Page 93 of Gift from the Nexus

As we grow closer, with a wave of my hand, my earth element moves the foliage that’s blocking our entrance. I don’t charge right in like I did the cave I knew Aria was being locked in, and neither does anyone else. They’re all waiting on me, but I hesitate.

“I don’t know why this is important or what you have to tell me, but if this is something we have to do, let’s do it. I’m not a big fan of caves,” Lyker says firmly, coming to stand beside me.

Peering over my shoulder, Aria’s face blooms red. It’s a subtle change because her tan skin easily hides it, but it’s very obvious his discomfort for caves is for her benefit, not a fear or dislike he has himself.

“I don’t believe it’s very spacious in here,” I say to the group, giving them the option to cram in here together or some of us stay back.

“We’ll stay out here with Aria. You go ahead, Willow.” Oakly volunteers immediately. Lyker goes to argue, but Kyan cuts him off.

“We’ll stay out here. Go in with her and her Nexus.”

He lets out a frustrated sigh that I hide my chuckle from. Apparently, my brother isn’t just an Alphahole but a possessive one as well.

The thought catches me by surprise. I didn’t expect that title to just come across my mind so easily, so freely, but it did, and it doesn’t feel wrong for thinking it so quickly. The small grin slides right off my face because I still don’t know if he’s going to be as open to a relationship with me. It’s embarrassing to admit that I’m already craving that, hoping for it. I’ve already let my emotions get in the way, when he could easily reject anything to do with me once I tell him everything.

Shoving my feelings way, way down within me, I call my flame to my hand and march on ahead into the cave. I can’t worry about that right now. It’s too distracting. If he doesn’t want a relationship with me, that’s okay. I’ll be hurt, but I’ll understand and accept his decision. He has a right to make this choice for himself, and I won’t do anything to try to sway him otherwise.

“It’s just an empty cave,” Lyker comments with a little disappointment and relief.

He’s right. The space is no bigger than your average-sized kitchen. There’s nothing of significance just sitting around in here. No markings, no animals, nothing but dark walls and some leaves and dirt that have blown in here from the forest. But I sense it. There’s magic in the air.

“I know,” I say, even though I’m walking to the far end of the cave and staring intently at the other wall.

When I position myself in the same spot CC stood while they waited for my mom to come out of the portal, I focus hard, willing something, anything to come to me. Nothing like a memory or vision surfaces, but an urge to touch that wall comes over me. As weird as it may sound, I want to touch it. I want to lay my hand on an area my mom may have laid hers.

My fingertips graze the cold, coarse stone in a longing caress, soaking in the small amount of electricity running up my arm. I pray this isn’t some wild imagination my mind’s conjured up to give myself some sort of misguided hope.

Faster than I was prepared for, the electricity intensifies, sending blistering pain shooting through my palm, and I snatch my arm back quickly. Looking down, blood is pooling in the center of my hand, running through my fingers, but when I close and open my fist, it’s all gone. Like it never even happened.

What the…

“Are you okay?” My men and Lyker ask me at once.

Panting, attempting to catch my breath, I look between the five of them, my hand and the wall trying to figure out what’s going on. I have an inkling, one that isn’t going to go away until I do, and judging by CC’s silence, it’s something I have to figure out unaided.

“Princess,” Corentin says concernedly.

“Yeah…yeah, I’m fine. I just thought I was…”

Bleeding…

“Lyker, did you try your blood on the ward like we had to do to get through the wards to Aria?”

“No. I thought about it, but no one knew I was coming out here. Seeing as you weren’t one hundred percent sure what would happen when we did that, I thought it be best I didn’t attempt something like that and get myself killed out here alone,” he says sarcastically, even though I was pretty sure it was going to work that time. Like I’m pretty positive it’ll work now.

“Well, you’re not alone now, and we have a healer with us as well if something does go wrong,” I say confidently, although he’s scowling at me like I’m crazy.

“That was fast,” Gaster says as I bound out the cave entrance, the guys hot on my heels.

“She’s lost her mind. She wants me to use my blood to try to bring the ward down,” Lyker grumbles.

“Well, it worked the first time you tried that, did it not?” Gaster counters, making me smile. He’s always going to be on my side.

“I mean, yeah, but this ward is a fuck ton stronger. It’s liable to put me on my ass and I have a pack to run. I can’t get myself killed out of curiosity.”

“Please just trust me, Lyker. There’s something…something we need is behind this ward. I don’t know what, but it’s important,” I plead.

I hate the fact that I can’t keep my emotions in check right now because now isn’t the time to get all weepy, but I’m fixated. My chest feels like it’s going to rip open if we don’t get this ward down, and whatever it is, is going to make telling him everything so much easier. In the matter of minutes since I thought it, I’m obsessed. I can’t let it go.

---