Page 29 of Gift from the Stone

I’m a dragon. Holy shit.

Bursting at the seams, I want to throw myself at each of them, pour my feverish elation into them through affection, but I don’t get the chance. Bone-deep exhaustion takes hold. I try to lock onto the sweet, wise whiskey eyes in front of me to ground myself against the call of darkness, but I can’t fight this. This is a power far superior to mine, to my Nexus, to Gaster, to any other power I’ve experienced since coming here.

I have no choice but to give in.

As the darkness begins to steal my vision, all I think about is how I need to warn them. This isn’t the normal fainting spell. This is so much more. All I get out is one breathy word.

“Corentin.”

Five

Caspian

“Corentin.”

The way she breathes his name is a warning, plea, and reassurance all in one. I watch, as if in slow motion, her eyes become lifeless, rolling back into her head. Her limbs go completely limp as she loses control over her body, sinking rapidly toward the ground.

My shadows shoot out of me without a command, wrapping around her, cushioning her protectively from any impact. I don’t think twice, gathering her into my arms faster than the guys reach for her.

“I’m taking her to her room. Get Gaster and call Jamie. Something’s going on,” I demand forcefully, shrouding us in my shadows and moving us through the house in seconds, leaving the others to do as I said.

Laying her on her bed, I run my fingers down her face like I’ve done so many times to chase the darkness away. This darkness isn’t receding, though. She’s not responding at all. My magic flares out of me, trying to caress hers, rouse her, get her to move, something, but it lies there dormant, not reaching back out, not reacting, nothing. Just stuck.

Her motionless form seems to suck the life out of this room, making it cold, daunting. Nothing like its usual brightness. The brightness that causes me to sneak in here every night, unable to ignore the call of her sweet light. Even last night, sensing her nervous energy, I shadowed back to the house minutes after we left and stood in the corner, watching as Draken pinned her to her bathroom door. That tiny little red piece she had on made her glow in a beacon of sexy, needy confidence.

I left before he bonded with her, giving them their space and moment to enjoy one another privately, but as soon as I returned to my room, I had to free my painfully hard dick, and in a few firm pumps, I was shooting cum across my floor, her name falling from my lips.

There’s none of that here now. No burning passion, no animation, no bright glow from her innocent wonder and awe. She’s so still, too still. I have to hold my finger under her nose to make sure she’s breathing because I can’t see the rise and fall of her chest.

Although I spend most of my time stalking her in the shadows, I’ve tried in my own way to get closer to her since she came back. And each time I do, I can feel her melt the ice encasing my heart. The feelings she stirs in me are foreign, terrifying, and intoxicating. I battle my demons daily, knowing she knows the truth of what’s happened to me, seen it with her own eyes through our awakening, yet I still hold myself back from her.

If I don’t, I’ll consume her fully. I’ll burn through her light, encasing us in darkness. She knows this. She doesn’t push me or distance herself from me. She just understands, fully, completely, unapologetically. She embraces my darkness, no questions asked.

“Is she awake? Is she okay?” Draken hollers as he comes bounding over and grabs her cold, limp hand. The other two burst through her door like raging bulls, Gaster closely behind them.

“I can’t get into her mind. Something’s blocking me.” Tillman fumes, balling his fist by his side.

“No, we’re not transporting her anywhere. I need you to get to the mansion now,” Corentin orders down the communicator before hanging up on Jamie, I assume. We all surround her on the bed, each of them going to lay a hand on whatever piece of skin they can.

“Hold on, let me try to sense anything. If you all touch her, it’ll throw the signature off.” Gaster fusses, and they pull their hands back, watching intently as he hovers his above her body, moving them from her head to her feet.

“There’s immense power mingling within her right now. It’s not malicious. It’s loving, protective even,” Gaster tells us as he holds his eyes closed and continues to concentrate.

“Do you think her dragon emerging did this? Drained her so much she fell out like that.” Draken’s worried eyes bounce to each of us, praying for an answer.

“Her what?” Gaster’s eyes shoot open, staring at him.

“She shifted this morning into a twenty-foot, beautiful, incredible, magnificent silver dragon, with hypnotizing purple eyes…” He trails off dreamily, running his finger down her arm.

“And she wields a fire element. Or at least we believe so seeing as she burst into flames before the shift took over.” Corentin adds that important detail Draken left out.

“Oh, Elementra. There are big plans in the making for Willow. I’m not sure what, but we must be prepared. We cannot be naïve in the belief she’s safe because she’s powerful. There’s still much she needs to learn,” Gaster whispers, placing his fist over his mouth and taking a steady breath.

“Jamie brought his whole Nexus. I’ll bring them up,” Tillman announces, heading out of the room, slamming her door behind him.

Gaster just spoke the fear that’s been plaguing my mind since her second element emerged. All the circumstances surrounding her, it’s been easy to assume she’s meant for something. Something bigger than we can comprehend, but hearing it aloud is a petrifying fucking thought.

She’s lived through so many horrors already. She doesn’t need any responsibilities to be placed on her shoulders now that she’s free from her shackles. No more than she’ll already have one day once Corentin’s able to tell her who the hell we are.

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