Page 4 of Gift from the Stone

“I’d hug you both, but I need to stay where I’m at for now,” I tell them as they rush over, grabbing my outstretched hand. The thought of leaving Corentin’s arms right now has the bond in my chest going ballistic. Plus, I really don’t want to move.

“It’s okay, Willow, we’re just happy to see you conscious and speaking,” Gaster says with glossy eyes.

“Was I that bad?” I ask Oakly, knowing she won’t sugarcoat the truth.

“Yeah, Willow. I’ve never heard screams like that before in my life. None of us could calm you down and I don’t think you were aware we were trying to get through to you,” she tells me as she sniffles and wipes her tears with the back of her hands.

“That’s so embarrassing. I’m sorry you all had to hear and witness that.” This is what I hate most about the panic attacks. I’m so weak, vulnerable, and exposed when they happen.

“Stop, Will. You’re none of those things. We’ll work through this.” Tillman’s firm voice sounds from right behind us.

Glancing over Corentin’s shoulder, the stern scowl on Tillman’s face says he’s listening in on my thoughts, and he doesn’t appreciate what I was just thinking regarding myself. I let my eyes linger on his, a silent promise that I’ll try to do better.

“I need to tell you, everyone, the story of what happened the night my air element came out. I believe it’ll answer your questions and create a lot more. But I’d rather do it at home,” I tell Corentin once I focus back on him.

“Everyone, give us fifteen minutes to get to the mansion and get Willow comfortable then meet us there,” he orders Gaster, Oakly, and her Nexus. Then he turns us so my body is nestled in the middle of my Nexus, transporting us home as one.

Normally, we’d transport to the back lawn, that’s pretty much been deemed the transport zone, but instead, we step out right into my bedroom. Walking over to my closet, Corentin gently sets me on my feet and holds me while I get my bearings.

It’s moments like this that I know he pays attention to every little detail of anything I say and do. He knew I wanted to change out of these clothes. Baths, coffee, and comfy clothes are my go-tos after an emotional breakdown and they’ve all seemed to take notice of that. Especially him. Nothing gets past him.

“Thank you,” I say as I stand on my tippy-toes and kiss his cheek.

The sound of my bedroom door shutting has my lips freezing against him and my bond freaking out, stretching out to see who just left.

Draken.

“Why did Draken leave?” I whine embarrassingly.

“I’m sure he’s fine, but I’ll check.” He swears as his eyes widen a fraction when he sees my panic back on the surface. With a quick kiss to my cheek, he heads out of the closet.

Sitting down on my love seat, I take a few calming breaths, knowing the panic that’s rising in me is just my bond and damn hormones reacting to one of them leaving my space so soon after I just calmed down.

Not even a minute later, my closet door flies open, smacking into the wall so loud I flinch. Draken’s worried eyes search the room for a millisecond before they land on me, and he rushes to kneel in front of me. As soon as his hand touches my skin, the pounding in my chest subsides, and my breathing evens.

“I just had to go to my room. I wasn’t leaving. Put this on,” he demands softly, handing me his favorite shirt that he tends to dress me in when I stay in his room. It’s just a black T-shirt that reaches mid-thigh with the silhouette of a dragon on it, but he seems to really like me in it.

Chuckling, I go to ask why I need his shirt, when I lock eyes with slits of cobalt. I swear I see his dragon pacing. A predator preparing to attack whatever dares to threaten what’s his.

I love when he’s so protective and possessive.

“Your dragon needs me to wear your clothes?”

“No, my dragon wants to fill you to the brim with my cum until your belly is swollen with my baby. This is my compromise with him.” A subtle rasp adds a raw edge to his words, a hint of primal desire mixed with his own.

Elementra, I shouldn’t be so turned on right now by that.

“Will you help me with my shirt?” Despite trying to fight off the desire, my voice is thick with it.

Draken steps back, shaking his head out a couple times, taking a few deep breaths, and when he looks back at me, his eyes are his own again.

“If I didn’t get him back under control before I touched you, we wouldn’t be leaving this room, sweetness. Then the guys would be busting in here to find out what’s taking so long.”

The thought of them catching me and Draken fucking, standing at the door watching us, has my face flushing and my body throbbing. It’s a reaction I have no control over.

“Wicked little wanderer. I knew you’d be a little exhibitionist,” he says as a devilish smirk graces his lips.

My face flames even hotter because never in my life would I have thought I’d be labeled that. But I can’t deny the fact that his comment is causing a confusing bout of arousal to flood me and the fact that I do get turned on anytime I think about them catching me or watching me with him.

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