noticed they both do to one another in high-stress situations.

Taking a few deep breaths, he nods and kisses her forehead, then turns her to face us. Draken snatches her from him, and his dragon lets out a threatening growl.

"Don't you dare." Me, Tillman, and Caspian stand shocked at the rumble leaving Willow's chest. We watch as her eyes shift to purple slits, her dragon surfacing to meet his threat to one of her men.

"He scared you. Could've hurt you." Draken's deep, darkened voice argues back, clipped from the restraint he's using to hold his dragon at bay.

"He would never. None of you would," she says, stepping closer to him. Wrapping her arms around Draken's waist, a soft purr vibrates through her chest, and I gape in amazement as his eyes shift back to normal, his shoulders slump, and he returns her hug. She doesn't pull her dragon away until he's completely subdued.

"That was impressive. How did you know to do that?" Tillman asks Willow as he comes to stand behind her.

"Just did what my dragon told me to do. But I got to warn you, it probably would be best not to threaten each other in front of me. My bond was on the verge of freaking the fuck out, not knowing who to go to, while my dragon told me to dominate Draken until he submitted to me." She shoots Draken a sly grin, a playful challenge in her eyes.

He throws his head back, laughing, not the slightest bit offended, then lifts her by her thighs and attacks her mouth. I sit here, staring as my dick grows painfully hard, watching them feast on each other.

"My dragon likes the thought of that challenge, little wanderer."

"I wouldn't mind watching that," Tillman grunts.

Caspian hums in agreement. "I will be watching that."

Fuck me.

Shaking the images from my mind, I pull her out of Draken's arms and sit her in a seat. As much as I'd love nothing more than to spread her across this table and devour every inch of her with my brothers, we have things to discuss. I pass her a fresh cup of coffee to make her focus, which does the trick instantly, and I center myself.

"Uh-oh, I know that look. You're about to tell me something really upsetting or something that's really going to piss me off." I let a small smile cross my lips.

She's so observant. She may not call me or the others out every time our faces or feelings give something away, but she always notices and speaks up when she feels like she needs to.

"I've been trying to find the right time to tell you this. Before you found out about being our Primary, I wasn't ready for you to know, but when you came back and we had our talk, I promised you no more secrets, and I've kept that promise, just this is big and I didn't know how to tell you without you freaking out, so I—"

She grabs my hand to stop my spew.

I want to snatch it away so she doesn't feel the sweat on my palms or the slight tremble in my hands. I try to slip my expressionless mask on, treat this as a meeting. Deliver the news, answer the questions, get it over with.

But Willow isn't having any thing to do with that. She tightens her hand on mine in a death grip, her displeasure written all over her face, warning shining in her eyes that says don't play that shit with me.

"Whatever it is, it's going to be okay. It can't be worse than being sucked into your own unconscious mind by the creator of the realm," she says slowly.

Just say it.

She can't run. She's bonded with Draken, so she can't leave us.

Well, it wouldn't surprise me if they ran together and I had to hunt them down and drag them back home.

Control yourself.

"We're the Vito Nexus, as you know. Me being the oldest doesn't much matter or determine our Nexus name. Even if it had been Draken who was the oldest, we'd still be the Vito Nexus because of our bloodline."

Her eyes bounce back and forth, looking between mine, trying to read between the lines, but I can see the denial trying to push its way through.

"My uncle Orien was supposed to be the next ruler, but he was the rare phenomenon, just like Gaster, who was never blessed with a Nexus, so the line of succession fell to my mother. You must have a fully bonded Nexus to rule. It preserves the balance of power, and your line must carry on to stay in power. It's normal that most Nexuses only have one child due to our long-life cycles. It's the way nature has worked its way around over populating. But the Vito line has defied that for the most part in the last two generations.

"My grandmother had three children, my uncle, my mom, and my aunt. When my mom had me, it sealed my fate to carry on the line of succession if I had a Nexus. Then my Aunt Tilly—Matilda, was her name—had Tillman, and it secured his place had anything happened to me, until my mother was blessed once again with Caspian, placing him next in line and completely securing our family's place to continue in power."

I pause to take a sip of my coffee, hoping Willow will react so I can judge how she's feeling, if she figured out what I'm trying to say without saying it, but she gives nothing away.

Here goes nothing.

"When we emerged as a Nexus, there were no more backup plans. We are it. And since our Nexus is the next in line to rule, that makes you the next Matriarch of Elementra."

The seconds pass by in eerie silence. Willow doesn't speak, doesn't blink. I'm not even sure she's breathing right now. It's like she has completely disassociated from the situation. She's here, but she's lost deep in her thoughts, turning this information over and over.

That's until she bursts out of her chair in a flurry of anger, throwing her hands up, screaming at the sky.

"Are you serious? This wasn't something you thought may be important to share with me? ‘Oh, by the way, Willow, not only am I giving you the choice to save the realm or not save the realm, but you're also the princess of said realm. Enjoy.' Are you kidding me?" she screams and kicks, sending flaming dirt balls flying across the back lawn.

Her elements form a vortex of fire and earth, like a river of lava swirling around her in a protective casing as she hits her knees, tears flowing down her face.

My heart cracks at the sight. My strong, resilient, beautiful, perfect Primary feels like the weight of the world is piling on top of her when all she wants is to be free. I refuse to let it bury her. We'll hold her up. We'll do whatever she needs us to do. I'll make sure of it. Despite whatever comes next, I'll make sure she's happy, loved, safe, and free. Always.

The four of us push from our seats, preparing to go to her, when suddenly, her elements drop from around her and something freezes us in place.

A soft breeze travels through the branches of the towering trees of the forest and the air crackles with an energy that seems to vibrate in sync with the heartbeat of the ground itself. The gentle winds tangle themselves around Willow playfully, lifting her hair and ruffling her clothes.

"Yeah, I know, I know. I drop a bomb on them, they drop one on me. Balance, blah, blah, blah. A warning still woulda been nice." She sighs deeply, her eyes remaining closed. "Doesn't make it any easier."

Me and the guys are released from our stasis, and we immediately squat in front of Willow. The wind circles her once more in a loving embrace before fading away, releasing the tension in the air.

"Elementra sends her regards," Willow whispers, giving us all a teary-eyed smile.

I can barely process her words. My ears ring in sync with the pounding of my heart. That power, that feeling, was Elementra…talking to her…calming her down.

What the fuck?

"My little wanderer is the creator's favorite." Draken jumps up, hollering, startling the shit out of all of us.

His laugh is so manically animated, I can't help but snort, then fall into a fit of laughter with him. It doesn't take much more than that for the others to join us. It's what we all needed to break off that intense moment. There's nothing much else we can do.

"I didn't handle that news nearly as gracefully as you all handled mine. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for, baby. I'm sorry to put this on top of you. We can refuse to rule, let them have a trial, and another family can take over. We don't have to do this." It's not nearly as simple as that, but I'd make it so if that's what she wanted. I'd give it all up in a heartbeat for her, consequences be damned.

"I appreciate that, but I'm not that na?ve, Corentin. I can't imagine it's as easy as saying, sorry our Primary doesn't want to be Queen, here's the crown—crowns, I guess—back. Nor are there coincidences in Elementra. Caspian's right. Apparently, we all were predestined for this." A deep, saddened look crosses her face, one that says something other than this news has her upset. Draken must pick up those feelings through their bond because the huge smile he was wearing melts off his face.

"Hey, hey. What's that feeling? Why are you straining the bond?" he speaks gently, cupping her cheeks.

"If all of this was planned out for us, who's to say the way any of you feel for me is even real? What if it's just the bond and our destinies pushing you all toward me?" she hiccups as the tears that had stopped threaten to fall again.

Nos echo around the open space as we all jump to correct her.

"No, Willow. Don't think like that. I won't hear anything like that come out of your mouth again. I wanted you and loved you before we ever fully bonded, and you still aren't fully bonded with the others, and they feel the same. It may make us act emotionally and want to be closer to one another, but our feelings are our own. The bond just multiplies them. I'd have gravitated toward you with or without it. Don't say that or think like that again." I've never heard Draken be so stern with Willow, and it surprises the fuck out of me. She isn't prepared for it either as her eyes grow wide and her mouth gapes open.

"He's right, little one. Don't ever think like that," Tillman demands.

I press myself to her front, pulling her tightly against me, and the other three push in from all other sides.

"Don't doubt the way I feel again, princess. You're mine. Ours. And that'll never change."

"Is that why you spoil me so much, Gaster, because I'm a princess?" Willow laughs as Gaster fusses over her profusely.

He was pissed off that we waited until almost dinnertime to let him know she woke up, but after the morning we all had and the overwhelming amount of life-changing news we shared with each other, we needed time together with just us.

"I spoil you because I'm your Guardria and you're my granddaughter. It's what I'm supposed to do. And you have a habit of giving me mini heart attacks. If I were merely human, I'd surely be dead by now from worry. My goodness, how I'll feel when you take the throne." Dramatically, Gaster places his hand on his heart, and I shake my head at him.

Damn, I just calmed her down on the whole ruling a realm thing.

"That's a bit much and I don't ask for this crazy shit. It just happens. But now that you've brought the throne up, I need to talk about it. I have a lot of questions," Willow says seriously, leaning her head back on my chest.

I shoot Gaster a withering look because I told her we'd talk about it later. Let the realization of everything today settle, then I'd explain some things.

"Ah, you haven't explained anything yet, I see." His ass comments like he didn't already know that. I'm sure he sensed her apprehension and anticipation and decided to meddle to please her.

"No, we were going to talk about it later, but I guess later is now," I grunt, wrapping my arms around her.

It's not a very simple explanation. It's not cut and dry, straight to the point. My mom did things very differently than any ruler before her when it came to us. We do things very differently as heirs. It's easy for most of Elementra to even forget who we are. And that's the way we like to keep it.

"I'll start by putting your mind at ease, princess. We won't be taking the throne for hopefully another two hundred years." I start.

"Oh, thank fuck. I was so worried it would be when I finished school," she exclaims, blowing out a relieved breath.

"No, absolutely not. Elementra willing, nothing happens to my mom. What's your first question?" I ask nervously, not going to lie.

"Well, that was technically my first question and really cleared up a lot more. I was sitting here panicking, thinking I was going to have to study my ass off, save the realm, then take it over all in the span of a few years. I was prepared to pepper you with question after question about what all I need to start doing, but if I got two hundred years, I'll sit on the rest for now. I don't think my mind can handle it today," she says. I feel her body relax even more and I pull her closer to me.

I hate that this has her so worked up, but she's right. We have many, many years to get ready for it. Right now, we have so much more to worry about. We have to make sure the realm survives first or there will be no throne to even deal with.

"No, my mom and dads will continue to rule. Although they never wanted the throne," I say honestly.

"So your mom didn't want this either?" Willow asks quietly. I can hear the hope in her voice that she's trying to ease the guilt she's having. And that's okay. There's no reason for her to feel guilty. None of us truly want this. We're going to do it out of duty. It's what's best for the realm.

"Elementra knows that girl didn't want the responsibility, but she knew if she rejected it, it would fall to Tilly, and she wouldn't allow that. Poor Tilly got ignored by her mother from the moment she entered this realm, and Aurora wanted Tilly to have the freedom to do as she pleased. So despite not wanting to rule, she did, and she has. And she's done a remarkable job alongside her Nexus," Gaster praises.

"Like Gaster said, she's been an amazing ruler. She accepted her duty and has owned it. But she treats us very differently than how she was treated. She's very caring, nurturing, encouraging. She wants us to be happy, and she's always spoiled the hell out of all of us despite our dads' objections to it. She's always put a lot of responsibility on us, but that's been out of necessity because of how strong we are, not because she's going to force us to rule. She's never wanted us in the light of the elite society, but it was inevitable, so she made us work hard to learn how to protect ourselves, be smart, watch each other's backs.

"She makes it seem to the council—which consists of the top five ruling families—that she expects us to earn our place, when truly she gives us plenty of say-so and power already. We've been training our whole lives for this, but she won't just spring the throne on us. She's going to take her time with you, prepare you the best she can," I explain as simply as I can. There's still so much to the whole story, but most of it is irrelevant right now, and we'll teach her as we go. The main thing will be to keep her safe.

"Is there some type of way I'm supposed to carry myself now? And how did your mom feel about the news?" Gaster, the traitor, laughs at the blank expression on my face.

"No, act exactly as you always do," I answer, ignoring her second question completely.

Gasping, putting her hand on her chest, Willow completely turns around in my lap and gives me a death stare. "Oh my gosh, you haven't told her. Why don't you want her to know? She even asked you if you had a special lady in your life."

"Because once she knows, she's going to have to send out a royal release and announce it to the realm. Since true Primaries are rare, when the ruling family finds one in their line, it has to be announced. It gives the people some sort of unrealistic hope. Then the hounding of when we're going to complete the bond will begin, then she'll want a ceremony. It'll be a nightmare, and we should buy some time before that happens." Caspian thankfully jumps in to save my ass.

Although he makes it sound ten times worse than it truly is. She wouldn't hound us, per se, more so ask, constantly, what we are waiting for.

"Aww, that's sweet. She'll be happy, but yeah, I don't want the whole realm knowing just yet, nor do I want any pressure to complete the bonds before we're ready."

Oh, we're ready, baby. I think about it all day every day.

"Then it's okay with you to wait to tell her? As soon as I do, we'll have to plan a trip there or she'll be popping up at the academy," I say.

"Yes, I'm okay with waiting. But I don't want her to hear it from somewhere else. I feel like that's not a good way to start my relationship with her, so maybe when the time comes, sooner rather than later, we'll just be honest with her and tell her it's not a good idea for the whole realm to know yet."

"Aurora is very understanding, Willow. You have nothing to worry about. She'll be head over heels for you the moment she lays eyes on you. Both she and Tilly wanted girls so bad to doll up and pamper but were blessed with these heathen boys, which they still ended up spoiling rotten. She'll love you." Gaster laughs and carries on picking, but he's telling the truth.

"I don't know if this is rude to ask or not, so I'll just ask, then you can correct me, but is your mom a true Primary?" Willow asks.

My chest rumbles with silent laughter. Her curiosity is uncontrollable, and she can't help the questions that pique her interest. But no one corrects her, ever. She can ask whatever she wants, and we'll answer. I never want that wonder and curious light to dim in her.

"Yes, my mom is a true Primary to my four dads. Roye, Dyce, Neil, and Theo Vito," I tell her.

"Oh, I'll never forget the day they all met. When it came to light that Orien wouldn't have a Nexus and Aurora was named next in line, Drudy, the boy's grandmother, really upped the strictness of Aurora's life. She honestly barely had a life. It was by sheer Elementra interference that Aurora met her Nexus. Drudy was having Nexus interviews set up to pair Aurora with a strong group. When she surprised her with one, no warning, nothing, Aurora ran out of the palace, Tilly right on her heels. Those two were inseparable, close enough in age to be mistaken as twins.

"Aurora was distracted, yelling over her shoulder for Tilly to hurry it up. She didn't see anyone at the end of the palace drive and smacked right into Roye. I remember Dyce, Neil, and Theo chuckling at the madder than hornets look on Roye's face. The awakening happened as soon as he gripped her around her elbow and picked her up," Gaster recounts the story, making all of us smile.

We've heard the love story countless times, but it never gets old. It was by sheer fate that my mom's defiance led her right into the arms of her Nexus and they're still grossly in love till this day.

I want that.

"Probably another incredibly personal question but…growing up with four dads, how did you two address them? And which one or two, I guess, is your biological dad?" she asks shyly, her face blooming a bright red.

Her question takes us all by surprise and I stare at Caspian, giving him the opportunity to answer. He just smirks back, basically telling me I'll be the one to do it. I would've assumed she would've read this on her own about true Primaries and true Nexuses, but I guess not.

"Well, about our dads, we just called them well…dad. Dad, Dah, Pa, Papa, whatever came out, they answered. It's normal for everyone here to have a group of dads, so it wasn't something anyone had to discuss with us or talk to us about. If I were to be talking about one of them specifically in a group like right now, I'd say their name so you or anyone else wouldn't get confused. What makes you ask about which one is biological or not?" I ask, wondering where this is coming from.

"When I stayed with Oakly, she made the comment that her parents decided which man in the Nexus was the strongest, and that is her biological dad. But she said that's not how true Nexuses work. I was a little drunk and emotional at the moment, so I didn't ask any questions. I guess talking about your parents and how there ended up being two of you, which is rare, I guess made the question come to mind."

"Well, really, child, Drudy was the first phenomenon. She had three children, the first and only to date ever in Elementra, and all after the age of seven hundred. We were starting to think the Vito line would die with her." Gaster chimes in, chuckling at Willow's audible gasp.

"I'm sorry, come again. Seven hundred and having her first baby?" she asks, dumbfounded.

"Women of Elementra typically don't have their child until somewhere between the two-hundred-to-three-hundred-year mark, princess, so she was late by our standards as well," I tell her, hiding my own laugh at the comical look on her face.

"Um, really late. If we were in the nonmagical realm, we'd be gearing up to start a family now. Most women have babies somewhere between mid-twenties to mid-thirties, some earlier, some later," she exclaims.

I can't help it as my mind instantly goes to picturing Willow round and pregnant with our child. Fuck. It'll be at least two hundred years from now, but damn, that thought turns me on. Judging by the others' hungry gazes, they're thinking the same.

I look at Tillman at the sound of his grunt, knowing he's definitely picking up all of our thoughts on that.

I can't lie and say I haven't been jealous of him sleeping in her bed. Since the night of his nightmare, he's stayed in there with her. The only exception was when we got home the night before she shifted and heard what was going on behind her door. We left her and Draken to have their moment, but it took everything in us to walk away, not stand there and listen.

Sleeping in her bed beside her the past two nights, even getting up every few hours to check on her, was better sleep for me than I ever get. At best, I'm lucky to close my eyes and rest a couple of hours a night. Lying beside her, cuddling her in my arms, I felt like I could sleep the days away, but I don't want to push her or make her uncomfortable, so I haven't asked to join.

Clearing my throat and adjusting Willow in my lap, I force my mind back to the topic at hand and think about how I'm going to explain this next part to her, when truly I don't even understand it.

"I'm not quite sure why Elementra set up the Nexuses this way, princess, but when a true Primary becomes pregnant, it isn't just one of the men who's biologically the father, it's all the men in the Nexus."

"How is that possible?" she asks quietly, with wide, disbelieving eyes. I'm sure it's hard for her to understand because it goes against everything she's ever been taught or learned when it comes to having children, but that's how it works here.

"I'm really not sure, princess. I know as we get older, your sex drive will change, increase as we get closer to the childbearing age. So I don't know if that has something to do with it or it's simply the way Elementra designed us. It's just how it's always been in true Nexuses. When they came out with the blood testing system centuries ago, it was for chosen Primaries and Nexuses to see who the biological father was, but true Nexus children have always had the exact same, equal amounts of blood to match their fathers. Even me and Caspian tried it with our dads. They each are our biological dads," I tell her.

A cold tear lands on my arm, and I tilt Willow's chin back to look at me. There is a stream of tears rolling out of her beautiful silver eyes, and I'm not sure why. She doesn't seem sad, but something about what I just said upsets her.

"What's the matter, baby?"

"I don't know. I don't know why that's making me so emotional. I mean, I'm scared to death to have a child and I'm so thankful it's a couple hundred years away, but I guess when I first thought about what Oakly said, it almost made me not want to have a child at all because I would've had to pick one of you to father it and that hurt me, even just metaphorically thinking about it. So you saying that you all would be the father just made me so happy. I don't know, it's stupid. I shouldn't even be crying right now. This is so dumb."

We all lightly chuckle as she throws her hands in the air and wipes away her tears forcefully. It's not dumb, though, and fuck me, I honestly can't wait.

"Enough talk of babies. I'm far too young to become a great-grandfather anyways," Gaster teasingly says, causing us to laugh, but those laughs die out with his next words. "I don't want to cross a line by bringing this up, but I think it's important to discuss. In both Tillman's and Caspian's awakenings with you, Willow, your mother was brought up, and with what Elementra said about you continuing the path to find who you are and where you're from, I believe your mother was from Elementra."

We haven't discussed what we saw in our awakenings with her because she's said she didn't want to talk about what she's been through, so we haven't mentioned this.

I've racked my brain trying to figure out how her existence was even possible, and I've come up short at every turn. I didn't ignore the fact Elementra brought it up to her. I just don't have an inkling of where else to look.

"You both saw something about my mom?" Willow asks hopefully. Her yearning to know about her bleeds through her eyes.

"I saw the day you came home from school and asked about mommy and me day," Tillman says solemnly.

"I saw you being handed to your father as a baby. They said your mother named you, but they spoke of her like she was already gone.Your father said if you didn't show potential for what they need, they'd get rid of you like they did with her. I'm sorry, Primary," Caspian says gently as water begins gathering in the corners of her eyes again. Pulling her closer in my arms, I kiss her cheek and wipe away the stray tears.

"The night of Donald's initiation, I begged my father to make it stop. He said I was born but a useless woman and if I had shown any potential or if I'd been born a son, it would all be different. He called my mother pathetic for not getting either task right. I think he had an idea I possessed magic or was hoping I did," Willow admits softly.

"I think you're right, child. I think your father plays an important role in the Mastery from the nonmagical realm. And I believe your stranger knew that, and that's why they bound all your power," Gaster says.

"If that's the case, finding anything out is going to be solely based on when and what my stone shows me." She huffs, crossing her arms.

I can feel her frustration like it's my own. The need for answers to the never-ending questions. I know the frustration all too well. It's an obsession of mine to know everything. I've been this way since I was born. When Caspian was kidnapped, it multiplied tenfold. If I know everything, I can protect everyone.

"We'll figure it out, princess. I swear."

I'll do whatever I have to, to get her, her answers.

"Well, that was a lot to process, and I'm sure there's more to know, but for now, what's step one in saving the world?" Willow asks, going from one extreme to the next.

I press my lips to her head, running my fingers up and down her arm, silently laughing at her persistence. I'm not the only one who has to know everything.

"I don't believe it's as easy as that, baby, but regardless, step one is to continue to train you. Tomorrow, we go back to our routine. You're with Tillman in the mornings, training, and we get back to the academy. We're going to go to the Alpha Trials here soon. They're holding it during our break, so in three weeks, we'll be traveling to the Terravile pack to watch the trials and scope out the Mastery members who are living there. I have no doubt they'll try to rig this so another one of their followers takes over."

"Like a mission? Who"s all going?" she asks.

"A team from the palace, Ry and his guys, and our Nexus. Oakly can join them if she's meeting Tillman's standard in training by then. Our Nexus would've had to go anyway for multiple reasons. Tillman is supposed to be there scouting for potential recruits and for Lyker, being a former E.F. member under his command. It's a show of support and respect. We also would've had to go as representatives of the palace."

"So we're going to watch the trial then what, arrest the suspected members of the Mastery?" She lifts a confused, questioning brow at me.

"No, we won't approach them. Our goal is to witness who wins the trial and identify any that bear the M. Only wolf shifters can be in the running, so most of the trial will take place with them shirtless or in shifted form, giving us the opportunity to see who wears the mark. If the winner is a part of the Mastery, we'll plan a much larger mission to take on the pack. Jarod may have been trash, but he and his father played it smart by not informing all the pack members what they've been up to. If we storm in attacking, the entire pack will see it as a threat, not giving a fuck that we're E.F. They'll see it as war and attack back." That's a scenario I want to avoid at all costs.

I don't want anything to happen while Willow is there with us or go to war with a wolf pack that has many more times the number of E.F. members we'll be bringing.

"Smart. I still can't fight for shit, but at least now I can shift into a big-ass dragon." She beams.

"Hell yeah, you can, kitten." Draken shoots her a playful wink and blows her a kiss.

His nickname for her makes zero fucking sense.

We finally fall into an easier conversation, letting the weight of all our news and Willow's Elementra lesson settle. It's been a few stressful days, but listening to Gaster's stories of the trouble my mom and aunt caused, followed by the trouble we caused, makes it almost feel normal, okay.

"Caspian was the biggest prankster of the lot. When his gift emerged and he got control over it, he'd hide in the pantries, jump out, and scare the poor kitchen staff. Everyone would open the doors with brooms or spatulas, ready to smack him when he jumped out." I laugh at Gaster's imaginary swings of a broom, a reenactment of poor Ms. Grace.

"What made you start pranking everyone in the house?" Willow asks him with a huge smile on her face.

I know exactly where he's going with it when he grins at me and then at her.

"My emerging. I was stuck in the shadows for an entire day. I cast shadows across the entire palace, blackening every room. It took me hours to figure out how to project my voice beyond my shadows so everyone could hear me, but I still couldn't find my way out and they couldn't find me. Finally, Corentin managed to come up with the idea that he'd light up like the damn sun in the foyer again. It stole the shadows away and I fell out. It became a running joke after that."

"Again?" She turns to ask me as I sip my drink rather than answer.

"Because of his emerging. He—"

I cut Gaster off with a grunt before he starts getting to that embarrassing-ass story, but Willow casts her gaze up to me, a sweet, mischievous look playing across her face.

"Will you tell me about your emerging?"

I groan as everyone else at the table starts laughing at my expense. My gift emerged with a bang, just like my brothers' did, but it was an embarrassing bang. Completely out of control, chaotic. It was awful.

"You really want to know?" I hoped she'd say no, but I can tell by the sly grin, she isn't going to let me off the hook.

"I do. By all their laughs, something funny happened, and I want in on it."

Damn.

"Fine. Every year, Mom and Aunt Tilly threw huge, ridiculous birthday parties for us, but that birthday, my mom told me we weren't throwing a party, that she was taking me somewhere special, so she sent me to go get ready and get dressed up. After I got out of the shower, I searched everywhere in my room for my favorite pair of pants and shirt. I was a little obsessive over what I wore."

"Was? As in past tense?" Caspian asks sarcastically, raising a brow at my choice of words.

"Fuck off, was, am. Same difference. Anyway, they weren't in my room, and I was determined that's what I was wearing for the day. So I stormed out of my room, heading to the laundry to see if the staff had them in there. Well, unbeknownst to me, my mother and aunt had planned a huge surprise party, so when I came stomping through the foyer, my mom dropped the concealment spell and a hundred guests popped out, shouting surprise. It scared the shit out of me.

"Winds, strong enough to blow tables around the room, knocking over statues, vases with flowers, the cake, you name it, swept through the room, also snatching my towel from around my waist with it."

Willow's gasp is followed by hysterical laughter that causes a chain reaction and everyone at the table is in tears, laughing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please continue." She wipes her eyes and pats my chest. Groaning, I fall into the memory of that sheer embarrassment.

"There I was, butt-ass naked in front of all these people, my air going crazy, and I couldn't control it. Then blinding light shot from every pore of my body. Everyone started running around, screaming. Tumbling over each other, tripping over the chaos my air left behind. I was freaking out and started running with everyone, trying to find one of my dads, Caspian, my uncle, someone to help.

"My light began shifting, making the entire foyer resemble a room of mirrors. And there I was, naked as the day I was born, on display at multiple different angles for everyone to see. Finally, Caspian figured out which me was the real me and covered me with my towel. Needless to say, there was no party, and I didn't leave my room for the rest of the week."

Their laughs create a sweet melody that floats through me and settles in my chest. Sure, I'm embarrassed for fourteen-year-old me, whose balls had barely dropped and was just getting to the point of wanting to impress girls, but hearing the love and laughter coming from my Nexus makes it all worth it. Feeling my Primary vibrate on my lap in fits of laughter and happiness is worth any story any of them want to share.

"Oh God, Corentin, that's awful. I'm so sorry for laughing, but I swear I can picture your face in my mind. Running around naked…" She trails off, giggling, trying to compose herself. It's such a beautiful sight.

"It was horrible, terrible. A kiss would make it so much better."

"That was so cheesy," she teases.

Beaming up at me, she cups my cheeks before pulling me down to her. I fall wholeheartedly into the kiss, savoring the sweet taste of her. Running my hands up the back of her neck and into her hair, gripping firmly, I tilt her head back and deepen the kiss, humming in approval as she instantly lets me take control. I swallow down a needy little moan she releases, just as someone clears their throat.

Damn it, old man.

A blush creeps across Willow's cheeks, but that doesn't stop her from cuddling back into my lap and facing everyone, not shying away from the affection she just showed me.

"Sorry, got a little distracted there for a second."

"Huh-uh. Let's eat before our food gets cold. Are you excited for classes tomorrow?" Gaster asks, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah. I can't wait to see Oakly and the archives," she answers vaguely, pushing her food around her plate.

"What about your classes?" I ask, watching her closely. The way she won't look up from her food and the way her body tenses against mine lets me know she doesn't want to answer me truthfully.

"My classes are fine. It's just I'm much further ahead in my Air Element than even the second years, and Gaster's teachings have far surpassed my Enchantments class. So I get bored, then I feel guilty because I have quite the advantage over the rest of my class." She gestures her hand around the table to us.

When I first set her up with these classes, I didn't expect her to take so quickly to everything Gaster taught her, or that she'd learn so much from us, and she hasn't complained, so I didn't realize she was bored. Now that I think about it, he's taught her things the academy doesn't even teach, things that come from centuries of wisdom and age.

And she's more than likely surpassing most fourth years in air and earth, and I have no doubt her fire will catch right up, although no one can know about those two elements.

Her control is truly unmatched. You'd never know her elements were bound with no use until recently. They obey her command like she's been using them every day of her life. It took me and my brothers years to match the level of control she wields.

"If you'd like, tomorrow, we can run a field test and see if you surpass the fourth years in Air Elemental class, and if you do, I'll withdraw you and you can spend that extra time with me, Tillman, or Gaster. If you don't, I'll move you up to that class."

"What kind of field test?" she asks skeptically.

"The fourth-year final. It's a series of tests that'll show your control and the strength of your air element but on a practice basis. You won't really be graded on it, unless you pass it, then I really will document the passing grade."

"Will I have to do this in front of the whole class?"

I shake my head, easing the worry I see on her face. "No. The four of us will be there, but we'll have to have one unbiased instructor there to administer the test and base the final grade."

"Oh, well, that won't be too bad then. You've all seen me use my air element plenty of times. When will we do it?"

"First thing in the morning, before you go to Gaster's, so depending on how it goes, we use tomorrow to set up your new schedule, with or without an Air Elemental class." I decide, pulling my communicator out, letting the instructor know to meet us at the training fields first thing in the morning.

Looking at Draken then back at me, I can see unfairness flaring in her eyes, and I know what's coming before she even asks.

"Why does Draken still have to take a Fire Element class? We all know he surpasses them."

"Good fucking question, little wanderer."

"He won't stop burning people who piss him off. There have been countless complaints, so he must stay in the class until he figures out how to control that," I tell her, rolling my eyes at his bullshit.

"Draken." She tries to play it off as her being stern, but her giggling at the mock horror on his face betrays that notion.

"They all deserved it. I shouldn't be punished for that." He tries to justify. Willow and Caspian both laugh, only encouraging his nonsense, but luckily, Tillman's on my side and backs me up that Draken won't be getting out of his own classes.

"What about my Enchantment's class? I'd hate to leave Oakly, but I think I just distract her when we go over things I already know, and she doesn't call me out about it."

"There aren't many other options since we can't expose your other two elements, but I was thinking you should join Draken's shifter class, at least tomorrow, and see how it goes. He isn't allowed to shift because of the nature of his animal, so we can say your animal is rare and on a need-to-know basis only. But I think it would be beneficial for you to learn shifter culture and how to control your dominance." I'm fighting myself on that decision because she'd be the only female in that class.

We can't put lower dominant females in a class full of strong shifter males. That'd just be asking for trouble. Seeing her dominance come out to play today and go toe to toe with Draken, there's no doubt she'll handle herself in there with the others.

"I didn't even think about that. Oh, I think that would be good." She smiles and claps her hands excitedly. Draken's overprotective stare says otherwise.

She'll be fine.