Page 83 of Gift from the Nexus

“Well, the original plan was to come here, figure out the situation and how long we thought the elixir would take to make. Then after that, Tillman was going to go to the gym and start organizing the teams that’ll be going to the forest and training was supposed to start. For all of us apparently,” I say with a teasing, exaggerated sigh.

“Gross. They always want us to work up the wrong kind of sweat.”

“That’s true, but we need it. We can’t be caught off guard when we go there. Bryce…” I trail off, swallowing roughly, but I force myself to carry on. “Bryce moved faster than I’ve ever seen someone or something move. And he was strong. Let’s hope and pray the Bane will be enough, but if it’s not, we need to be ready for anything.”

“Okay then. We train,” she agrees, choked up, squeezing my hand in silent solidarity.

I don’t want to carry on or keep bringing it up, but unfortunately, I realize I have more insight into what a vampire’s bite does to you than anyone else we know. They might’ve watched the replay of what I went through, but they were spared of feeling the pain. Which I’m incredibly grateful for, but it’s valuable knowledge in a situation like this. Even if it does make me want to hurl thinking about it.

A high-pitched ding resounds throughout the lab, startling me enough that I flinch and blink a couple of times to soothe my dry eyes. I completely zoned out, staring off into space. Luckily, no one calls me out about it immediately, but I feel the guys worry, so I was obvious in my disassociation for a moment there.

Sending some calming feelings and shooting a small smile that I hope says I’m fine back to all of them, they turn from me and continue with their conversations. They’re letting me off the hook for now because we’re in front of everyone, but they’llbe watching me, my bond, my mind, and everything else like a hawk for the rest of the day.

Turning to Oakly, I open my mouth to tell her we can train lightly today together and hit it hard tomorrow, but her girly, love-struck smile that’s taken over her face causes me to stop and I follow her stare. Jamie’s by the Gift Database system, with a pencil between his teeth, reading intently over whatever came through. To me, it looks like he’s doing his job, analyzing whatever’s on the parchment, but to her, it’s so much more.

She’s fascinated with his work, and she shows a keen interest in everything they all do. Her far out, mesmerized gaze is one, I’m sure, I’ve worn while gawking at my guys. I’ve caught myself staring countless times at Corentin when he’s so enthralled in paperwork or his communicator, he pays no attention to what’s going on around him. Well, at least, he comes off that way. I know good and well he’s noticed.

There have been days I’ve had to pick my jaw up off the ground from watching Tillman work out, run drills, or order around E.F. members. He’s a machine when he’s in the zone and it’s a glorious art display to gape at. When Caspian pulls out a book and forgets the rest of the realm is when I get to stare at him as much as my heart desires. There have been moments where I don’t know the time that’s passed in the silence as I watch him read, memorizing every one of his features.

Draken, Elementra knows, likes to call me out when I’m caught looking at him. The way his face brightens when he tells stories or tries to make all of us laugh always puts a lovey-dovey grin on my face. I can’t help it.

“Shit,” Jamie mutters and whips his eyes up to meet Oakly’s first, then he slides them to mine.

One glance at that deer caught in headlights look screams he’s about to tell me something I don’t know if I want to hear.

“Why did you think about her, then shove your block up like that?” Tillman asks low, threatening. He instantly comes to where I’m sitting, pulling me off the couch and putting me behind him.

That one move, and now suddenly the room is divided. The rest of my Nexus surrounds me while Ry has Oakly hauled up off the couch out of the way and San and Nikoli move to stand firmly beside Jamie.

“Whoa, calm down. What’s going on?” I ask, trying to step around Tillman, but he won’t allow it.

“He thought about you and said we’re going to kill him for this. Whatever this is. Then he locked his mind up tight,” he says angrily, focusing on busting down Jamie’s wall.

The moment he says it, all of Oakly’s Nexus slam their blocks in place. Including her. My magic withdraws from their minds, but I don’t try to force it back through like Tillman’s doing because I don’t feel anything amiss from them doing that. They’re following the lead of one of their Nexus members and we all would’ve done the same.

“Jamie, what’s going on?” Oakly asks him, concern lacing her voice.

He’s struggling. By the sweat pouring down his brow and the visible tremors, it’s taking all his strength to keep his block up. Tillman isn’t forcing his all yet, but by the emotions warring through him currently, he’s seconds away from doing that.

“Tillman, please. Let up and let him explain. He doesn’t have bad intentions,” I plead, finally pushing my way around his arm that’s been blocking my path.

“Explain, Jamie. Now,” Tillman orders.

“Willow, don’t be mad at me. I was only trying to help,” Jamie says after taking a deep breath, keeping his gaze locked on mine.

“It’s okay. Whatever it is, I know you didn’t do or think it maliciously. Please tell me so everyone will calm down.”

This room is too small for all these strong emotions to be flowing through. I’m picking them up keenly, despite trying to block them out. My men are a mixture of hurt, rage, and confusion. I can completely understand all their feelings. The Nexus across from us are closer to us than anyone else in this realm, aside from Gaster, but because of everything going on, their first instinct is to jump to betrayal.

Oakly’s Nexus is much the same, but their feelings are leaning more toward confusion and flustered. They don’t know what Jamie’s done, but they’re ready and willing to protect him, no matter what. Poor Ry and Oakly feel like they’re about to split in two.

“After you all informed us about what Franklin said about your blood and what you learned about your mom, I used the remaining vial of your blood we had to run it again through the database.”

“Corentin told you to destroy that, but instead you ran it through that system again without hers or our permission?” Caspian says darkly, his shadows crawling down his arms and out his fingertips.

Shit, he’s about to kill him.

Linking my hand through his, I give him a tight squeeze, silently begging him to calm down and let him finish.

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