Page 132 of Gift from the Tree

Tillman, too, looks defeated when I finish my verbal rant.

“I’m sorry, little wanderer. I didn’t think before I reacted. I didn’t think about how it would affect you or the bond. I just reacted,” Draken says as he lays his hand on my knee.

“We’ve always held each other accountable when we fuck up. I knew they’d be upset and hurt to see you marked like that because of me. So I just let him handle it the way we always have. We’d never take it too far, and we’ll never do it again in front of you. I’m sorry,” Tillman swears as he slowly reaches up and traces the bruises on my neck.

I nod at them both. I don’t like the idea of them fighting out their problems, like physically fighting it out, but I’m not going to tell them how they should handle one another if they keep it out of my line of sight. They’ve been doing this together for all their lives, and the majority of Draken’s, so they can continue to figure it out for themselves.

“Let’s go get you some coffee and breakfast. Oakly and her Nexus will be here around lunch, so you can relax and get ready until then,” Corentin instructs as he stands up, still holding me. He goes to put me down, but I just tighten my grip around his neck, silently asking him not to.

Since Oakly’s conversation last night with me about her doing what she can to avoid crying over everything, it put it in perspective for me that I’m punishing myself just as much as them by fighting off what I’m feeling. And right now, I’m feeling all kinds of torn up from what just happened. I know if left alone, I’ll break down, and I don’t want to do that today. Today’s going to be a good day. Putting all that’s happened this morning behind us, I’m going to enjoy my last day of break, damn it.

“Would you like one of the others to carry you down?” Corentin whispers in my ear.

“You.”

Without another word, he adjusts me in his grip, positioning me in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist, and makes his way out of Tillman’s bedroom. No one speaks as we make our way to the breakfast room, and I feel the awkward tension building. I feel shame, regret, and loathing pouring off Draken and Tillman behind me. Poking my head over Corentin’s shoulder to look at them, they must have felt my eyes on them because they both lift their heads, meeting my gaze.

Laying my chin on Corentin’s shoulder, I give them a small smile, “Everything’s okay. I’m feeling better.”

“Corentin has the magic touch, huh, sweetness? Are you finally going to ask him over for a sleepover to braid your hair?” Draken asks, a mischievous smile gracing his lips, instantly knowing I wanted to break this awkward stand off before we got to breakfast.

“Yes. And I’m sure he’ll do a fine job,” I say, giving Draken a big grin. “Ahhh.” I gasp out, shocked at the smack Corentin just landed on my ass.

“My sleepovers won’t consist of braiding hair, princess.” His voice is dark and sultry, causing me to squirm. My chin’s still resting on his shoulder, so Tillman and Draken let out small laughs as they witness my pupils dilate and face turn scarlet, but their eyes hold the same kind of heat as Corentin’s words do.

Fuck me, these men drive me wild.

We finally step into the breakfast room, and I’m dying to get into my seat before I embarrassed myself by grinding against Corentin. It’s crazy the way I can go from erratic crying, to dripping wet in a completely different way in minutes.

Within a matter of seconds after being placed in my seat, a coffee is in front of me, and I drink it down greedily. “So what are we doing with Oakly and the guys today?”

“We can have lunch on the back lawn since the weather will be nice and I figured you and Oakly may want some alone time, and we can play catch-up with the guys while the two of you do that,” Corentin answers.

“What’s the plan with them knowing about my earth element? I didn’t ask Oakly if she had mentioned anything already. And me and her didn’t discuss whether she could tell them,” I ask, looking between all of them.

“Well, assuming she’s already told them, then we’ll stress how important it is no one else knows. They all know that we’re capable of more than the normal Nexus and they’ve never said anything to anyone,” Tillman answers me with full confidence.

“And if she hasn’t said anything? I honestly doubt that she has. It’s kind of an unspoken rule not to share our gossip without the other’s permission. This isn’t really gossip, but it’s my personal business and she wouldn’t share it carelessly.” They don’t answer me at first, all contemplating their answers.

Corentin sets his coffee mug down and looks at me seriously. “It can be difficult to keep things from Nexus members, so we’ll have to just wait and see. What do you feel comfortable with? We’d like for fewer people to know, but like Tillman said, they’re already aware of us to an extent.”

“Honestly, I’d feel pretty shitty asking her to keep this a secret from her Nexus. She didn’t want her ability to come out so the E.F. wouldn’t badger her any harder for recruitment, but she revealed it to us so we could get to Tillman and Caspian faster. I know I can trust her with my life, but I don’t know her guys the way you all do.”

They all take that into consideration. I can tell they’d forgotten that her rare ability was a secret she kept close and that changes the way they look at this situation now.

“We can tell them at lunch together so we can all have a conversation that both Oakly’s and your abilities will need to be kept under wraps between the two Nexuses.” Corentin decides for the group. I don’t mind because I agree with him.

After that, we all fall into a more natural conversation, Draken making all of us laugh with his wild and exaggerated way of telling stories until an hour and a half passes and I decide to go get ready.

Taking my sweet, precious time in my oasis, I finally get out of the bath forty-five minutes later and start getting ready. My beach curls are perfect, and I pair the look with a light lavender sundress with spaghetti straps and a heart-shaped neckline. Oakly couldn’t care less if I was dressed in pajamas with throw-up stains, since that was my main attire while I stayed with her, but I want to dress up for my guys. I secretly love it when they check me out from head to toe when they think I’m not looking. Well, and when they’re blatantly obvious.

Even before the truth came out, their attention made me feel desirable instead of cringy and like a piece of meat. It was more than likely the Primary lure that made me feel instantly attracted to them instead of curling in on myself, but now, it’s the bond and my own desire to be wanted by them. I might not be ready to jump into bed with all of them, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like the buildup. One way or another once I’m ready. It’ll happen.

“You still in here, little wanderer?” Draken calls from inside my bedroom.

“In here.”

Draken comes through the closet door and stops. I see him in the reflection looking me over in the many angles the multiple mirrors create. He stalks forward, humming his approval, comes to stand behind me, and places his hand on my hip.

---