Page 180 of Gift from the Nexus

“Yeah. Sorry for my freak-out,” she says sheepishly.

Draken’s fiery gaze burns into the side of my face as I lower myself into the pool and I subtly flick him in the face with my water as I round on her and swoop her off her feet.

“Don’t apologize, Primary. As long as you’re okay.”

“I’m better now. Ready to practice our newest ability?” she asks with a bat of her lashes.

Temptress, I tell you.

“Sure, Primary. What do you want to practice first?”

“Well, I don’t know how mine formed a blade on my forearm, it did that on its own, so can you tell me how you made them do as you said?”

Spinning her so her back is pressed to my front, I close in on her until there’s no space left between us and I run my hands down her arms until they circle around her wrist. I smirk behind her head when I hear the hitching of her breath and watch as the chill bumps scatter across her.

If she’s going to drive me mad, I’ll do it right back.

“Close your eyes, Primary,” I whisper in her ear.

Lifting her hands out of the water palms up, I hold her hands out and call forth my shadows. Hers beat beneath her skin, begging to be free, but she restrains them from reaching out to mine like they desperately desire.

It’ll take some time, not much if history repeats itself, for her to become as one with her shadows as I am with mine, but oncethat happens, she’ll see how easy this is. Once the shadows work with her, there’s nothing they can’t do.

Focusing on the darkness floating through the water around me, feeling their cool, elusive energy, I concentrate on coaxing them to gather and mold to my command. In my mind, I picture the smallest version of her dragon and order the shadows to mimic that.

The darkness swirls and swirls until a small form starts to take shape in my palms. When I’m pleased with the little details, I command them to harden like stone.

“Open your eyes,” I whisper again, kissing the soft skin on her neck.

“Cas.” She gasps, reaching out and running her finger down her dragon’s neck.

“Just like with anything we do, Primary, set your intentions. Picture what it is you want your shadows to form, then command it so. They’re an extension of you. They’ll obey,” I tell her gently before stepping away slightly so she can try on her own.

My brothers surround me, and we watch with utter fascination as she closes her eyes and lets the darkness pour from within her. It’s fucking stunning. The way they caress her body and flow through her fingers makes my eyes darken. I know exactly what they feel like. Those shadows have mapped out every part of me and I’m obsessed.

Tingling around my wrist has me looking down with a stupid-ass grin on my face as her shadows circle and circle until they solidify into a black bracelet. My brothers chuckle low as they do the same to them and she beams at us. I finally catch a glimpse of the pride and excitement she’s feeling, and I blow out a subtle breath as everything within me feels right again now that I can feel her.

Caressing my bracelet gently, my eyes devour the sight of her as she shivers, and the smallest of noises leave her. That’s just a small taste of what she’s done to me all the countless times those soft little fingers have run their way through my shadows.

It’s fucking addicting.

Her creations only hold their forms for a moment longer before fading into balls of smoke and the smile melts from her beautiful face and I’m willing to do anything to get the look she was just wearing back.

“Don’t be disappointed, Primary. We’ve only just got this upgrade. It’ll take some time to learn the ins and outs.”

“Your dragon is still holding just fine,” she says sadly.

“My shadows have been my faithful companions for nearly two decades. We’ve had a lifetime to learn each other. Yours will come with no time at all. I promise.”

“You’re right,” she agrees softly, but I don’t for a second believe her words with that tone.

Commanding the water around her to bring her to me, a surprised squeal leaves her lips as she crashes against my chest, and I seal my lips to hers. If the words leaving my mouth won’t put the smile back on her face, I’ll use my tongue to convince her otherwise.

Her hands roam freely across my bare chest, and I drink down everything I feel her pouring into me. I’m greedy with my strokes as I force our kiss deeper and if it were up to me, she’d never leave this spot. I’d hog all of her. I’d keep her all to myself, plastered to my body twenty-four seven.

Alas, I must share.

My brother’s desire and need for her pulses in my chest right alongside my own, so I slowly break apart from my Primary and turn her to Corentin. With a smile and a wink at me, he carries her away and her playful laugh fills my soul to the brim.

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