4. Four

Four

Willow

The connection in my mind snaps and I suck in a sharp gasp as I clutch my head.

Standing too fast, I sway harshly as the room spins around me. My face would’ve met the floor if shadows didn’t wrap around me to catch my fall while a vine wraps around my waist, gently pulling me back down to my seat.

Still, the room doesn’t stop its rotation as my mushy brain tries to solidify itself again and everything I see doubles.

“I…I still don’t understand. You skipped parts. We didn’t get to see what happened to you and I don’t understand your choice. CC, what did you do?” I ask out loud as I start to hyperventilate.

Although we just watched the memory from his perspective, that day tries to come to the forefront of my mind. What came after that is still blocked from me, but those emotions in that moment aren’t. The helplessness, the petrified way I felt seeing him lying against my tree, rushes me, and I don’t know if I want to scream or throw up. If he hadn’t shown us that just now, the entire occurrence would still be shielded from me .

“Take a deep breath for me, princess. I’ve got you,” Corentin whispers in my ear and his air fills my lungs.

Simultaneously, a healing vial is pressed to my lips, and I lock on to the watery whiskey orbs of Caspian. His body shakes violently, but his hands stay steady as he pours the liquid miracle down my throat. As soon as the last drop touches my tongue, he trails his fingers down my neck as if he’s following the liquid’s path to make sure I got it all.

“He was your first Guardria bond, wasn’t he, Primary?” he asks softly, just to confirm what he heard, and at my nod, he turns to Gaster. “And yours as well?”

“Yes,” Gaster answers, wiping the tears from his eyes with a cloth.

Cas doesn’t comment further, and his features give me nothing. They’re a cloud of confusion, understanding, and anticipation. Any other time, I’d swear the chaos of this situation would have him giddy, but right now, he’s so…subdued.

Understandably.

“I can’t put it all together. The pieces that are still missing…” I trail off, hissing as the sharp pain in my mind sends a zap through my entire body.

“Stop trying to force it, little warrior. It’ll just hurt more. Everything will settle and come when it’s supposed to. For now, we have more answers than before,” Tillman says.

Ever the understanding. Ever the patient.

“Yes, he is, and he’s right. All the times I’ve told you, it’ll all make sense soon. Well, soon is sooner than it’s ever been. Allow it to come as it’s supposed to, filia mea,” CC murmurs and I shudder at the sound.

“If you can’t give me the answer of how this is possible, will you at least tell me is this permanent? Will I hear you forever like you asked for?”

“Yes and no. There are rules for the request Elementra granted me. Such as, I will always come to you in times of importance or need if my presence doesn’t interfere with your path. I’ll always know what is being said and can respond in time like a conversation, but most times, I won’t be able to speak to you freely, give you all the answers you seek, or have everyday moments. There must be a purpose for my presence. As there is now. For now.”

“And the guys? Gaster? Will they always hear you?”

I ask because none of them have flinched or moved whatsoever since he spoke. I can’t tell if they can hear him, or they just know I’m having a conversation in my mind, so they don’t interrupt. One way or another, I’d like for them to have a warning. The effect this is having on all of them today is obvious and they’re only holding it together because I’m crumbling.

“Gaster and I will have conversations in your presence but none on our own. And the boys…not really. Few and far between will situations arise where they’ll hear me as you do. Today is an exception to that. Your freshly completed bond is at its peak of unsettledness, which allows the Memoria stone easier access to them, but that will not be the case for long. In the future, if you choose so, you may allow them in to hear or replay what I’ve said.”

“And what about—”

CC’s laugh ricochets through my mind, silencing my next question, and the sound makes the corner of my mouth twitch. That’s a melody I’ve long since forgotten, but now that I hear it clearly, remember it completely, I can recall the millions of times I’ve caused it. Me and my never-ending questions. Or my foul mouth.

“You get it all honestly, Willow. Never change. For now, though, take some time with the boys. Allow your mind a break. If you can.” His teasing tone pulls a choked laugh from my chest as I wipe beneath my eyes.

He’s never discouraged my questions, my curiosity. Even if he couldn’t tell me the truth, he found humor in the seriousness, and a teaching opportunity at every turn. He never made me feel like a burden for my always racing mind.

Turning my attention to my men and Gaster, I inform them of what I was just told, and the guys’ shoulders relax while Gaster’s almost perk up. There’s a stark difference between how my Nexus and my Guardria feel about having conversations with someone in the beyond.

“Corentin…” I whisper, gaining his attention from where he’s staring off into nothingness.

“Yeah, princess.”

“Are you okay?” I ask quietly .

This is a huge reality check for all of us, so I’m attempting not to invade their deeper emotions. The ones they’re trying to bury, but he’s completely blocked off. He’s giving me nothing.

“I’m not sure honestly,” he grits out.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. I don’t know what else to say.

What he discovered is only one surprising truth that we just uncovered. Multiple things, big things were just revealed to all of us.

“Gaster, are all your memories back?” Tillman asks.

“Yes, they’ve all returned now from what I can tell,” he says quietly, with a small smile on his lip.

“This is how you knew he was gone. You were the only one. Mom gave us no choice but to listen, believe he was gone although there was no proof. Did she know about the bond? Why did you keep it a secret from us?” Caspian asks, strained, seemingly hurt by the secrecy.

I hadn’t considered it, but now that Caspian’s pointed it out, something clicks. That day at Oakly’s family’s lake house, Gaster mentioned secrets not even the boys knew.

This was his secret.

“I’m sorry, Caspian. Everyone. I didn’t want to keep this a secret, but I didn’t have a choice. Until now,” Gaster says softly, then clears his throat. “Orien’s gift emerged at fifteen. He was the youngest of our time until you, Corentin.”

“No, he emerged at seventeen,” Corentin argues immediately.

“That’s when he openly shared his gift with everyone, but he truly emerged two years prior. His first vision came the night after his fifteenth birthday. He swore off his birthday after that. Ordered everyone to never mention his day of life from that point on.” He sighs, shaking his head and squeezing his eyes for a moment before carrying on. “He couldn’t share everything he saw with me, but he was inconsolable and told me we had a Guardria bond, but no one could know until the time was right. He made me vow to keep that secret with him, and I did because truthfully, at the time, I thought he’d just had a vivid night terror or something. He was frantic about it, so I made the vow to calm him.

“Lo and behold, he was telling the truth. The moment the vow was sealed with our magic, our awakening happened, then the bond snapped in place. I was over the moon. The draw to the Vito family that I’d felt for many, many years prior didn’t exactly make sense to me, but I’d chalked it up to having finally met what felt like family. Then it all clicked into place with Orien’s bond. Generations of the Vito line needed me, but he needed me and my guidance the most. He wasn’t thrilled at first about the bond, but that had more to do with everything else he saw that night. He learned a lot in his emerging, including the fact he would be Nexus-less. Also, I’m afraid, he learned of the time and way of his passing.

“As for your mother believing me, Orien had told her many times that if I were to say something about him, then to believe me. She, of course, denied my claim that he’d passed at first, but after a few minutes of pacing, she knew the truth. On a soul level she knew it. You could feel his absence in the palace like his life force to it was tangible. Then it was just…gone.”

Caspian sinks back into his seat, staring at Gaster in a whole other light, and slowly but surely, the sense of betrayal evaporates in all of them, but it leaves behind a deep, deep feeling of loss. One that coats my tongue so thick in ash, I could choke on it.

“So you just broke the vow?” Tillman asks.

“Not me. The vow broke when Willow entered the south wing. That’s why I was able to get close to her and you all weren’t. Orien’s power wasn’t holding me back. Then what happened between us when we entered unlocked a few of the memories, reminding me that I’m the one who gave him his middle name and nickname. I can’t believe that boy took that memory from everyone who knew him…The rest surfaced as we watched his last day unfold,” Gaster says softly, smiling as he looks around the space.

“What happened between the two of you before we came in?” Caspian asks, catching on to that little tidbit.

With a shaky voice and watery eyes, I explain how Elementra severed our bond so she could weave CC’s back in with ours, reconnecting the three of us. My heart and soul become lighter with my words, but the knowledge that Gaster spent eight years dealing with that level of suffering while I could hardly bear minutes of it splits me open .

My suffering was nulled. How the Memoria stone took that level of pain away from me, I’m not sure, but I’m grateful. I never would’ve survived the nonmagical realm if I was that crippled in my grief.

Tears flow down my face in streams as that thought puts yet another piece together for me. Elementra, CC, and the Memoria stone somehow worked together to keep that away from me so I could survive. They knew I was going to be alone again, so they tried to protect me as best as they could emotionally.

Draken’s quick to kneel in front of me, purring as he wipes the water off my cheeks, then lays his forehead to mine. “How about we explore? I know your mind is all over the place right now, but that curiosity still burns bright. Maybe that’ll help the memories and thoughts settle down a little.”

That’s exactly what I want.

As if his words have given my mind permission to slow down, focus on something else, I grace him with a huge smile. My dragon always knows what I want and need, even before I do.

“I’d like that. If everyone else is up to it,” I mumble.

Everyone’s interest piques and washes over me. They want to know just as badly as I do—hell, maybe more—what’s hiding behind these walls.

“Here, take this before you go on your adventure, Willow,” Gaster says, passing me another healing vial.

“Are you okay with exploring?” I ask him, then tilt my head back.

A brilliant smile breaks out across his face. It’s so contagious that I can’t help but mimic him. Why he’s so happy, I don’t know, but his aura is breathtaking and mine soaks it up like a sponge.

“This is a moment only meant for the five of you. CC meant what he said by this is your space. He and I are the only two who’ve been in here in hundreds of years and still only you all can enter the ward. Plus, you and I are not the only ones who’ve had our memories returned. I will go run interference while you all take your time.”

The pride in his voice sparks a bit of excitement in each of us, and our gazes naturally look at the hall that leaves this room. There’s so much mystery to that corridor and what lies behind it. My heart flutters with anticipation, stronger than the throbbing in my mind .

“Who else—”

“Oh shit…” I murmur as my hand flies to my mouth, cutting Corentin’s question off.

The memories slowly start coming to the forefront of my mind before settling into their new homes. Conversation after conversation replays through the years. My eyes trace the wording on the letters repeatedly.

“Your mom. She knows all about me. Well, we know all about each other. CC took her memories as well. Often at that. Your dads as well, just not as much,” I whisper, staring at Gaster’s mischievous eyes. He knew all about this, the whole time. Well, when his memories were his own to know.

“You’re going to have to give us more detail than that, little wanderer,” Draken says.

“CC spent years telling me about Aurora. Passing communications between the two of us. He never told me who she was to me, but as I got older, started asking more questions about my mom, girl things, and so on, he sought out help from the only person he knew to ask,” I mumble.

“Did Mom know who Willow was in all of this, Gaster?” Corentin asks, narrowing his eyes.

“Technically, yes, but she never got to keep her memories. Every conversation, every letter, was kept from her. I’m only privy to this because he warned me this would happen. She knew that Willow was your Primary and was in the nonmagical realm, and Orien told her that was how it had to be. So Aurora took what little and every opportunity he gave her to be there for Willow.”

A smile breaks out across my face as the memories continue to unravel for me. He started telling me stories about Aurora when I was eight years old, and he allowed us to communicate with one another through letters when I turned fourteen. I received a letter a month from then until I was almost eighteen years old.

“Where are our letters, Gaster?” I ask.

“That, child, I do not know, but we will find out. I’ll go and speak with her and her boys while you all get settled in. Come out when you’re ready,” he says cheerily, gives my head a kiss, then makes his way out of the ward with hurried steps .

“I’m so fucking confused,” Draken says, running his hands through his hair, huffing so forcefully, smoke blows from his nose.

“What’s there to be confused about, dragon? Our uncle was tasked with laying the pieces set forth by Elementra. That’s why he was granted the gift of sight. His dutiful meddling started with Willow’s mom, then his duty became Willow. Elementra blessed them with a Guardria bond because she needed the guidance and love of someone from this realm to prepare her for the shit show she was setting her up for. He also had to lay all the pieces for not only us but every single person in our lives so we’d be ready for her arrival. Mom got to have a closer relationship with her because Willow wasn’t allowed to know about her mom, probably for protection from saying anything to her father, and she needed a female role model. What don’t you get?” Caspian’s words are straightforward, cold.

A lump forms in my throat at hearing it. The matter-of-fact tone doesn’t hide the hurt and sense of abandonment laced within. His emotions speak louder than his words, though, and they’re confusing. His understanding of the entire situation is clear. Out of everyone, he seems to be the most understanding, but nonetheless, he’s very upset with his uncle.

“Well, when you put it like that, I get it…” Draken trails off solemnly.

“Come on, little warrior, let’s explore,” Tillman says, laying his hand on my back and steering me out of the growing tension.

Corentin and Draken promptly take up both my sides, while Tillman takes the lead. Caspian, despite his dark mood, presses himself to my back and I exhale heavily as I feel some of his anger leak out at the touch of his body to mine.

I tell myself not to obsess or bombard him with questions because when he’s ready, he’s going to talk about exactly how he feels with me or the guys. Someone will hear about it. The others, though…I’m going to have to prompt them first.

“Are you all upset with me?”

Tillman stops walking so fast, if Corentin and Draken didn’t tighten their grips on my fingers, I would’ve smacked into his massive back .

“Why would we be upset with you?” he asks when he turns on his heels to face me.

“Everything we just learned…It’s a lot. Elementra basically took your uncle, made him my pseudo father, and everyone was kept in the dark, with their memories taken, willingly and unwillingly, because of me.”

“And what active role did you play in that, princess?” Corentin asks.

“Well, I don’t know…all of it, it feels like.”

“Wrong. None of it. You had no more control over any of this than we did. He wasn’t taken from us. He was still there for us plenty. Not as much as he was when we were younger, but he was still a very active adult in our lives. Are we grieving, saddened? Yes, of course, but we’re not upset, mad, or weirded out. We aren’t feeling any of the negative things toward you that you have running through your mind right now, princess.”

A whoosh of air rushes out of me. Leave it to Corentin to just give it to me straight like that.

“Thank you,” I murmur, squeezing his hand.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. It’s the truth. Sure, we still need more answers, but so do you. We’re in this together. All the same,” he says softly, leaning over and laying a sweet kiss on my forehead.

I nod to Tillman, silently giving him the go-ahead, though he lingers for a moment, his gaze piercing through me, searching for any hint of doubt. Whatever he sees must satisfy him because, without a word, he turns and continues his stride.

The hall itself is normal—nothing grand or remarkable—but the fork at the end pulls at my curiosity, making my pulse quicken. As if on cue, four chuckles echo around me, and I roll my eyes. They still find amusement in this and I doubt I’ll ever change. Everything new stirs excitement in me, no matter how small.

“Hopefully, it always will,” Tillman says, smirking slyly back at me over his shoulder.

Blushing like a schoolgirl from that devious little wink he shoots me, I focus my eyes back forward and set my mind solely on seeing everything I can. Which, at the moment, is nothing .

After walking the realm’s longest stretch of light gray walls, we come to the fork. To the left, it leads down a much smaller hallway, then double doors, whereas the right leads to a set of stairs. My gaze bounces back and forth in indecision. I want—no, need to see it all, but which way first?

“We’ll clear this floor first, princess, then make our way up,” Corentin declares, leading us to the left, making the decision for me.

I practically bounce on my toes as Tillman places his palm on the doors and pushes them wide, his eyes devouring everything before allowing me to pass him.

“No one’s in here. You don’t have to clear it like we’re infiltrating a Mastery structure.” I chuckle, patting his chest as I walk past him.

“Never know.” He shrugs off my suggestion, but I’m already too focused on the room we just entered.

The kitchen.

The walls are lined with copper pots and pans that hang from intricate iron hooks, while shiny marble countertops stretch far, providing plenty of space for someone’s—not mine—cooking creativity. The floor is laid with large, smooth stones that seem to release a gentle heat that I can feel through the soles of my shoes.

In the center, a massive wooden table dominates the space. Spread across it are different herbs, jars of what look like flours, seasonings, dried pastas. Everything preserved and ready to be used.

Taking a deep breath, I swear the air is filled with the scent of fresh bread and a hint of something sweet, like the promise of a dessert yet to come even though I know for a fact this space hasn’t been used in centuries, possibly ever.

“Damn. Chef and Mrs. Grace are going to have a field day in here.” Draken whistles.

“You think they’re going to want to come here?” I whirl around on my heel excitedly.

“Oh yeah. Where we go, they go. They aren’t going to let you or sweet baby Corentin starve. Also, unless we’re planning on eating sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we’ll need them. This kitchen is the shit compared to ours at the mansion or the east wing.” Draken earns himself a little love tap on the shoulder from Corentin, but we all laugh because it’s true.

They’re at Corentin’s beck and call willingly, lovingly. He’s a sweet prince in their eyes. Plus, they spoil me with treats nonstop.

My eyes continue to trace the space, and I notice four exit points. One leads outside, where I can see a patio area much like ours at the mansion off to the right, and my heart thunders with excitement about eating out there, looking over the gardens.

Another exit leads up to a set of stairs that I can’t wait to take two at a time to see what’s up there. The third and the last one, I’m not totally sure because wooden doors block it.

As I approach the mysterious door that’s at the back of the kitchen first rather than the other by the stairs, a gold plaque stops my nosiness, and my hand pauses on the knob.

Molva Quarters.

Of course.

Admittedly, it took me an embarrassingly long time to put two and two together that Mrs. Grace and Chef, which is his real name, and the rest of the house staff, Oscar, Lou, and Flint, are in a Nexus together. I caught Mrs. Grace with two of them teasing and touching in the kitchen once, and I backed out quietly like I caught them being naughty.

Corentin makes his way over to me with a small smile on his face as he traces the plaque tenderly. “Their Nexus has been taking care of the Vito family since my uncle was a child. When we moved out of the central quarters and into the east wing on our own, he asked them to move there with us. Look after us. They’ve been with us since we were children, bouncing from wing to wing, then the mansion. Now they’ll come here.”

“Well, thank goodness for that. I can’t cook for shit,” I say teasingly, hiding the emotion clogging my throat.

I don’t get very much interaction with them since they’re always so busy, but they go out of their way to take care of us and our mansion. So I’m incredibly thankful that they’re able and willing to bounce between locations for us .

Deciding I have no business snooping through it since this is going to be their personal space, I turn on my heel and make my way toward the door by the stairs. Beating Tillman there, much to his disapproval, I poke my head in and find a formal dining room. It’s nice, grand, just as the one at the mansion is, and I already know, even though it’s beautiful, it won’t get much use from us unless we have guests.

Allowing the guys a second to poke their heads in as well, I impatiently head to the stairs alone, which gets them moving. They all follow, just as excited as me now, with little chuckles falling from their lips that I know are directed at my elated curiosity.

Up two short flights of stairs, we come to another hallway and two large wooden doors conceal the room to our left. Tillman, not giving me the opportunity to barge in first, cuts in front of me and slings the doors open. I grow nervous and halt my steps when his feet quit moving suddenly, but before I know it, he’s throwing his head back, laughing. That reaction spurs me forward so I can see.

Stopping, mesmerized, a laugh bubbles out of me as well as I see a breakfast room that matches ours at the mansion to perfection. The only difference really is the scenery behind the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Instead of a thick forest, our view is the pristine, beautiful gardens that do eventually lead to a forest.

We all take just a moment to look around at the similarities and familiarity of the space, then we head out. The smile that takes over my face feels permanent for the time being. The more I see, the more at home I feel and the need to see the rest becomes persistent.

On this same floor, we come across a lounge that I know is crafted more for the guys than me. It’s obvious the one downstairs that we were in was built to perfection for me.

Coming up a few more flights of stairs, skipping the random guest rooms and other extra spaces, I know we’ve hit the last floor and my feet skid to a stop as a gasp falls from my lips.

This hallway seems to defy the laid-out design we’ve seen so far. The width between the walls is far larger, and on each side there’re two doors, totaling four new rooms .

At the very end of this gargantuan stretch, the hallway forks left and right, obscuring what lies each way.

“Hell yeah. I think we found our rooms.” Draken cheers, rubbing his hands together with childlike excitement.

Taking in each door from my frozen position, I know he’s right. I don’t even have to enter them, and I know which room belongs to who. I feel their signatures coming off the doors like the room itself has already been infused with pieces of them.

“Draken, that’s your room there. The first one on the left,” I whisper.

“How do you know that, little wanderer?” he asks, cocking his brow at me with a twitch of his lip.

“I just do.”

He rushes over to it and lays his hand on the knob before turning toward us. “Well, what the hell are you all waiting for? Come on.”

He doesn’t waste another second as he slings the door open with a chuckle on his lips that fades just as fast as it came. His features grow more serious, more revered, and I hustle into his side.

Straight ahead on the massive stretch of wall is a mural.

Two dragons, one auburn, one silver, are in a playful flight with fire flowing from their mouths. Their tails are intertwined, with the much larger auburn dragon flying beneath the smaller silver one. Tears prick my eyes as we take a step forward. Then another. And together, we raise our hands and lay our palms on our counterparts.

Letting my gaze wander, the entire room is painted in a similar design. Three of the four walls depict our dragons doing various things together. Laying our foreheads together, our heads tilted to the sky, breathing fire. It’s like a live portrait of the things we’ve done together.

I swallow my gasp as my eyes land on the last wall. The mural here is smaller, nestled between bookshelves lined with more knickknacks than books. When he turns and spots it, his steps falter, and he stumbles back.

Perfectly centered is a painting of the moment we shared in the air on the way here, I swear. We’re in flight, with who looks scarily like Corentin on my back. Tillman and Caspian ride on top of his, and a smaller golden dragon flies amongst us, with a rider on hers .

“Holy fuck. He knew,” Draken whispers, running his finger over the painting of Tanith.

“It would seem so,” I murmur, laying my head on his shoulder, linking our fingers.

“Damn, it had to be hard, painful, keeping all these secrets,” he says, leaning down to lay his lips on my forehead.

“I only have a taste of what he had to keep to himself, but it sure isn’t easy. It’s what’s for the best, though. It keeps everyone safe.”

“You’re incredible. You know that right, little wanderer?”

“So are you, dragon. So are you,” I mumble, squeezing in close to him.

“I got to say, Draken, I’m a little jealous of this chair,” Tillman says playfully from behind us, and we whip around to see what he’s talking about.

His hulking form seems so small honestly as he sits in a chair that has sprawling wings coming off the back. Its rich auburn color pops in the sunlight that filters in not only from the window but above us. The ceiling is vaulted, with skylights that allow the sun to pour in.

“Shit, scoot over. Let me see,” Draken says, not giving Tillman time to do as he said. Instead, he plops down in his lap, causing us to laugh and Tillman to yell for him to get his heavy ass off.

I turn from their playful banter as my eyes drift back toward the bookshelves. The few spines I see are so beautiful and colorful compared to the typical black and brown leather we usually see. These aren’t your everyday Elementra books.

“Draken, come look at these,” I say, sliding one off the shelf.

The Keeper Line.

Shit.

“Is that…”

“Yeah. History of the dragons, Essemist Keep, Keeper’s line,” I answer before he can finish his question and pass it to him.

He eyes them warily for a moment, running his hand down the cover. With a small sigh, he nods once but then slides the book back in place.

“Later,” he says, giving me a tight smile, and I don’t push for more .

“How in the realm did you get those ?” I ask, not exactly expecting an answer but hopeful for one.

“You will know with time.”

Huffing, I roll my eyes as we start making our way out Draken’s door. The space fits his energy and his excitement perfectly. It’ll be a comforting place for him, that’s for sure.

“Did you notice that you had a bathroom and a closet but no bed?” Corentin asks.

“Yeah, I noticed. Why would I need a bed? I’m not sleeping anywhere without Willow,” Draken deadpans.

I noticed it as well and thought the same thing. He hasn’t slept in a room without me practically since my first month here. Nothing’s going to change that, nor would I want it to. With any of them. They all have to sleep with me.

I won’t have it any other way.

“That’s yours,” I say, hip bumping my gentle giant as he snorts at my thoughts, and we face the first door on the opposite side of the hall.

With a small smile and a nod, he strides toward the door, covering the distance in just a few steps. The calmness that seeps from his room is potent, and my shoulders relax and a soft sigh flows through my lips. He can sense it too and his muscles uncoil right in front of me.

I spot the greenery around the room the second the door is opened, and Tillman’s small laugh pulls me forward.

Stepping in behind him, my shoes disintegrate into nothing, and my feet travel the small distance to the center of the room to stand beside him where my toes sink into the floor that’s made of living moss. It’s soft and cool underfoot, with patches of wildflowers that add bursts of color.

The walls are a mix of smooth stone and thick, twisting vines that climb toward the ceiling, creating a canopy of leaves. There’s a desk that resembles the one in our treehouse, and a few of the smaller workout items he uses when he practices his breathing and meditation before a mission are tucked underneath it .

A hammock made of woven vines hangs between two tree trunks that rise from the floor, providing the perfect place to laze around, and I can picture some afternoon naps taking place there.

“Tillman,” I murmur, in absolute awe of how this room fits him so precisely.

“I couldn’t have designed this any better myself. Fuck, he knew us so well,” he says before making his way over to the desk and picking up a frame.

It’s been molded to hold three separate pictures, and the center image is the one that catches my eye. It’s his fourteenth birthday. My heart flips at the scene of him and his mom. Engraved in the frame below them are their names.

Tilly and Tillme.

Tillme?

“Another time, little warrior,” he says softly, running his finger down the frame before setting it back in its spot.

I get the sense my gentle giant has been holding out on some things with me. Like this sweet little nickname. I cock my brow in invitation for him to talk, but he pointedly ignores me, and his skin grows red with embarrassment.

Later then.

We take a few minutes checking everything out, and the guys tease Tillman on his need for a place so peaceful so he doesn’t explode and make the realm crumble. It’s half-truth, half teasing, I know, but Tillman’s ability to calm himself, find his center, his willpower, is astonishing to witness. He’s calmer than any other being I’ve ever met, and that takes strength, resilience, patience. And I look up to him so much for that.

Exiting his space, we walk the few feet down toward the other door on this side. I take a shaky breath because I have no clue what to expect on the inside.

“This is you, your highness,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Corentin. He’s tense, with his hands shoved in his pockets, and I know he’s nervous about what he’s going to see as well .

But like the control master he is, he relaxes his features, pulls his shoulders back, and with no hesitation, opens the door.

The sight startles him as his steps falter, and I chuckle at his surprise.

Yep, this is definitely all Corentin.

The air itself exudes quiet authority and comfort. Dark, polished wood lines the walls, with tall bookshelves filled with leather-bound books and meticulously organized scrolls.

A huge mahogany desk sits in the center. Its surface neat, shiny, and precisely arranged with parchments, pens, and a journal. Can’t lie, when I look at it, I just picture him using his air to sling everything off it before he bends me over it.

My face flames at the thought, and I elbow Tillman when he chuckles, but really, it’s this collected, controlled environment that brings on the safety of me having such a dirty fantasy. The headmaster loses control sometimes. Over me. Only me.

Clearing my throat when Corentin turns his darkened eyes my way, I take in the rest of the room as though I’m not thinking about him fucking me senseless in his new room. My fidgeting and squeezing my thighs together definitely don’t go unnoticed. It just goes unaddressed.

Forcing myself to focus, I eye the high-backed chair, upholstered in rich, navy leather. It’s large enough I could snuggle up on his lap and not disturb his work. As I cross the room to get a look at the little bar in the corner, an intricately woven rug muffles my footsteps, further justifying I wouldn’t bother his concentration if I want to be in here with him.

“Do you have a sudden fear that he won’t be spending time with you or something, little warrior?” Tillman asks, rudely butting into my thoughts.

“Not exactly…maybe. You know how he gets after big reveals. He hides himself away in his work,” I admit.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that anymore, Will.” He shoots me a small smile and I release a deep breath.

Since seeing the magnitude of the decision CC laid in front of Corentin, yeah, I’ve been worried. Worried about each of them honestly, but Tillman and Draken are handling this far better than the Vito brothers. So of course I’ve thought the worst .

My eyes track Corentin as he makes his way to the large windows. They let in soft, natural light that casts a warm glow on the room and the breeze that blows in when he cracks the window truly breathes life into this space. I feel a little bit of my worries fade away when he smiles out into the distance, then turns that tender look on me.

“I like it,” he says casually, but he can’t hide his excitement from me. I don’t call him out, but the way my bond flutters, he more than approves of his space.

Finally, we walk out of the room and Corentin shuts the door behind him as we stare at what we know is Caspian’s room.

My dark protector has been unusually quiet and I hate it. He’s not one for pointless conversations with other people, but with us, we typically get input, crass jokes, and mischief every now and then. None of that has been present. Just his comment to Draken before we started our tour, followed by this emotionally charged silence.

None of us move, allowing him the decision.

He finally makes it when he grabs my hand and drags me forward alongside him. Emotionless, face as hard as stone, he throws the door open and looks around.

His body flinches, but that’s the most he moves as his eyes take in his room. My gaze does the same, and my heart rate spikes as I stare at the beauty in front of me.

It’s a sanctuary.

For his mind, his body, and his soul.

The room is cloaked in quiet and low amber lighting, and a much cooler breeze blows through here than any other room we’ve seen.

The walls are completely lined with bookshelves. If I listened closely enough, I swear I could hear each shelf groaning under the weight of all this knowledge. In the center of the room, an overstuffed armchair with an attached ottoman sits, angled toward a small, low-burning fireplace. The chair is upholstered in black velvet, with a purple blanket over its back, and a small side table stands beside it. It’s just big enough for two cups of coffee and a book .

There’s a free-standing brass lamp that casts a warm, focused beam of light that’s positioned perfectly for you to see the pages of your book. My attention lingers there. It’s so easy for my mind to paint a picture of the two of us cuddled up in that chair under our blanket.

The fantasy is broken as the door shuts, cutting me off from the view.

“You don’t want to go in?” I ask quietly, looking up into those haunted whiskey eyes.

“Not right now, Primary,” he says gruffly before leaning down and capturing my lips in a sweet, gentle kiss.

His shadows wrap around him in a layer of armor when he pulls back and my heart cracks a little, but I’m thankful he didn’t fade through the walls. He’s staying here by my side as we finish our tour, despite wanting to disappear for a while.

Silently following Tillman’s lead, we continue our path to the end of the hallway. When we reach the fork, he turns to me. “Which way, Will, right or left?”

Aww, shit. I don’t want to decide.

“Left,” CC says.

“Left,” I quickly repeat out loud when I see Corentin about to decide for me.

I do glance to the right when we round the corner and all there is, is a single door, and my eyes widen when I feel my own magic pulsing through it.

My bedroom will be last.

The left hallway matches the right. There’s only a single door, but unlike every other room in this hall, I can’t feel anyone’s magic coming through the wood. Instead, it feels ancient, powerful, but not distinct enough for me to say it’s Elementra’s or CC’s, or, well, anyone’s I know.

When I reach for the knob, anticipation on the verge of killing me, I hear CC’s laughter ring through my mind, and I roll my eyes.

“Don’t travel all the way in the room just yet, Willow. Your mind needs a break and to be at full strength before you venture around in here,” he says .

I pause, relaying the message to the guys, and they each clam up slightly with the uncertainty of what’s behind the door, but I just vibrate with excitement. I heed his warning despite wanting to ignore him, though.

“Holy shit. What is this?” I ask quietly as I slowly open the door.

“I call it an amplifier room,” CC answers cryptically, and I tell the guys.

“We saw a bit of this in his memories. I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Caspian says as he eyes the space and the guys all grunt in agreement.

“Can you tell us about this?” I ask out loud, but I don’t open my mind for the guys to hear his reply. They finally seem to be relaxing fully now, and I don’t want CC’s voice to surprise them.

“You should ask Gaster for his notes on the Valorian Veil.”

“The Valorian Veil? The home of the gods? Why?”

“You’ll find your answers there.”

Humming, I once again inform the guys, then turn all my attention back to the space in front of me. I can feel the pull of the magic in here attempting to draw me closer, so I take CC’s warning more seriously and step back out the doorway. I can’t see the entirety of the room from here, but I see enough to sate my curiosity for now, until I can explore to my heart’s desire.

The walls are covered in a smooth, reflective material that seems to shift and change, showing glimpses of places I’ve never seen, and I shake my head out from the dizziness I feel from staring so hard. How this is possible, I haven’t a clue. I’d think the material would reflect what’s in the room like mirrors, but that’s not the case at all.

Looking down, the floor is a mixture of tiny, polished stones that form intricate patterns, drawing my eyes and mind into a state of focus. I find myself again having to shake my head, and I take another step back.

Fuck, what is this?

Exhaling sharply, I blink rapidly, then focus on the center of the room. There’s what looks like a pallet of pillows and blankets on a circular platform. The largest crystals I’ve ever seen surround it. They rise from the floor, and I have no doubt they’d come up to at least my hips .

I can’t see the ceiling from out here, but I know there’re no windows or skylights in there. The room is shrouded in darkness, with only the faint glows of the crystals and stones in the floor.

Not willing to risk any damage to my mind since it’s finally starting to settle, I back up even more, nodding to the guys to let them know I’m done.

We’re all a concoction of confusion and wonder about that room and its different magic. I know I’ll have to ask Gaster for that information sooner rather than later to give myself some peace, but right now, I have a single-minded focus on my room as the door grows closer. A ball of nerves creeps up and gets stuck in my throat, but I swallow it down.

“This is where I leave you for now, filia mea,” CC says, and I jerk my hand away from the handle.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It just means my presence is not needed in this room. I, nor Gaster, have stepped foot in here since it was designed. You will never need to worry about me coming to you while you are in the comfort of your room. This is your space. Your peace. And no one shall interrupt that without your say so.”

“I mean, you won’t be gone long, right? I don’t have to go in there right this minute.” My panic rises like a tide and the guys close in around me as it pulses to them. I just got him back. I don’t want him to go yet. Ever.

“This is not forever, Willow. Go. See your space and enjoy your Nexus. This is for all of you. I’ll always be here. Just not in there.”

I suck in a harsh sob that wants to escape me because unlike any other time he’s gone silent, this time, I actually feel his presence leave me. I didn’t notice before that I was physically feeling him, but now that he’s dismissed himself, the slight heat I was unaware of in my Memoria stone cools, and a thin veil lifts from my mind.

“What’s wrong?” Corentin asks, tilting my chin up, forcing my eyes to collide with his.

“He’s gone. Again.”

“What does that mean, princess? ”

I tell him exactly what just happened as a few stray tears slide down my cheeks. He’s quick to wipe them away and dry their streaks before smiling at me softly.

“He’s respecting your privacy and space, princess. If he says he’s not gone for long or that he’ll be back, he means it. I, for one, am thankful he won’t be invading this space and bringing forth any unwanted secrets here. This is supposed to be your hideaway, your peace. Not somewhere where worry follows you.”

I release a tense breath as his words settle my pounding heart. He’s right. Of course he is. When he puts it like that, it makes more sense. No, I don’t want my room tainted with anything negative. I want this to be a place of carefree nature and comfort with my men.

They all exhale when they feel me release the emotions that were just plaguing me. It’s something I’ve seen occur a couple times now, and I’m pretty sure our bonding last night has caused an increase in everything between us, not just our elements and gifts. We obviously either can’t block each other out now as we once could or none of us are putting enough strength behind it to truly enforce it.

Keeping that in mind, I send out a burst of love to each of them, and my body feels warm giddiness when they each send it back.

Gathering my courage, I put my hand on the doorknob and turn before I chicken out. My first few steps draw a blinding smile to my face and a mixture of laughter and a sob pours out of me.

In front of me is the exact replica of my bedroom at the mansion. There’re only a few different details that I can spot and my heart swells with its flawlessness.

A crunch under my foot startles me, and I freeze, peering down. The folded cream parchment causes my eyes to widen, and I lurch for it, flipping over the envelope to find my name scribbled across. The guys close in as I tear it open, my breath unsteady as I begin to read aloud.

Willow, boys,

If you’re reading this, then that means I’ve already told Willow I wouldn’t be joining you all in this room’s exploration .

I made a few tweaks that fit the wing, but for the most part, boys, this design was the four of you. You all crafted it to perfection just for her and I didn’t want to disturb that.

I hope you all enjoy your new home, whether it becomes your permanent residence, temporary, or just somewhere you stay when you pass through in your years before ruling. I just wanted you all to have a space that was completely your own.

Untouched and untainted by the realm we live in.

I know the days seem long and dark, but I have more faith in the five of you than any other beings to ever cross this realm.

I love you, all five of you, so very much and I am so proud.

I will always be with you.

CC…Uncle Orien…Uncle Oreo…whatever…xoxo

I laugh at the signature. I can almost picture his puzzled face, not knowing which name to sign it as. The troubles of wearing many masks, I guess, but no matter the name, we know who he is. The multiple parts of him.

Blinking away the water soaking my lashes, I clutch the letter close to my chest, then look around at the perfection in front of me.

They really did get it right the first time. They knew exactly what to make of my space within the first week of me being here, and there isn’t a thing about it I want changed.

Speaking of which…

My head whips to the other side of the room as I hustle to the bathroom and throw the door open. You barely hear my relieved sigh over the laughter coming from behind me. Men just don’t understand the importance of a bathroom, and my oasis is by far the best. Nothing about it should ever change.

Walking back into the room with them, Draken grips my hand and leads me to the only real change we see. At the mansion, between my bookshelves, sits my comfy reading nook that I like to laze on. Here, there’re French doors that open to the outside.

Draken laughs as he pushes them wide, exposing the beautiful balcony, and my eyes eat up the little space.

An awning spreads out above us, shading most of the area with cool shadows. A cozy couch rests against the wall, a table in front of it, and I can already imagine myself there—sleepy mornings with a cup of coffee, snuggled up beside someone.

To one side, a patio table with five chairs faces an expanse of green that fades seamlessly into the forest. On the other, if you lean over the railing, you can catch a glimpse of our garden and the gravel path, but from our height, we’re concealed from sight. The space feels wonderfully private.

“This is fucking nice,” Draken says as he plops down on the couch, and I follow right along with him.

“I’d have to agree with you, Draken,” Tillman says, taking up my other side. “We should’ve thought about this.”

“No. I love my reading nook,” I say, shaking my head and squeezing his hand.

“We’re going to stay in the wing today, princess. Chef, Mrs. Grace, and the others are prepping the kitchen now. We’ll see my parents tomorrow,” Corentin declares, sitting down beside Tillman and lacing his fingers behind his head.

“How? No one can get through the ward but us?” I ask, sitting up so I can look at him.

“When I touched the plaque, I felt their signatures already on the quarters. The ward knew to allow them entry through their doorway. They can come and go now through their rooms,” he says as he closes his eyes, letting his know-it-all smirk linger on his lips.

“And your parents?”

“Already let them know the plan. They’re fine with it and they’re taking their own time today coming to terms with the memories that unlocked for them. That’s the plan for everyone today.”

I can’t help but smirk and settle in between Draken and Tillman. If Corentin’s already taken care of it all, fine by me. Once Caspian finally decides to take a seat on Draken’s other side. I really do relax.

My mind silences. My heart beats normally for the first time today. And my soul sings out in completeness.

For now, everything’s okay.